Bedford-Moore-Coffee Counties
From State Route 64 to North Washington Street
Environmental Documents
| The US 41A roadway improvement corridor originates in Shelbyville, Bedford
County at SR 64 (Rice-Coffee Highway) and terminates at North Washington
Street in Tullahoma, Coffee County. The length of the corridor is
approximately 12 miles and required the need for two separate
environmental documents. From SR 64 in Shelbyville to Magnolia Lane near
the Moore County line, the document assesses the environmental impacts the
improvement would cause. From Magnolia Lane to North Washington Street in
Tullahoma, the document identifies no impacts from the improvement. Fundamentally, TDOT adheres to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969 which provides guidance on the process of conducting environmental studies. All road projects under the oversight of the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) must be subjected to intense study for environmental impacts before the acquisition of right-of-way can be authorized and approved. Those impacts include: land use, farmland, social, construction, relocations, economic, air quality, noise, visual, energy, ecological, cultural, hazardous material and environmental justice. When it is apparent that road projects will not have a cumulative effect on the human environment, NEPA recommends a “Categorical Exclusion” document which demonstrates that the actions taken to build a road will not have any significant impact on the environment. The section of US 41A from the Moore County line to North Washington Street received approval from the FHWA for a Categorical Exclusion on October 23, 2000 (see map link). When impacts are anticipated, NEPA requires an assessment to provide sufficient evidence whether TDOT and FHWA should prepare an impact statement or a document which finds no significant impact. This assessment, more widely known as the “Environmental Assessment” is completed and approved by the FHWA before a corridor hearing is scheduled. The assessment generally shows several alternative routes for a proposed road and/or demonstrates how to avoid or lessen certain impacts. The section of US 41A from SR 64 in Shelbyville to the Moore County line required an Environmental Assessment (EA) and a draft of the document was approved by the FHWA on April 14, 2003 (see map link). Copies of both documents are available for inspection by contacting: |
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| Mr. Bobby Blackmon Division Administrator Federal Highway Administration 640 Grassmere Park, Suite 112 Nashville, TN 37211 615.781.5770 |
Ms. Suzanne Herron Transportation Manager II Tennessee Department of Transportation Environmental Planning and Permits Division James K. Polk Building, Suite 900 Nashville, TN 37243-0334 615.741.3653 |
