[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 65 (Tuesday, April 5, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-8061]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: April 5, 1994]


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GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION
 

Expansion of the U.S. Plaza at Rainbow Bridge, Niagara Falls, NY; 
Environmental Impact Statement

AGENCY: General Services Administration (GSA).

ACTION: Notice of Intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement 
(EIS).

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SUMMARY: The GSA is issuing this notice to advise the public that an 
EIS will be prepared for the expansion of the U.S. plaza at the Rainbow 
Bridge in Niagara Falls, New York.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Peter A. Sneed, Director, Planning 
Staff--2PL, U.S. General Services Administration, Public Buildings 
Service, 26 Federal Plaza, room 1609, New York, NY 10278, (212) 264-
3581.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The GSA will serve as lead agency in the 
preparation of an EIS for the expansion of the U.S. plaza at the 
Rainbow Bridge in Niagara Falls, New York. The project is sponsored by 
the Niagara Falls Bridge Commission (NFBC), and includes the demolition 
of existing plaza facilities and the construction of new, expanded 
facilities at the site. The GSA will lease space at the newly expanded 
facility for use by the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service 
(INS) and the U.S. Customs Service. The international border functions 
of the INS and Customs are severely hindered at the Rainbow Bridge due 
to increasing traffic volumes at the plaza and the limited size and 
functional obsolescence of the existing facilities. Therefore, the 
proposed project is being undertaken to accommodate the existing and 
projected growth in traffic and the resultant expansion requirements of 
INS and Customs. The proposed plaza facilities accommodate existing and 
future demand by providing approximately 48,000 square feet (SF) of 
interior and exterior space which will be leased to GSA for the 
essential functions of INS and Customs.
    The EIS will evaluate U.S. Rainbow Bridge plaza alternatives, 
including the non-action alternative. It will also evaluate impacts on 
the affected environment, including the following resource areas; 
subsurface and geological conditions, including water quality; 
landforms; vegetation and wildfire; natural hazards; air quality; 
noise; population and economic conditions; land use and zoning; 
archaeological, historic, architectural elements, and visual impacts; 
utilities; traffic and transportation; and hazardous wastes. The 
Rainbow Bridge plaza is located within the boundaries of the Niagara 
Reservation National Historic Landmark and issues related to Section 
6(f) of the U.S. Land and Water Conservation Fund Act and Section 106 
of the National Historic Preservation Act will be prominent in the EIS.

Public Scoping Meeting

    To ensure that all issues relating to the proposed project are 
identified and all potentially significant issues are addressed and 
satisfied in the EIS, public comments and suggestions are being 
solicited. To facilitate the receipt of comments, public scoping 
meetings will be held on Tuesday, May 3, 1994 from 3 P.M. to 5 P.M. and 
from 7 P.M. to 9 P.M. at the Niagara Falls Public Library, Earl W. 
Brydges Library Building, 1425 Main Street, Niagara Fall, New York.
    Written comments may be mailed to the informational contact person 
no later than June 3, 1994.

    Issued in New York, NY, on May 25, 1994.

    Dated: March 18, 1994.
Karen R. Adler,
Regional Administrator, General Services Administration.
[FR Doc. 94-8061 Filed 4-4-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6820-23-M