Finding Allegheny and Westmoreland Counties [33 Pa.B. 3439] Under section 2002(b) of The Administrative Code of 1929 (71 P. S. § 512(b)), the Secretary of Transportation makes the following written finding:
The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and the Department of Transportation are planning to replace the bridge which carries SR 2076 over Pucketa Creek between Plum Borough in Allegheny County and Upper Burrell Township in Westmoreland County.
The bridge is eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places and therefore qualifies as a Section 2002/Section 4(f) resource. The State Historic Preservation Officer (SHPO) has concurred in a determination of ''adverse effect'' upon the resource.
The subject project is considered a Level 2 Categorical Exclusion in accordance with 23 CFR 771.117(d), Items 1 and 3 (relating to categorical exclusions) as published in the August 28, 1987, Federal Register.
Based upon studies, there is no prudent and feasible alternative to the proposed action. Mitigation measures will be taken to minimize harm as stipulated in the Categorical Exclusion Evaluation/Programmatic Section 4(f) Evaluation and the Memorandum of Agreement between the FHWA and the SHPO.
The environmental, economic, social and other effects of the proposed project as enumerated in section 2002 of The Administrative Code of 1929 have been considered. It has been concluded that there is no feasible and prudent alternative to the project as designed and all reasonable steps have been taken to minimize effects.
ALLEN D. BIEHLER, P. E.,
Secretary[Pa.B. Doc. No. 03-1366. Filed for public inspection July 11, 2003, 9:00 a.m.]
