Environmental Impact Statement: DeRenne Avenue in Chatham County, Georgia

Rodney N. Barry
Federal Highway Administration
18 July 2017

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 136 (Tuesday, July 18, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 32913-32914]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-15035]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration


Environmental Impact Statement: DeRenne Avenue in Chatham County, 
Georgia

AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), United States Department 
of Transportation (USDOT).

ACTION: Notice of Intent.

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SUMMARY: The FHWA is issuing this notice to advise the public that an 
EIS will be prepared for proposed improvements along I-516/SR21/CS 
1503/DeRenne Avenue. The project would begin approximately 0.72 mile 
west of Mildred Street and end west of the Harry S. Truman Parkway 
ramps at DeRenne Avenue, for a project corridor of approximately 2.6 
miles.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
    Jennifer Giersch, Federal Highway Administration, 61 Forsyth Street 
SW., Suite 17T100, Atlanta, Georgia 30303, Telephone: (404) 562-3653, 
Email: jennifer.giersch@dot.gov.
    David Moyer, P.E., Project Manager, Georgia Department of 
Transportation, 600 West Peachtree Street, 25th Floor, Atlanta, Georgia 
30308, Telephone: (404) 631-1588, Email: dmoyer@dot.ga.gov.

[[Page 32914]]

    Eric Duff, State Environmental Administrator, Georgia Department of 
Transportation, One Georgia Center, 600 West Peachtree Street NW., 25th 
Floor, Atlanta, Georgia 30308. Telephone: (404) 291-5880. Email: 
eduff@dot.ga.gov.
    Ryan Perry, Ph.D., NEPA Analyst, Georgia Department of 
Transportation, One Georgia Center, 600 West Peachtree Street NW., 16th 
Floor, Atlanta, Georgia 30308. Telephone: (404) 631-1271. Email: 
vperry@dot.ga.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FHWA, in cooperation with the Georgia 
Department of Transportation (GDOT), will prepare an Environmental 
Impact Statement (EIS) for proposed improvements along I-516/SR 21/CS 
1503/DeRenne Avenue and Hampstead Avenue. An evaluation under Section 
4(f) of the DOT Act of 1966 may also be required due to the potential 
for impacts to resources eligible for the National Register of Historic 
Places. The project is being developed to alleviate congestion and 
improve mobility along the I-516 and SR 21/CS 1503/DeRenne Avenue 
corridor. Proposed project elements may include modifications at the 
interchange of I-516 and SR 21, improvements along roads adjacent to 
DeRenne Avenue, intersection upgrades, and improvements along DeRenne 
Avenue.
    A study corridor large enough to incorporate detailed studies for 
the full range of alternatives to be considered for the project will be 
evaluated. The EIS will be prepared in accordance with the National 
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA: 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) of 1969, and 
the regulations implementing NEPA set forth in 40 CFR parts 1500-1508 
and 23 CFR part 771, as well as the provisions of the Safe Accountable 
Flexible Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users 
(SAFETEA-LU) and Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century (MAP-
21). The document will also satisfy the requirements of other 
applicable statutes, rules and regulations including the Georgia 
Environmental Policy Act (GEPA).
    Public involvement is a critical component of NEPA project 
development. To date, outreach efforts have included development of a 
local Steering Committee, a Public Information Open House, targeted 
outreach within several communities along the project corridor, and a 
field site visit with public walk-through. To ensure that the full 
range of issues related to this proposed action are addressed and all 
significant issues identified, public outreach and involvement will 
continue, and comments and suggestions are invited from all interested 
parties. Specific efforts to encourage involvement by, and solicit 
comments from, minority and low-income populations in the project study 
area will continue through the EIS process. A public hearing will be 
held after the completion of the Draft EIS, and the EIS will be made 
available for review by federal and state resource agencies and the 
public. Project information, comments, video, and concepts will be 
maintained throughout the EIS process on an existing link through the 
City of Savannah Web site (www.savannahga.gov/derenne).
    Additional agency coordination will begin with publication of the 
NOI, followed by initial contact and scoping occurring within 45 to 60 
days after publication of the NOI and continuing coordination 
throughout the EIS process.
    Regulations implementing NEPA, as well as the provisions of 
SAFETEA-LU and MAP-21, call for enhanced agency and public involvement 
in the EIS process. An invitation to all Federal and non-Federal 
agencies and Native American tribes that may have an interest in the 
proposed project will be extended. In the event that an agency or tribe 
is not invited and would like to participate, please contact Ryan Perry 
at the contact information listed above.

(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Program Number 20.205, 
Highway Planning and Construction. The regulations implementing 
Executive Order 12372 regarding intergovernmental consultation on 
Federal programs and activities apply to this program.)

    Issued on: July 11, 2017.
Rodney N. Barry,
Division Administrator, Federal Highway Administration, Atlanta, GA.
[FR Doc. 2017-15035 Filed 7-17-17; 8:45 am]
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