Notice To Rescind the Notice of Intent To Prepare a Limited Scope Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement: Interstate 55 Interchange in Shelby County, Tennessee

Topics:  Interstate Highway System

Pamela M. Kordenbrock
Federal Highway Administration
4 November 2019

[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 213 (Monday, November 4, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 59436-59437]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-24031]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration


Notice To Rescind the Notice of Intent To Prepare a Limited Scope 
Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement: Interstate 55 Interchange 
in Shelby County, Tennessee

AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice to rescind the Notice of Intent to prepare a Limited 
Scope Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement.

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SUMMARY: The FHWA is issuing this notice to advise the public that the 
Notice of Intent (NOI) published on August 31, 2015, to prepare a 
Limited Scope Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (LSSEIS) for 
the proposed improvements to the Interstate 55 (I-55) interchange at 
E.H. Crump Boulevard in the City of Memphis, Shelby County, Tennessee, 
is being rescinded.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Theresa Claxton, Program 
Development Team Leader, Federal Highway Administration, Tennessee 
Division Office, 404 BNA Drive, Suite 508, Nashville, TN 37217, 
Telephone: 615-781-5770.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FHWA, in cooperation with the Tennessee 
Department of Transportation (TDOT), is rescinding

[[Page 59437]]

the NOI to prepare an LSSEIS for proposed improvements to the I-55 
interchange at E.H. Crump Boulevard in the City of Memphis, Shelby 
County, Tennessee. The Selected Alternative consists of replacing the 
existing cloverleaf interchange with a new interchange configuration 
that will provide through lanes for mainline I-55 traffic, eliminating 
the need for interstate traffic to use single-lane, low speed ramps to 
continue on I-55. A new multi-lane roundabout interchange will be 
constructed, replacing the existing cloverleaf interchange, providing 
improved access to and from I-55 and existing local roadways.
    The Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) was approved on 
June 28, 2011. On January 25, 2012, FHWA issued a Record of Decision 
(ROD) identifying the Selected Alternative and the reasons for its 
selection. Following the issuance of the ROD, TDOT determined that a 
total closure of the I-55 Bridge over the Mississippi River (Memphis-
Arkansas Bridge) for up to 9 months may be necessary. A Reevaluation of 
the FEIS was initiated to further explore the proposed construction 
phasing of the project. Through this process, TDOT, in coordination 
with FHWA, determined that the proposed construction phasing could 
result in potentially significant impacts not previously assessed and 
disclosed in the EIS. Therefore, TDOT concluded the Reevaluation with 
the determination that a LSSEIS should be undertaken. The NOI to 
develop the LSSEIS was published on August 31, 2015.
    Since the publication of the NOI, TDOT has taken several major 
steps to advance the project towards construction including the 
decision to not pursue the total closure of the I-55 Bridge for up to 9 
months during construction of the project. Because the previously 
proposed option for a total closure of the I-55 Bridge for up to 9 
months was the primary reason for developing a LSSEIS, TDOT, in 
coordination with FHWA has determined that an LSSEIS is no longer 
warranted and that a Reevaluation of the FEIS will now be prepared. 
Therefore, the August 31, 2015 NOI is being rescinded.
    The Reevaluation will fully evaluate impacts to humans and to the 
natural environment and will evaluate changes to the proposed project 
since the issuance of the ROD.
    Comments and questions concerning the proposed action should be 
directed to the FHWA contact person at the address provided above.

    Issued on: October 29, 2019.
Pamela M. Kordenbrock,
Division Administrator, Nashville, TN.
[FR Doc. 2019-24031 Filed 11-1-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-22-P