Rescinding the Notice of Intent for an Environmental Impact Statement: Washington and Benton Counties, Arkansas

Peter A. Jilek
Federal Highway Administration
21 January 2020

[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 13 (Tuesday, January 21, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Page 3469]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-00900]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration


Rescinding the Notice of Intent for an Environmental Impact 
Statement: Washington and Benton Counties, Arkansas

AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT.

ACTION: Rescind Notice of Intent (NOI) to prepare an Environmental 
Impact Statement (EIS).

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SUMMARY: The FHWA is issuing this notice to advise the public that the 
NOI for the preparation of an EIS to study a proposed intermodal 
highway project in Washington and Benton Counties, Arkansas is being 
rescinded. The NOI was published in the Federal Register on February 4, 
2000, and a draft EIS was released in October 2012. This rescission is 
based on important changes in the existing infrastructure that allows 
for a substantially reduced scope of work.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Peter A. Jilek, FHWA--Acting Division 
Administrator, Arkansas Division Office, 700 West Capitol Ave., Rm. 
3130, Little Rock, AR 72201-3298; 501-324-5625; fax: 501-324-6423.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FHWA in cooperation with the Arkansas 
Department of Transportation and the Northwest Regional Airport 
Authority, initiated a study to identify a new intermodal access road 
to the Northwest Regional Airport. The project was studied as a toll 
facility connecting the Northwest Regional Airport to either US 71 
(currently I-49) or US 412 for approximately eight to twelve miles. A 
preferred alternative was not determined. The NOI for the previously 
notified EIS is being rescinded due to important infrastructure changes 
affecting the originally proposed alternatives. With the upgrade of US 
71 to I-49 and the construction of the Northern Springdale Bypass the 
scale of the project, the range of alternatives, and the potential for 
significant impacts is substantially reduced. The reduced scope allows 
for a separate project to be completed that will satisfy the purpose 
and need and would likely be studied as an Environmental Assessment.
    Comments and questions concerning the proposed action should be 
directed to the FHWA contact person at the address provided above.

    Authority: 23 U.S.C. 315; 49 CFR 1.48 rescind.

    Issued on: January 9, 2010.
Peter A. Jilek,
Acting Division Administrator, Little Rock, AR.
[FR Doc. 2020-00900 Filed 1-17-20; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-RY-P