81 FR 88725 - Environmental Impact Statement: Rockingham County, New Hampshire

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Highway Administration

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 236 (December 8, 2016)

The FHWA is issuing this revised notice to advise the public that a Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Statement (SDEIS) will be prepared for a proposed highway project in the Towns of Derry and Londonderry, in Rockingham County, New Hampshire.

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 236 (Thursday, December 8, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 88725-88726]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-29413]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration


Environmental Impact Statement: Rockingham County, New Hampshire

AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT.

ACTION: Revised notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: The FHWA is issuing this revised notice to advise the public 
that a Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Statement (SDEIS) will 
be prepared for a proposed highway project in the Towns of Derry and 
Londonderry, in Rockingham County, New Hampshire.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Jamie Sikora, New Hampshire 
Division, Federal Highway Administration, 53 Pleasant Street, Suite 
2200, Concord, New Hampshire 03301, Telephone: (603) 410-4870. Mr. 
Keith Cota, Chief Project Manager, New Hampshire Department of 
Transportation, 7 Hazen Drive, Concord, New Hampshire 03302-0483, 
Telephone: (603) 271-1615. Mr. David Caron, Town Administrator, Town of 
Derry, 14 Manning Street, Derry, New Hampshire 03038, Telephone: (603) 
432-6100. Mr. Kevin Smith, Town Manager, Town of Londonderry, 268B 
Mammoth Road, Londonderry, New Hampshire 03053, Telephone: (603) 432-
1100 x111.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: FHWA, in cooperation with the Towns of Derry 
and Londonderry (the Towns) and the New Hampshire Department of 
Transportation (NHDOT), is advancing an updated environmental study for 
the I-93 Exit 4A Project. The purpose of the proposed project is to 
reduce congestion and improve safety along NH Route 102, from I-93 
easterly through downtown Derry and to promote economic vitality in the 
Derry/Londonderry area.
    Planning for the Project began in 1985 and a Notice of Intent was 
published in the Federal Register on June 12, 1998 (Vol. 63 No. 113). A 
Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) was completed in 2007 and a 
Notice of Availability published on August 3, 2007 (EIS No. 20070317). 
A Public Hearing on the DEIS was held on September 12, 2007. Project 
development was subsequently delayed for several years. In October 
2015, the Governor's Office directed NHDOT to accelerate the Exit 4A 
Project, and the Project was incorporated in the state's Ten Year 
Transportation Improvement Plan for 2017-2026. Pursuant to 40 CFR 
1502.9(c) and 23 CFR 771.129, SDEIS will provide an up-to-date 
assessment of the environmental effects of the proposed project and 
reasonable alternatives that considers updated information regarding 
traffic, socioeconomic projections, land development proposals in the 
project area, and changes in environmental resources and regulatory 
requirements. After completion of the SDEIS, FHWA will complete the 
environmental review process by issuing a Combined Final EIS (FEIS) and 
Record of Decision (ROD).
    The Preferred Alternative identified in the 2007 DEIS consisted of 
a new diamond interchange on I-93 in the Town of Londonderry, 
approximately one mile north of Exit 4. The new diamond interchange 
would provide access to the east side of I-93. A 1-mile connector 
roadway would be built on new alignment from the interchange to Folsom 
Road, near the intersection of North High Street and Madden Road, in 
the Town of Derry. Folsom Road, and subsequently Tsienneto Road, would 
be upgraded, and the intersections would be improved. In addition to 
the Preferred Alternative, the SDEIS will evaluate the same range of 
alternatives assessed in the 2007 DEIS, which included alternative 
interchange locations, connector road alignments, upgrades to NH 102 
and the No Build Alternative.
    To provide an update on the status of the proposed project and 
environmental review process, a public information meeting was held in 
Derry, New Hampshire on September 26, 2016. Additionally, once the 
SDEIS is complete in 2017, the document will be distributed to 
government agencies, posted on the project Web site, and made available 
at multiple locations throughout the project area for public viewing. 
During the 45 day SDEIS public comment period, a public hearing will be 
held providing the public with an opportunity to review and comment on 
the SDEIS.
    Comments and suggestions are invited from all interested parties to 
ensure that the full range of issues related to this proposed action 
are addressed and all significant issues are identified. Comments or 
questions concerning this proposed action should be directed to the 
FHWA or NHDOT at the addresses provided above or submitted via the

[[Page 88726]]

project Web site at http://i93exit4a.com/.

(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: November 30, 2016.
Patrick A. Bauer,
 Division Administrator, Federal Highway Administration, Concord, New 
Hampshire.
[FR Doc. 2016-29413 Filed 12-7-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-22-P