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PA Bulletin, Doc. No. 02-508

NOTICES

Finding

Lehigh County

[32 Pa.B. 1703]

   Under the provisions of section 2002(b) of The Administrative Code of 1929 (code) (71 P. S. § 512(b)), the Secretary of Transportation makes the following written finding:

   The Federal Highway Administration and the Department of Transportation plan to replace the Main Street Bridge which carries S.R. 0873 over Trout Creek in Slatington Borough, Lehigh County.

   The subject project will require use of the National Register-eligible West Main Street/Kern Historic District, the National Register-eligible Slatington New Company Building and Kern's Mill Park. The project will require the demolition of the Main Street Bridge which is a contributing element to the National Register-eligible West Main Street/Kern Historic District. The project will also require demolition of the Slatington News Company Building. The Slatington News Company Building not only contributes to the significance of the West Main Street/Kern Historic District but is also individually eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places. The project will also require the permanent acquisition of approximately 0.024 hectare (0.065 acre) from the 5.1-hectare (12.6 acre) Kern's Mill Park. In addition, a 0.01 hectare (0.022 acre) temporary construction easement will be required from Kern's Mill Park on the north side of the existing bridge and a 0.36 hectare (0.898 acre) temporary construction easement will be required from Kern's Mill Park on the south side of the existing bridge.

   The environmental, economic, social and other effects of the proposed project as enumerated in section 2002 of the code 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 the effects. A Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) has been prepared and signed by all appropriate agencies for the proposed action to take into account the effect of the proposed undertaking on historic properties. Mitigation measures have been stipulated in the MOA. As stipulated in the MOA that was prepared for this project, the design for the replacement Main Street Bridge will be compatible with the historic and architectural qualities of the West Main Street/Kern Historic District. The substructure (piers, abutments and retaining walls) of the new bridge will be faced in stone similar in appearance to the existing stone substructure. A plaque briefly describing the history and significance of the West Main Street/Kern Historic District will be placed within an incised blind arch in the southeastern wing wall of the new bridge. This plaque will be developed in consultation with the PA SHPO.

   Prior to implementation of the project, the National Park Service will be contacted to determine the appropriateness of Historic American Building Survey/Historic American Engineering Record documentation of the Slatington News Company Building and the Main Street Bridge. The Borough of Slatington will be compensated for the taking of land from Kern's Mill Park and replacement of facilities affected. Project refinements have eliminated the impacts to 435 Main Street and the Slatington High School Property, which are both contributing elements to the West Main Street/Kern Historic District. Therefore, the mitigation identified in the MOA stipulations 1.C and 1.E is no longer applicable.

   The Secretary has considered the environmental, economic, social and other effects of the proposed project as enumerated in section 2002 of the code 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 the effect.

BRADLEY L. MALLORY,   
Secretary

[Pa.B. Doc. No. 02-508. Filed for public inspection March 29, 2002, 9:00 a.m.]


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