DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Finding Indiana County [32 Pa.B. 6014] Under section 2002(b) of The Administrative Code 1929 (71 P. S. § 512(b)), the Secretary of Transportation makes the following written finding:
The Department of Transportation (Department) plans to replace the existing Lewis Bridge, carrying T-398 over the Little Mahoning Creek in West Mahoning Township, Indiana County. The existing Lewis Bridge has been determined eligible for the National Register of Historic Places. The effect of this project on the existing Lewis Bridge will be mitigated by the following measures to minimize harm to the resources.
1. The Department, in consultation with the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO), shall ensure that a plan is prepared for marketing the Lewis Bridge. This marketing plan shall include the following elements:
* Photographs of the current bridge (the property).
* A tax parcel map.
* A current inspection report assessing the condition of the bridge.
* Information on the cost of purchasing the bridge.
* Information on the property's historic significance.
* Information on tax benefits available for rehabilitation of historic properties.
* Notification that the purchaser shall be responsible for the relocation of the property.
* Notification that the purchaser will be required to rehabilitate and maintain the property in accordance with the recommended approaches in the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation and Guidelines for Rehabilitating Historic Buildings (United States Department of the Interior, National Park Service, 1992);
* Notification that the transfer or sale of the property will include preservation covenants and deed restrictions in the documents transferring the property to the purchaser which shall be recorded with the appropriate local government authority.
* A distribution list of potential purchasers.
* An advertising plan and schedule.
* A schedule for receiving and reviewing offers.
2. The SHPO will be afforded 30 days to concur with the marketing plan. Upon the SHPO's concurrence with the marketing plan or after resolution of any disagreement, in accordance with Administrative Condition D.1 of the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA), the Department shall implement the marketing plan.
3. The Department, in consultation with the SHPO, shall review each offer it receives in response to the marketing plan and select one that meets the following requirements:
* The plan provides for the relocation and rehabilitation of the property as stipulated in the marketing plan.
* The SHPO will be afforded 30 days to review and to concur with the relocation site that provides an appropriate context for the preservation of the property.
* The offerer has the financial and technical ability to carry out the terms of the offer.
* The offerer agrees to accept transfer of the property with the preservation covenants and deed restrictions subject to subparagraph 5.
4. If the Lewis Bridge is successfully marketed, the SHPO will be afforded 30 days to review and concur with the preservation covenants and deed restrictions.
5. If the Department receives no offer that will conform to the requirements of subparagraph 3, the Department, in consultation with the SHPO, may modify the requirements and reoffer the property or the Department may demolish the property. Should the SHPO object to the Department's decision regarding the property, the SHPO shall implement Administrative Condition D.1 of the MOA.
6. The Department shall ensure that the Lewis Bridge is documented to State-level standards prior to its demolition. The documentation will include a short narrative on the bridge and photographic recordation which will be submitted to the SHPO for review and comment. Copies of the approved documentation will be made available to the SHPO and the Historical and Genealogical Society of Indiana County.
* The Department shall ensure that the narrative provides a physical description of the Lewis Bridge.
* The Department shall ensure that the photographic documentation of the bridge follows standards established by the Historical and Museum Commission. These standards include preparing archive quality, 35mm black and white photographs printed in a 5 inch by 7 inch format and each print labeled in pencil with the name and location of the bridge, date of photograph and view shown. The photographs will be keyed to a site plan/map.
7. The Department shall ensure that a display board about the Lewis Bridge will be prepared. The display board will outline a brief history of the bridge and provide information on other truss bridges in Indiana County. The SHPO will be provided drafts of the text, graphics and layout of the display board for comment. The Department will make the display board available to the public through the public library, local schools, community groups or historical societies suggested by the SHPO.
The Secretary has considered the environmental, economic, social and other effects of the proposed project as enumerated in section 2002 of The Administrative Code of 1929 and has concluded that there is no feasible and prudent alternative to the project as designed, and all reasonable steps have been taken to minimize the effect.
No adverse environmental effect is likely to result from the removal of this bridge.
BRADLEY L. MALLORY
Secretary[Pa.B. Doc. No. 02-2192. Filed for public inspection December 6, 2002, 9:00 a.m.]
