DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Finding Centre County [44 Pa.B. 6170]
[Saturday, September 27, 2014]Under section 2002(b) of The Administrative Code of 1929 (71 P. S. § 512(b)), the Deputy Secretary for Highway Administration, as delegated by the Secretary of Transportation, makes the following written finding:
The Department of Transportation (Department) is planning to construct the Potters Mills Gap Alternative with the Sandcrest Road Eastern Interchange Option, which will provide full interchanges at both the eastern and western project limits and extends the four-lane Route 322 facility from the end of the existing four-lane facility at Decker Valley Road west to the proposed western interchange in Potter Township, Centre County just west of the existing Route 144/Route 322 intersection. The new four-lane section is partially off alignment, but was designed to stay as close to the existing alignment as possible to minimize impacts. The proposed four-lane extension eliminates the at-grade intersection of Decker Valley Road with the four-lane section of Route 322, instead connecting it to the two-lane connector road that is to be provided between Potters Mills (Route 144) and Sand Mountain Road. At Sand Mountain Road, the full interchange eliminates the at-grade intersection of Sand Mountain Road with the four-lane section of Route 322. The proposed project will not have a significant effect on the environment.
In accordance with section 2002 of The Administrative Code of 1929 establishing the Department, an Environmental Assessment (EA) has been developed for the subject project. 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. The EA, the Errata to the EA and the EA Response to comment Report have been independently evaluated by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and determined to discuss adequately and accurately the need, environmental issues and impacts of the proposed project and appropriate mitigation measures. Based on the EA, FHWA has issued a Finding of No Significant Impact for the project.
Based upon studies and the Final Individual Section 4(f) Evaluation, there is no feasible and prudent alternative to the use of the Section 4(f)/Section 2002 resources for the proposed action, and the project is planned to minimize harm to the Section 4(f)/Section 2002 resources. A 0.04-acre drainage easement is anticipated on the National Register Listed Potter-Allison Farm property. This was determined to be a DeMinimis Section 4(f) use. Approximately 61 acres out of a total of 107,520 acres of the National Register Eligible Penns/Brush Valley Rural Historic District will be impacted by the proposed project. Mitigation measures will be taken to minimize harm as stipulated in the EA and as documented in the executed Programmatic Agreement.
No significant adverse environmental effect is likely to result from the proposed action.
R. SCOTT CHRISTIE, PE,
Deputy Secretary for Highway Administration[Pa.B. Doc. No. 14-2026. Filed for public inspection September 26, 2014, 9:00 a.m.]
