Augusta ? MaineDOT and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) have released the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS)/Clean Water Act Section 404 Permit Application Supporting Information for the I-395/Route 9 Transportation Study for review and comment.
This DEIS/Clean Water Act Section 404 Permit Application Supporting Information examines the potential impacts of the ?no-build? alternative and three ?build? alternatives developed to satisfy the study purpose and needs. The purpose of this DEIS is to provide a full accounting of the potential impacts to the natural, social, and atmospheric environments and transportation system. It serves as the primary document to facilitate review of the project by federal, state, local agencies as well as the general public.
After careful consideration of all the alternatives, MaineDOT and FHWA identified Alternative 2B-2 as the ?Preferred Alternative? because they believe it best satisfies the study purpose and needs, it fulfills their mission and responsibilities, and it has the least adverse impact.
As part of the review, MaineDOT and FHWA invite comments on its decision to identify Alternative 2B-2 as its ?Preferred Alternative?. Comments on this and supporting information are due by May 15, 2012.
In order to informally discuss the project and this decision, an open house for the project will be held at the Brewer Auditorium located at 318 Wilson Street in Brewer, on Wednesday April 4th from 3 PM to 8 PM. A second open house will be held at the Eddington Town Office on May 2nd from 1 PM to 4:30 PM.
The open houses will include several booths to be staffed with experts to answer the public?s questions about the study, environmental and property issues, as well as the designs. There will be large-format displays of the three alternative routes available for viewing, as well as other detailed information. The Army Corps of Engineers will attend, along with the Federal Highway Administration and MaineDOT.
The formal public hearing will also be held in on May 2nd from 6 PM to 8 PM at the Eddington Elementary School. Members of the public can provide their input during that meeting.
Formal written comments on the DEIS may also be sent to:
Mark HasselmannFHWA Maine DivisionEdmund Muskie S. Muskie Federal Building40 Western Avenue, Room 614Augusta, Maine 04330
Or
Russell CharetteMaineDOT16 State House StationAugusta, Maine 04333-0016Russ.Charette@Maine.gov