Notice2024-16257
Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for a Proposed Highway Project, Centre County, PA
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
July 24, 2024
Issuing agencies
Transportation DepartmentFederal Highway Administration
Abstract
The FHWA, in coordination with the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) is issuing the Notice of Intent (NOI) to solicit comments and advise the public, agencies, and stakeholders that an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) will be prepared to study potential improvements to US 322 also known as the State College Area Connector Project from Potters Mills, PA to Boalsburg, PA. The project identification number is 112784. This NOI should be reviewed together with the NOI Additional Project Information document, which contains important details about the proposed project and complements the information in this NOI.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 89 Issue 142 (Wednesday, July 24, 2024)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 142 (Wednesday, July 24, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 59955-59959]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2024-16257]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Highway Administration
[Docket No. FHWA-2024-0056]
Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for
a Proposed Highway Project, Centre County, PA
AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), Department of
Transportation (DOT).
ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement.
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SUMMARY: The FHWA, in coordination with the Pennsylvania Department of
Transportation (PennDOT) is issuing the Notice of Intent (NOI) to
solicit comments and advise the public, agencies, and stakeholders that
an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) will be prepared to study
potential improvements to US 322 also known as the State College Area
Connector Project from Potters Mills, PA to Boalsburg, PA. The project
identification number is 112784. This NOI should be reviewed together
with the NOI Additional Project Information document, which contains
important details about the proposed project and complements the
information in this NOI.
DATES: Comments on the NOI or the NOI Additional Project Information
document are to be received by FHWA through the methods below by August
23, 2024.
ADDRESSES: This NOI and the NOI Additional Project Information are also
available in the docket referenced above at <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">www.regulations.gov</a> and on
the project website located at <a href="http://www.penndot.pa.gov/SCAC">www.penndot.pa.gov/SCAC</a>. The NOI
Additional Project Information document will be mailed upon request.
Interested parties are invited to submit comments by any of the
following methods:
Website: For access to the documents, go to the Federal eRulemaking
Portal located at <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">www.regulations.gov</a> or the project website located at
<a href="http://www.penndot.pa.gov/SCAC">www.penndot.pa.gov/SCAC</a>. Follow the online instructions for submitting
comments.
Mailing address or for hand delivery or courier: Docket Management
Facility, U.S. Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE,
West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, Washington, DC 20590.
All submissions should include the agency name, the docket number
that appears in the heading of this notice, and the project
identification number. All comments received will be posted without
change to <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">www.regulations.gov</a>, including any personal information
provided. A summary of the comments will be included in the Draft EIS.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: FHWA: Julia Moore, Senior
Environmental Specialist, Federal Highway Administration, Pennsylvania
Division Office, 30 North Third Street, Suite 700, Harrisburg, PA
17101; <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#400a352c29216e0d2f2f322500242f346e272f36"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="054f70696c642b486a6a776045616a712b626a73">[email protected]</span></a>; 717-221-4585. PennDOT: Eric Murnyack, PE,
Project Manager, 70 PennDOT Drive, Clearfield, PA 16830; email
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#61040c14130f1800020a2111004f060e17"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="10757d65627e6971737b5060713e777f66">[email protected]</span></a>; 814-765-0435.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: It is important to note that the FHWA and
PennDOT are committed to public involvement in this project. The FHWA,
as Federal lead agency, and PennDOT, as project sponsor, are preparing
an EIS to study potential improvements to US 322 also known as the
State College Area Connector Project from Potters Mills, PA to
Boalsburg, PA. All public comments received in response to this notice
will be considered and potential revisions made to the information
presented herein as appropriate. The environmental review of
alternatives for the transportation project will be conducted in
accordance with the requirements of the National Environmental Policy
Act (NEPA) of 1969, as amended (42 U.S.C. 4321, et seq.), 23 U.S.C.
139, CEQ regulations implementing NEPA (40 CFR 1500-1508), FHWA
regulations implementing NEPA (23 CFR 771.101-771.139) and all
applicable Federal, State, and local governmental laws and regulations.
Background. Within the State College Area Connector project area,
there have been many transportation improvement studies and projects
that have influenced travel within and immediately adjacent to the
study area dating back to the 1970s. However, in the 1990s, key
regional studies occurred which greatly influenced travel and
development within the study area. The following provides a high-level
summary of the local and regional transportation projects which have
provided influence on the State College Area Connector project area.
Interstate 80:
[cir] I-80 was completed in Pennsylvania in 1970.
[[Page 59956]]
[cir] I-80 through Pennsylvania influenced traffic patterns,
particularly an increase in interstate truck traffic. This increase in
traffic affected travel conditions within the project area.
[cir] Roadway safety and quality of life in Centre County
communities traversed by these roadways were influenced by the I-80
completion.
Interstate 99:
[cir] US 220 study west of the State College area led to the
development of a major improvement project for a new north-south
interstate through Centre County that culminated with the construction
of I-99 extending from Blair County to US 322 (the Mount Nittany
Expressway).
[cir] PA 26 corridor study resulted in the construction of I-99
from US 322 (the Mount Nittany Expressway) north towards I-80.
[cir] I-80 Exit 161 (Bellefonte Interchange) is under development
to replace the existing interchange with a new high-speed interchange
and complete the I-99/I-80 connection. Construction of the interchange
improvements will complete the goal for a major north-south interstate
(I-99) through the center of the Commonwealth connecting two major
east-west interstates, the Pennsylvania Turnpike (I-76) and I-80.
South Central Centre County Transportation Study (SCCCTS):
[cir] SCCCTS was initiated in 1998 to evaluate and address
transportation needs along the US 322, PA 144, and PA 45 corridors. The
SCCCTS project needs identified specific transportation problems in
each of the three corridors and on the local road system, as well as
needs associated with regional travel patterns. The regional travel
pattern need statement addressed the high percentage of through trips
(in particular the high volume of truck traffic), high crash rates
(including fatalities), poor Level of Service (LOS) (including LOS
associated with heavy truck traffic) and increases in travel demand
associated with local and regional planned development. However, SCCCTS
was terminated in 2004 due to funding shortfalls and the NOI rescinded
on July 29, 2019.
Safety Improvements:
[cir] Following the termination of SCCCTS in 2004, short-term
safety improvements along the US 322 were conducted between 2006 and
2015. These improvements included general intersection improvements
(e.g., turn lanes), safety improvements (e.g., safety dot warning
pavement markings, removal of passing zones), minor roadway
realignments, and bridge reconstruction. These improvements were
initiated to address some of the safety concerns identified during the
SCCCTS study.
Potters Mills Gap (PMG) Transportation Project:
[cir] PennDOT and FHWA initiated the PMG Transportation Project to
improve a 3.75-mile-long section of US 322 in Potter Township within
the area locally known as ``Potters Mills Gap''. This project area
encompassed the southeastern portion of the SCCCTS study area. It was
determined that this project had independent utility and addressed a
defined purpose and need. The project included the construction of a
new limited access four-lane roadway section that started at the Sand
Mountain Road intersection and extended west, tying back into existing
US 322 with a new interchange and roundabout, west of the PA 144/US 322
intersection.
SCCCTS Data Refresh:
[cir] In 2018, PennDOT collected data to update the traffic and
environmental information from the former SCCCTS (2004), to identify
changes to travel patterns, the transportation network, and
environmental conditions. This information supported the 2019 decision
by State officials to restart efforts to address regional
transportation needs in the US 322, PA 44, and PA 45 area. Nearly, $15
million in State funding was allocated to advance the State College
Area Connector Study.
State College Area Connector Planning and Environmental Linkages
(PEL) Study:
[cir] In 2020, PennDOT, in cooperation with FHWA and coordination
with the Centre County Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO),
initiated the State College Area Connector PEL Study. The PEL process
promoted early coordination with the public as well as Federal, State,
and local agencies in a transparent and collaborative environment that
identified and evaluated transportation needs in the area, and
developed and evaluated alternatives while considering community
concerns in transportation decision-making early in the planning
process. The PEL study identified a range of alternatives and screened
them against the purpose and need and potential for environmental
impacts. Three Build Alternatives corridors were recommended for
further study. These three recommended Build Alternatives and a refined
study area are being advanced for NEPA study with a Notice of Intent to
prepare an EIS.
The following information provided in the NOI is supplemented with
more detail in the NOI Additional Project Information document.
(a) Purpose and Need for the Proposed Action
The purpose of this project is to improve roadway congestion by
achieving acceptable LOS and to address safety issues by reducing the
predicted crash frequency along the US 322 corridor between Potters
Mills and Boalsburg. Additionally, the project will aim to provide a
transportation network that meets driver expectations.
The preliminary needs identified for the project are that high peak
hour traffic volumes cause congestion and result in unacceptable LOS
(LOS D [rural only], E, or F) on US 322 roadways and intersections; the
existing roadway configurations and traffic conditions contribute to
safety concerns in the project area; and the roadway network and
configuration in the project area lacks continuity and does not meet
driver expectations.
The project purpose and needs were first presented as part of the
Pre-NOI/PEL phase of project development and were presented to the
State and Federal resource agencies at an agency coordination meeting
in July 2020 and to public officials and the general public at a
virtual meeting in October 2020. Resource agencies and the public were
invited to comment on the Purpose and Need. The purpose and need
statements were refined following the PEL study for the US 322 project
area. The project-specific purpose and needs were presented to the
resource agencies in January 2024. The purpose and needs and supporting
documentation, including data and public input summary, will be
available in the Draft EIS. No specific comments were received from any
of the resource agencies.
(b) A Preliminary Description of the Proposed Action and Alternatives
the Environmental Impact Statement Will Consider
As concluded in the PEL Study, the proposed action is anticipated
to include construction of an approximately 8-mile four-lane limited
access facility from the end of US 322/Mount Nittany Expressway in
Boalsburg to the newly constructed limited access portion of US 322 at
Potters Mills in Centre County, Pennsylvania. Agencies and the public
are invited to comment on the Range of Alternatives for the proposed
action. Additional information on the Range of Alternatives is in the
NOI Additional Project Information document. The Range of Alternatives
proposed to be considered in the EIS include the following:
[[Page 59957]]
No Build Alternative
The No Build Alternative involves taking no action, except routine
maintenance and other small projects currently listed in the Centre
County Transportation Improvement Program (TIP). The existing two-lane
alignment of US 322 between Potters Mills Gap and Boalsburg,
Pennsylvania would remain. No new alignments or roadway improvements
would be constructed.
Build Alternative--US 322-1S
The US 322-1S Build Alternative (US 322-1S) would have logical
termini at the US 322 (Mt. Nittany Expressway) in Boalsburg and US 322
at Potters Mills Gap. US 322-1S would begin at the existing US 322
interchange with PA 45 near Boalsburg and follow existing US 322 to a
point east of the Elks Club Road/Bear Meadows Road intersection. In
this area, a two-lane service road would be provided on the north side
of the limited access highway to provide connectivity to the local road
network. US 322-1S would shift off existing US 322 to the north until
it crosses south over US 322 near Neff Road in Tusseyville. The
alternative would parallel US 322 to the south before connecting to the
newly constructed US 322/PA 144 interchange at Potters Mills Gap. The
Build Alternative US 322-1S would be 8.3 miles long.
Build Alternative--US 322-1OEX
The US 322-1OEX Build Alternative (US 322-1OEX) is a hybrid of US
322-1S that attempts to maximize the use of the existing US 322 right-
of-way. US 322-1OEX would have logical termini at the US 322 (Mt.
Nittany Expressway) in Boalsburg and US 322 at Potters Mills Gap. US
322-1OEX would begin at the existing US 322 interchange with PA 45 near
Boalsburg and follow existing US 322 to a point east of the Elks Club
Road/Bear Meadows Road intersection. In this area, a two-lane service
road would be provided on the north side of the limited access highway
to provide connectivity to the local road network. US 322-1OEX would
shift off existing US 322 to the north until it crosses back to US 322
near Neff Road in Tusseyville. From there it would follow existing US
322 to the newly constructed US 322/PA 144 interchange at Potters Mills
Gap, with the inclusion of a two-lane service road to maintain local
access for properties adjacent to the new limited access facility. US
322-1OEX would be 8.3 miles long.
Build Alternative--US 322-5
The US 322-5 Build Alternative (US 322-5) would have logical
termini at the US 322 (Mt. Nittany Expressway) in Boalsburg and US 322
at Potters Mills Gap. US 322-5 would begin at the existing US 322
interchange with PA 45 near Boalsburg and follow existing US 322 to a
point east of the Elks Club Road/Bear Meadows Road intersection. A two-
lane service road on the north side of the limited access highway would
connect to the local road network. US 322-5 would turn southeast off
the existing US 322 corridor near Tait Road, and proceed east along the
lower slope of Tussey Mountain, paralleling US 322. The corridor would
continue paralleling US 322 to the south, crossing over Church Hill
Road, Dogtown Road, and Mountain Back Road and connect to the newly
constructed US 322/PA 144 interchange at Potters Mills Gap. US 322-5
would be 8.4 miles long.
(c) Brief Summary of Expected Impacts
As part of the PEL process, PennDOT conducted scoping activities
for the State College Area Connector Project. Resource data was
collected from publicly available web based existing maps and data;
direct coordination with various Federal, State, and local government
agencies; select site reconnaissance; coordination with private
organizations; and public input. This information was used to identify
the types of environmental, cultural, and socioeconomic resources
present and those likely to be affected. The following resources will
be evaluated in the EIS and supporting technical studies: cultural
resources (archaeology and historic architecture); hazardous materials;
air quality; greenhouse gases and climate change; noise-sensitive
areas; natural resources (wildlife and habitat; threatened, endangered,
and special concern species; waters of the US; water quality;
groundwater; floodplains; and farmlands), visual resources; section
4(f) resources (public recreational facilities, historic properties,
and State Game Lands); and socioeconomic resources (communities and
community facilities, population and housing, economic resources, land
use and right-of-way, and environmental justice). Potential direct,
indirect, and cumulative effects will be assessed and documented in the
EIS. Preliminary review of the existing conditions with or adjacent to
the Build Alternative corridors for the project could result in effects
to the following:
<bullet> Environmental Justice: Minority and/or low-income
(environmental justice) populations have been identified within the
vicinity of the Project, specifically within Harris Township. An
assessment of the potential for disproportionate and adverse effects on
environmental justice populations will be conducted, as described in
section 4 of the NOI Additional Project Information document.
<bullet> Regional and local economies: Within the vicinity of the
Project, there are industrial and commercial centers, and agricultural
farm businesses. Industrial and commercial centers are clustered along
existing US 322 in portions of Potter Township and Harris Township.
Agricultural farm businesses are concentrated in the center and eastern
portion of the project area. An assessment of the Project's potential
effects on regional and local economies will be conducted,
<bullet> Wetland and surface waters: State and Federal regulated
freshwater wetlands and waterways are present in the vicinity of the
Project, including but not limited to Sinking Creek, Spring Creek, Boal
Gap Run, Sleepy Creek, Galbraith Gap Run, and associated tributaries. A
surface water and wetland delineation will be conducted to identify all
State-regulated wetlands and Waters of the U.S. within and adjacent to
the Build Alternative corridors. An assessment of the Project's
potential effects on wetlands and surface waters will be conducted,
<bullet> Threatened and endangered species: Federally and State-
listed threatened and/or endangered species have the potential to occur
within the vicinity of the Project. A Pennsylvania Natural Diversity
Inventory (PNDI) search was completed to determine potential threatened
and endangered species resources within or adjacent to the Build
Alternative corridors. The following species were identified in the
search:
[cir] Plant State Species Only
[ssquf] Serviceberry (proposed endangered)
[ssquf] Long-fruited anemone (endangered)
[ssquf] Tall gramma (endangered)
[ssquf] Roundleaf services (proposed endangered)
[ssquf] Brome grass (proposed threatened)
[ssquf] Bebb's sedge (endangered/proposed threatened)
[ssquf] Hansom sedge (endangered)
[ssquf] Prairie sedge (threatened)
[ssquf] Heller's witchgrass (proposed threatened)
[ssquf] Vetchling (proposed endangered)
[ssquf] Grooved yellow flax (endangered)
[ssquf] False gromwell (endangered)
[ssquf] Hard-leafed goldenrod (proposed endangered)
[ssquf] Mountain starwort (proposed threatened)
[ssquf] Tufted buttercup (endangered)
[ssquf] Northeastern bulrush (endangered/proposed threatened)
[[Page 59958]]
[ssquf] Declined trillium (proposed threatened)
[cir] Mammal Species
[ssquf] Indiana Bat (Federal endangered)
[ssquf] Northern Long-eared Bat (Federal endangered)
[ssquf] Tri-colored Bat (Federal proposed endangered)
[ssquf] Eastern Small-footed Bat (State threatened)
[cir] Reptile Species
[ssquf] Timber rattlesnake (State protected species)
[cir] Aquatic Species
[ssquf] Triangle floater (State protected species)
Coordination with the resource agencies also noted concerns for
migratory bird species and bat hibernacula in the area. An assessment
of the Project's potential effects on threatened and endangered species
will be conducted and coordination with the resource agencies
conducted, accordingly.
<bullet> Farmland: Productive agricultural land and farmland soils
pursuant to the Farmland Protection Policy Act are present in the
vicinity of the Project. Agricultural evaluations will be conducted
including secondary source data collection and farmer interviews. An
assessment of the Project's potential effects on productive
agricultural land and farmland soils will be conducted.
<bullet> Historic properties: A reconnaissance survey was conducted
for resources within or adjacent to the Build Alternative corridors.
The survey included a review of the Pennsylvania Historic and Museum
Commission's files of resources identified as listed in or eligible for
listing in the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP), and limited
field investigation to identify properties potentially eligible for
inclusion in the NRHP. An Area of Potential Effects (APE) will be
established for the Project and an assessment will be conducted to
identify the potential effects on historic properties. Coordination
with the State Historic Preservation Office and interested parties will
be included as part of the effect's findings.
<bullet> Visual resources: Visually sensitive resources are present
in the vicinity of the Project, including but not limited to historic
properties including the Penns Valley/Brush Valley Rural Historic
District, and Rothrock State Forest. An assessment of the Project's
potential effects on visual resources will be conducted.
<bullet> Air quality: The project lies in Centre County,
Pennsylvania which is currently designated as a maintenance area under
the 1997 8-hour ozone NAAQS. Centre County is in attainment for all
other criteria pollutants for which NAAQS are established. An
assessment of the Project's potential effects on air quality will be
conducted.
<bullet> Traffic noise: Noise sensitive receptors, as described in
23 CFR part 772, are present within the vicinity of the Project and
include, but are not limited to residences and trails. An assessment of
the Project's potential effects on traffic noise will be conducted.
<bullet> Construction effects: Construction of the Project has the
potential to affect noise, air quality, traffic and transportation,
local and regional economies, water quality, and other environmental
resources. Construction effects would be temporary and would cease with
the completion of construction. An assessment of the Project's
potential construction-related effects will be conducted.
The analyses and evaluations conducted for the EIS will identify
the potential for construction-related (short-term) and operational
(long-term) effects (direct, indirect, and cumulative); whether the
anticipated effects would be adverse; and mitigation measures for
adverse effects. Evaluations under section 4(f) of the USDOT Act of
1966, 23 CFR part 774, and section 6(f) of the Land and Water
Conservation Fund Act of 1965, 54 U.S.C. 200302, will be prepared, and
consultation under section 106 of the National Historic Preservation
Act of 1966, 54 U.S.C. 300101-307108, will be undertaken concurrently
with the NEPA process. Additional information on the expected impacts
is provided in the NOI Additional Project Information document
available for review in the docket established for this project and on
the project website as noted in the ADDRESSES section. Comments on the
expected effects to be analyzed in the Draft EIS (DEIS) are welcomed
during the NOI comment period. The identification of environmental
effects for analysis in the DEIS may be revised due to the
consideration of public comments.
(d) Anticipated Permits, Other Authorizations, and Cooperating and
Participating Agencies
A Clean Water Act Section 404 permit decision from the U.S. Army
Corps of Engineers (USACE) is anticipated in September 2026. Other
anticipated State authorizations include a Pennsylvania Department of
Environmental Protection (PADEP) Section 401 Water Quality
Certification/Chapter 105 Standard Permit in August 2026. Section 7
consultation under the Endangered Species Act is expected to be
concluded in September 2025, and Section 106 consultation under the
National Historic Preservation Act is anticipated to be concluded in
December 2024. A U.S. Department of Transportation Act of 1966,
Individual Section 4(f) authorization is anticipated in April 2026. See
the NOI Additional Project Information document for more detail on the
anticipated permits and other authorizations. Cooperating Agencies
include the USACE, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Environmental
Protection Agency, Pennsylvania State Historic Preservation Office, and
PADEP. Participating Agencies include the PA Fish and Boat Commission,
PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, PA Game
Commission, PA Department of Agriculture, Centre County Conservation
District, Centre County Board of Commissioners, Harris Township Board
of Supervisors, College Township Council, Seneca Nation of Indians, and
Delaware Tribe of Indians.
(e) Scoping and Public Review
Agency Scoping
PennDOT has conducted agency coordination to inform the purpose and
need and preliminary project alternatives, scoping meeting, and other
elements outlined in this document. An Agency Coordination Plan was
reviewed and agreed to by the Pennsylvania resource agencies, including
the Cooperating and Participating agencies. It is a living document
that will be updated through the EIS process. The resource agency
meetings in Pennsylvania are referred to as Agency Coordination
Meetings (ACM). Since PennDOT is the lead agency for this project, the
agency meetings are typically held on the ACM's regularly scheduled
meeting dates. A total of 12 agency coordination meetings were held
between February 2020 and January 2024.
Public Review
PennDOT conducted public outreach activities during the PEL Study
for the State College Area Connector to present information and collect
public input. The PEL Study had a Public and Agency Coordination Plan
which provided the foundation for the outreach activities.
Additionally, PennDOT conducted four public open house meetings.
These meetings solicited public comment on the presented information
which included:
<bullet> Virtual Open House Meeting--October 2020
[cir] overview of the transportation development process
[[Page 59959]]
[cir] PEL Study process
[cir] environmental resources
[cir] engineering and traffic data
[cir] purpose and need.
<bullet> Open House Public Meeting--September 21 and 22, 2021
[cir] PEL Study process
[cir] range of alternative concepts
[cir] Upgrade Existing and Build Alternative corridor concepts
[cir] alternative screening process
[cir] preliminary environmental and traffic analysis.
<bullet> Open House Public Meeting--April 5 and 6, 2022
[cir] environmental data collection efforts
[cir] traffic analyses
[cir] Upgrade Existing and Build Alternative corridor refinements
[cir] key resource and alternative changes since September 2021
meetings.
<bullet> Open House Public Meeting--October 19 and 20, 2022
[cir] PEL Study Report draft recommendations for alternatives to
move forward
[cir] potential environmental and traffic impacts/benefits.
In addition, public official kick-off meetings were held in August,
September, and November 2020 (Harris Township/August 10, Centre Hall
Borough/August 13, Potter Township/August 17, College Township/August
20, Benner Township/September 3, Spring Township/September 8, Centre
County/November 24, 2020). These meetings introduced the data presented
in the Virtual Open House Meeting.
Combined public official meetings were also held:
<bullet> August 31, 2021, in advance of the September 2021 open
house meeting.
<bullet> March 30, 2022, in advance of the of the April 2022 open
house meeting.
<bullet> September 7, 2022, in advance of the October 2022 open
house meetings.
The public and agency scoping process is continuing with the
publication of this NOI. PennDOT will maintain and update the project
website, as identified in the ADDRESSES section of this notice, to
direct the public to the Final State College Area Connector Planning
and Environmental Linkages Report and associated scoping documents and
solicit public input. Additionally, PennDOT will continue to conduct
targeted outreach to communities in and around the project area. A 30-
day public comment period is being held in association with the
publication of the NOI in the Federal Register. There will be at least
three more public involvement opportunities for the State College Area
Connector Project. During project Scoping, there will be two public
open house meetings. The first Scoping public open house meeting will
occur after the NOI is issued and will present detailed traffic
analysis, updated environmental features, and preliminary engineering
alignment alternatives. The second Scoping public open house meeting
will be held following alternative refinement and identification of a
draft recommended preferred alternative. This public open house meeting
will also present the revised preliminary alignment alternatives,
associated potential environmental effects, and conceptual mitigation.
Lastly, following the issuance of the Notice of Availability of the
Draft EIS, a public hearing with an option for multiple nights, if
necessary, will be held. Refer to the Coordination Plan for Public
Involvement for more information.
(f) Schedule for the Decision-Making Process
Following the issuance of this notice, FHWA and PennDOT will
coordinate with the Participating and Cooperating Agencies to develop
study documentation and the Draft EIS.
<bullet> The Draft EIS is anticipated to be issued in July 2025.
<bullet> The combined Final EIS/Record of Decision is anticipated
in July 2026.
<bullet> A section 404 permit decision from the USACE is expected
in September 2026.
See the NOI Additional Project Information document for schedule
details.
(g) Request for Identification of Potential Alternatives, Information,
and Analyses Relevant to the Proposed Action
To ensure that a full range of issues related to the project are
addressed and all potential issues are identified, FHWA invites
comments and suggestions from all interested parties. The project team
requests comments and suggestions on purpose and needs, potential
alternatives and impacts, and the identification of any relevant
information, studies, or analyses of any kind concerning impacts
affecting the quality of the human environment. Any information
presented herein, including the project-specific purpose and need,
preliminary range of alternatives and identification of impacts may be
revised after consideration of the comments. The purpose of this
request is to bring relevant comments, information, and analyses to the
agency's attention, as early in the process as possible, to enable the
agency to make maximum use of this information in decision making.
Comments may be submitted according to the instructions in the
ADDRESSES section of this notice.
(h) Contact Information
FHWA: Julia Moore, Senior Environmental Specialist, Federal Highway
Administration, Pennsylvania Division, 30 North Third Street, Suite
700, Harrisburg, PA 17101; email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#064c736a6f67284b696974634662697228616970"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="28625d444149066547475a4d684c475c064f475e">[email protected]</span></a>; 717-221-4585.
Pennsylvania Department of Transportation: Eric Murnyack, PE,
Project Manager, 70 PennDOT Drive, Clearfield, PA 16830; email
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#87e2eaf2f5e9fee6e4ecc7f7e6a9e0e8f1"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="12777f67607c6b7371795262733c757d64">[email protected]</span></a>; 814-765-0435.
Jennifer Maureen Crobak,
Director of Planning, Environment, Finance, Federal Highway
Administration.
[FR Doc. 2024-16257 Filed 7-23-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-22-P
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</html>Indexed from Federal Register on July 24, 2024.
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