Finding Butler County [36 Pa.B. 5835]
[Saturday, September 16, 2006]Under section 2002(b) of The Administrative Code of 1929 (71 P. S. § 512(b)), the Deputy Secretary for Highway Administration (Deputy Secretary) makes the following written finding:
The Department of Transportation (Department) plans to replace the existing Wayne Street Bridge, carrying SR 0356 over Connoquenessing Creek in the City of Butler, Butler County. The existing Wayne Street Bridge, as well as the Butler Historic District, the South Butler Historic District and the Butler Industrial Corridor Historic District have been determined eligible for the National Register of Historic Places. The effect of this project on the said historic resources will be mitigated by the following measures to minimize harm to the resources.
1. The Department shall design the details of the new bridge to minimize the visual impact of the project on the historic character of the three historic districts. Design elements could include form liners or applied stone on the face of the abutments and compatible lighting fixtures. The selection of historically compatible design elements will be made by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) in consultation with the Department, the public, the Butler County Historical Society (BCHS) and the State Historic Preservation Officer (SHPO).
2. The Department shall erect an interpretive plaque on the site. The Department will consult with BCHS and the SHPO on the text, as well as on the location and appearance of the plaque.
3. The Department shall conduct a regional synthesis of the Connoquenessing Creek Valley (Valley). The study will include a geomorphological survey of the Valley and the development of an archaeological synthesis of precontact sites in the Valley. The Department shall prepare a technical report on the geomorphological survey and precontact archaeological synthesis. The report shall be submitted to the FHWA, the SHPO, interested Tribes and the BCHS for comment prior to distribution. Fifty compact discs will be distributed to the Butler County Historical Society, the City Library, and the Pennsylvania Archaeological Council (PAC). Five paper copies of the report will be provided to the SHPO.
4. The Department shall prepare an historic context report or booklet on the Butler Industrial Corridor and the existing bridge for public consumption. A draft of this report will be provided to the FHWA, SHPO and the BCHS for comment. Two hundred and fifty paper copies and 50 compact discs of this document will be produced and distributed to the BCHS, the City Library and the PAC. A copy will be provided to the SHPO.
The Deputy 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 such effect.
No adverse environmental effect is likely to result from the replacement of this bridge.
R. H. HOGG, P. E.,
Deputy Secretary for Highway Administration[Pa.B. Doc. No. 06-1820. Filed for public inspection September 15, 2006, 9:00 a.m.]
