Compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act or NEPA is one of the steps that must be taken during the planning of a highway project. Decisions made by the KYTC regarding land use and resource management must also respect the natural environment. Before the preferred alternate is selected, a host of environmental base studies is required including: Air Quality Analysis, Highway Noise Studies, Terrestrial and Aquatic Ecological Assessments, Socioeconomic Impact Analysis and Archaeological and Cultural Historic Assessments.

All of the Environmental Base Studies for this project are completed and have been reviewed and approved by the coordinating state and federal agencies. The Air, Noise, Aquatic and Terrestrial, and Socio-Economic base studies were all approved with no significant impacts anticipated. The Environmental Assessment has been completed and was approved by the Federal Highway Administration on September 8, 2004.

Cultural Historic Resources

Section 106 Consultation on Cultural Historic resources has been coordinated between the Federal Highway Administration, the Kentucky Heritage Council, and Kentucky Transportation Cabinet. Within the project area there were five sites previously listed in the National Register of Historic Places. The cultural historic investigation resulted in the evaluation of 109 additional historic properties. In addition to the previously listed sites, thirty-two other resources were determined to have eligibility potential for listing in the National Register. An exhibit identifying these properties will be presented at the next public meeting scheduled for November 4, 2004.

None of the proposed alternatives will have direct or indirect impacts to either listed or eligible Cultural Historic National Register properties. The Consulting Party process, part of the public involvement section of 106, resulted in the approval of two consulting parties. Their comments on the Cultural Historic report were taken on April 8, 2003.

Archaeological Resources

Certain high probability areas of all the proposed alternatives were archaeologically investigated to identify both historic and prehistoric sites within that alternative corridor. The Phase I Archaeological survey resulted in the identification of 33 unrecorded sites, one previously recorded site, and two non-site localities. Three sites were not evaluated due to lack of access and they will be tested during the design phase. A total of eight sites appear to contain the potential for significant scientific data content and are recommended as having potential for National Register eligibility. Avoidance of these sites is recommended. Avoidance of many of these sites will be possible with the identification of the preferred alternative. Once the preferred alternative is identified, full Phase I investigations will be completed for any areas that were not previously surveyed. Phase II testing will only be undertaken on potentially eligible sites that may be impacted by the preferred alternative.

The Cultural Historic Assessment Report has been completed and a total of 128 historic resources in the project area were studied. Four of these are currently listed in the National Register of Historic Places, and twenty-two newly documented sites are proposed as eligible for listing in the National Register. The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet and the Kentucky Heritage Council have concurred that 24 are listed or eligible to be listed. Further consultation regarding the eligibility of eight other sites is ongoing, with agreement nearing resolution.

With the final decision on eligibility of structures nearing completion, the KYTC is moving forward to complete the Phase I Archaeological survey of the project area. Studies on noise impact, ecological assessments, and socioeconomic impacts are also ongoing, and a draft Environmental Assessment is anticipated to be completed by late Fall, 2003. Questions regarding the status of the Cultural Historic Assessment Report or the Environmental Assessment may be directed to:

Phill Logsdon
Environmental Coordinator,
Kentucky Transportation Cabinet
District 7
763 West New Circle Road
Lexington, KY 40512

A Historic Report listing all the registered sites along with those that are potentially eligible, has been prepared. After it has been approved by the State Historic Preservation Office and the Transportation Cabinet's Department of Environmental Assessments, it will be presented to the public along with a map identifying the properties and roadway alignments that minimize impacts to those sites.

A video is now available that explains section 106 National Historic Preservation act as it relates to highway projects. Select one of the options below to view the video. Requires Real Player or Windows Media Player. Text version of video transcript available here.

64 K	Real Player	Windows Media Player	Low Bandwidth
128 K	Real Player	Windows Media Player	Cable/DSL Connection
384 K	Real Player	Windows Media Player	High Speed Connection

You can download either player, for free, below.