Sunday, October 31, 2010

Obama Mosaic taken from Route 250 Bypass on Oct 29 after Obama visit to Charlottesville

I learned yesterday that the Obama Mosaic that has been mounted on a heavy-duty wooden sign on Route 250 Bypass was removed sometime Friday night or early Saturday morning. Some unknown individual sawed through the 4"X4" posts and absconded with the sign. It is unknown if the sign was stolen for its artistic value, or by someone who is opposed to anything Obama. Simply put, this act is a crime and theft and/or destruction of private property is not something that we should tolerate in Charlottesville.

Local radio host Rob Schilling posted a comment about the Obama sign being removed on Oct 07, 2010 claiming a variety of political reasons for removal of the Obama sign. Schilling was totally wrong in his assessment. In fact, the Obama sign suffered from being exposed to sun, snow, salt, etc. and the adhesive backing used in constructing the mosaic sign failed. The sign was in my possession until I did the necessary repairs to the mosaic I created back in 2008. The sign was remounted on Route 250 Bypass earlier this month when the restoration was completed.

I realize that Rob Schilling is in the entertainment business and not necessarily in the business of providing factual material for consideration by his listeners. But had he done a bit of fact checking, he could easily have discovered the facts surrounding the temporary removal of the Obama Mosaic. Perhaps there is more entertainment value for listeners and better ratings for the Rob Schilling Show to present wild speculation rather than well researched information.

In a Schilling Show blog of Oct. 7, it is stated that "An inspection of the site yielded no evidence of vandalism or destruction; no shards of smashed ceramic were detected." But, now there is clear evidence of vandalism and destruction of the sign. I encourage Rob Schilling to discuss this vandalism on his show and post another blog entry about the Obama sign. Although I am not a regular listener of his show, I would gladly tune in to hear him condemn vandalism and destruction of this sign as an unacceptable and illegal act in our community.

I am sending a copy of this blog posting to the Schilling Show and I will encourage that Rob Schilling present a clear position on freedom of expression on private property and if he supports or opposes the removal of the Obama mosaic from private property.

-- Peter Kleeman

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

FHWA publishes Finding of No Significant Impact for Route 250 Bypass Interchange at McIntire Road - CPMP considers legal action.


The Federal Highway Administration has published a Finding of No Significant Impact for the Route 250 Bypass Interchange at McIntire Road in the October 13, 2010 edition of the Federal Register.

This posting is given below with links to many of the documents, laws, etc. referenced in the posting. I added these links so that you can browse some of the documents, laws, etc. of interest to you.

The Coalition to Preserve McIntire Park (CPMP) is currently reviewing the Environmental Assessment, the Final Section 4(f) Evaluation for compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act, Section 4(f) of the Department of Transportation Act of 1966, and Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act. CPMP is working with its attorney to determine if legal action is desirable to preserve McIntire Park.


Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 197 / Wednesday, October 13, 2010 / Notices, pp. 62919-20




DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration

Notice of Final Federal Agency Actions on the Route 250 Bypass Interchange at McIntire Road Project in Virginia

AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of limitation on claims for judicial review of actions by FHWA.



SUMMARY: This notice announces actions taken by the FHWA that are final within the meaning of 23 U.S.C. 139(l)(1). The actions relate to the Route 250 Bypass Interchange at McIntire Road project in the City of Charlottesville, Virginia. Those actions grant licenses, permits, and approvals for the project.

DATES: By this notice, the FHWA is advising the public of final agency actions subject to 23 U.S.C. 139(l)(1). A claim seeking judicial review of the Federal agency actions on the project will be barred unless the claim is filed on or before April 11, 2011. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a claim arising under Federal law seeking judicial review of a permit, license, or approval issued by a Federal agency for a highway or public transportation capital project shall be barred unless it is filed within 180 days after publication of a notice in the Federal Register announcing that the permit, license, or approval is final pursuant to the law under which the agency action is taken, unless a shorter time is specified in the Federal law pursuant to which judicial review is allowed.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. John Simkins, Senior Environmental Specialist, Federal Highway Administration, 400 North 8th Street, Richmond, Virginia 23219; telephone: (804) 775–3342; e-mail: John.Simkins@dot.gov. The FHWA Virginia Division Office’s normal business hours are 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. (eastern time). For the City of Charlottesville (the project sponsor): Ms. Angela Tucker, Development Services Manager, P.O. Box 911, Charlottesville, Virginia 22902; telephone: (434) 970–3993; e-mail: tuckera@charlottesville.org. The City of Charlottesville’s normal business hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (eastern time).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Notice is hereby given that FHWA has taken final agency actions subject to 23 U.S.C. 139(l)(1) by issuing licenses, permits, and approvals for the following project in the State of Virginia: Route 250 Bypass Interchange at McIntire Road. The project would involve construction of a grade-separated interchange at the existing intersection of Route 250 Bypass and McIntire Road. The project would reduce traffic congestion and improve community mobility. The actions taken by FHWA, and the laws under which such actions were taken, are described in the Revised Environmental Assessment, the letter finalizing the Environmental Assessment process and requesting a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI), the FONSI that was issued on September 29, 2010, the Final Section 4(f) Evaluation that was approved on September 29, 2010, and in other documents in the FHWA project records. The Revised Environmental Assessment, the letter finalizing the Environmental Assessment process and requesting a FONSI, the FONSI, and the Final Section 4(f) Evaluation can be viewed on the project’s internet Web site at http://www.250interchange.org. These documents and other project records are also available by contacting FHWA or the City of Charlottesville at the phone numbers and addresses provided above.

This notice applies to all Federal agency decisions as of the issuance date of this notice and all laws under which such actions were taken, including but not limited to:

1. General: National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) [42 U.S.C. 4321–4351]; Federal-Aid Highway Act (FAHA) [23 U.S.C. 109 and 23 U.S.C. 128].

2. Air: Clean Air Act [42 U.S.C. 7401–7671(q)].

3. Land: Section 4(f) of the Department of Transportation Act of 1966 [49 U.S.C. 303].

4. Wildlife: Endangered Species Act [16 U.S.C. 1531–1544 and Section 1536].

5. Historic and Cultural Resources: Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as amended [16 U.S.C. 470(f) et seq.].

6. Social and Economic: Farmland Protection Policy Act [7 U.S.C. 4201–4209].

(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Program Number 20.205, Highway Planning and Construction. The regulations implementing Executive Order 12372 regarding intergovernmental consultation on Federal programs and activities apply to this program.)

Authority: 23 U.S.C 139(l)(1).
Issued on: October 6, 2010.
John Simkins,

Senior Environmental Specialist.

[FR Doc. 2010–25697 Filed 10–12–10; 8:45 am]
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