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C O M M I S S I O N N E W S R E L E A S E |
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Contact: |
Thomas A. Fox (724) 755-5260, Fax (724) 755-5142 |
July 3, 2002 |
In
response to requests from the general public, the comment period for the
Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) and Draft Section 4(f)
Evaluation for the proposed Mon/Fayette Expressway Project between Pa. Route
51 in Jefferson Hills and Interstate 376 (the Parkway East) in Pittsburgh
and Monroeville has been extended from August 14 to September 9. The
comment period for the five-volume document, including a Clean Water Act
Section 404 Permit Application, began on Friday, May 31. The DEIS remains
available for public review and comment at local municipal offices, area
libraries and other locations. The
DEIS/Draft Section 4(f) Evaluation may be obtained in CD-ROM form, for a $10
fee, by contacting Lou Washowich at the Turnpike Commission’s Western
Regional Office at 724-755-5263. Written
comments on the DEIS should be sent to David P. Willis, Environmental
Manager, Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission, P.O. Box 67676, Harrisburg, PA
17106-7676. Written comments on the Section 404 Permit Application should be
sent to Rich Sobol, Project Manager, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Regulatory
Branch, 1000 Liberty Avenue, 1834 Federal Building, Pittsburgh, PA 15222. Comments
also can be presented in oral or written form during any of three public
hearings later this month. Public
hearings will be held as originally scheduled - from 1 to 9 pm Tuesday, July
16 at West Mifflin High School; Tuesday, July 23 at Burgwin Elementary
School in Hazelwood; and Thursday, July 25 at the Monroeville Expo Mart.
Also
unchanged is the date of the last open house plans display, which will be
held from 1 to 8 pm Tuesday, July 9 at West Mifflin High School. Each
public hearing will include a display of plans where people can review maps
and information, including the anticipated impacts of alternatives that were
studied in detail. In addition, several technical reports referenced in the
DEIS will be available for review at the hearings. Representatives of the Turnpike Commission and the Army Corps
of Engineers will give formal presentations at 2 pm and 6 pm. Immediately
following the formal presentations, oral testimony can be presented and will
be recorded for the official record by a stenographer. Speakers will be
limited to five minutes but can submit more detailed written testimony to
supplement their oral testimony. Speakers
who intend to provide public oral testimony are encouraged to preregister by
calling Lisa Yackovich at 724-755-5261. People
also will have the option of giving oral testimony in private, either to a
stenographer or a tape recorder, anytime between 1 and 9 pm. Private oral
testimony also will be included in the official record. After reviewing comments on the DEIS the Turnpike Commission, in conjunction with the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PENNDOT) and the U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), will prepare and circulate a Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) for public review and comment. |
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P.O. Box 67676, Harrisburg, PA 17106-7676 Phone: (717) 939-9551 Fax: (717) 986-9649 |