Environmental Impact Statement; Belknap, Merrimack, Rockingham, and Strafford Counties, NH

Thomas D. Myers
Federal Highway Administration
9 June 1994

[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 110 (Thursday, June 9, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-14044]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: June 9, 1994]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Highway Administration

 

Environmental Impact Statement; Belknap, Merrimack, Rockingham, 
and Strafford Counties, NH

AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT.

ACTION: Revised notice of intent.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The FHWA is issuing this notice to advise the public that an 
Environmental Impact Statement will not be prepared for a proposed 
highway project in Belknap, Merrimack, Rockingham and Strafford 
Counties, New Hampshire. A ``Notice of Intent'' to prepare an EIS was 
published in the Federal Register on June 1, 1990.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Thomas D. Myers, Assistant Division Administrator, Federal Highway 
Administration, 279 Pleasant Street, suite 204, Concord, New Hampshire 
03301-2509, Telephone: (603) 225-1606, or William R. Hauser, 
Administrator, Bureau of Environment, New Hampshire Department of 
Transportation, P.O. Box 483, J.O. Morton Building, Concord, New 
Hampshire 03302-0483, Telephone (603) 271-3226.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), 
in cooperation with the New Hampshire Department of Transportation 
(NHDOT), has determined that it will not prepare an environmental 
impact statement as previously intended for a proposed highway project 
to serve transportation needs from the Concord area to the Dover, 
Somersworth and Rochester (Tri-Cities) area, a distance of about 50 
kilometers (30 miles). Portions of twenty-one communities, primarily in 
Strafford and Merrimack Counties were included in the study. As 
consensus was being reached on which alternatives would be carried into 
the DEIS for full evaluation it became apparent based upon public 
input, agency coordination, constraint evaluation and funding-
availability that a full new location alternative highway was not 
feasible. Consensus was reached that upgrading of the existing US 
Routes 4 and 202 and NH Route 9 corridors would serve the bulk of the 
transportation needs supplemented with possible short bypasses of 
portions of the Towns of Epsom and Northwood.
    Further improvements to these corridors will be considered on a 
case-by-case basis, consistent with this consensus, in future 
development of New Hampshire's Transportation Plan, as financial 
feasibility and local commitment are demonstrated. The National 
Environmental Policy Act process will be continued as required for such 
proposed actions that may emerge from the above procedure. However, 
this overall environmental impact statement process for a new 50-
kilometer (30-mile) facility has been terminated.

(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: May 31, 1994.
Thomas D. Myers,
Assistant Division Administrator, Concord, New Hampshire.
[FR Doc. 94-14044 Filed 6-8-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-22-M