[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 120 (Thursday, June 23, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-15222]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: June 23, 1994]


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GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION
Public Buildings Service

 

Proposed Port of Entry, Located at Point Roberts, Washington; 
Intent To Prepare an Environmental Assessment or Environmental Impact 
Statement

ACTION: The General Services Administration (GSA) hereby gives notice 
it intends to prepare either an Environmental Assessment (EA) or an 
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) in accordance with the National 
Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) for the proposed expansion of 
the port of entry located at Point Roberts, Washington. The decision on 
whether to prepare an EIS would be made following the completion of 
scoping and the Environmental Assessment. The EA would evaluate the 
proposed project, expansion of the existing port of entry, the no-
action alternative, and other reasonable alternatives that might be 
identified during the scoping process.

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ADDRESS: Scoping will be accomplished by correspondence and through a 
public meeting with interested persons, organizations, and Federal, 
state, and local agencies. Written comments on the scope of 
alternatives and potential impacts should be addressed to the GSA's EIS 
subconsultant, ABAM Consulting Engineers, at the following address: 
33301 Ninth Avenue South, Federal Way, Washington 98003-6395, 
Attention: Carol Beck.

DATES: Written comments should be sent by July 15, 1994. Comments and 
suggestions will also be accepted at a public scoping meeting from 5:30 
p.m. to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, June 29, 1994 at the Point Roberts 
Community Center, 1487 Gulf Road, Point Roberts, WA 98281.
    All comments received during the meeting will be made part of the 
administrative record for the EA and will be evaluated as part of the 
scoping process.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Contact Carol Beck at ABAM Consulting 
Engineers, 3301 Ninth Avenue South, Federal Way, Washington 98003-6395, 
(206) 241-2040 or Donna M. Meyer at General Services Administration, 
(206) 931-7675.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The GSA, assisted by our contractor will 
prepare an Environmental Assessment on a proposal to design and 
construct a new border station to be located at Point Roberts, 
Washington. The scoping process will determine the issues to be 
addressed in the EA, identify the potential adverse environmental 
issues related to the proposed expansion, and assist to determine 
whether an EIS should be prepared. Scoping will be conducted in a 
manner consistent with NEPA guidelines. If an EIS is required, GSA will 
serve a the lead agency pursuant to Section 1501.5(a) of the Council on 
Environmental Quality's Regulations for Implementing the Procedural 
Provisions of NEPA (40 CFR 1500-1508).

Scoping

    GSA invites interested individuals, organizations, affected tribes 
and Federal, state and local agencies and officials to participate in 
defining the reasonable alternatives to be evaluated in the EA and in 
identifying any adverse social, economical, or environmental issues 
related to the alternatives. Scoping comments can be made verbally or 
in writing (see DATES and ADDRESS sections above for location and time 
of meeting). During scoping, comments should focus on identifying 
specific impacts to be evaluated and suggesting alternatives or 
mitigation that minimize adverse impacts while achieving similar 
objectives. Comments may also identify issues which are not significant 
or which have been covered by prior environmental review. Scoping 
should be limited to commenting on alternatives and not indicating 
preferences. If an EIS is undertaken, there will be an opportunity to 
comment on impacts of the selected alternatives upon release of the 
draft document.

Additional Information

    A project information packet will be available at the public 
meeting or can be obtained by contacting the above referenced 
personnel. The packet will describe in more detail the proposed 
project, alternatives and the EA/EIS process.

Mailing List

    If you wish to be placed on the mailing list to receive further 
information for this proposal as the EA process develops, contact the 
above referenced personnel.

Project Purpose, Historical Background, and Project Description

    The project purpose is the design and construction of a new Port of 
Entry at the U.S. and Canadian border at Point Roberts, Washington. The 
new station would replace the existing station, which is overcrowded 
and functionally obsolete. The new facility would be constructed on 3.8 
acres of land and would require the acquisition of approximately 3.1 
acres of land to accommodate the new facility. The additional acreage 
is necessary for maneuverability, reconfiguration and expansion.
    The Point Roberts Port of Entry is a unique facility in that it 
serves as the single check point for land access to the Point Roberts 
Pennisula, which is only connected to the United States mainland 
through Canada. On a daily basis, the peninsula is inundated with 
Canadian shoppers crossing over into Point Roberts to purchase gasoline 
and other commodities in the less expensive U.S. market. In addition, 
Point Roberts is a gateway to a popular recreational community.
    At completion, the new port facility would provide 19,100 gross 
square feet of space, including canopy areas. The new facility would 
include a main administration building, an inspection shed, and a 
secondary inspection facility. The primary inspection lanes would 
increase from two to four; secondary lanes from two to eight; and, 
truck inspection lanes from none to two. A total of 53 outside parking 
spaces would be provided, 49 automobile and 4 truck.

Alternatives

    The EA would consider an action alternative (Federal construction) 
and a no-action alternative. Due to the unique requirements for port of 
entry's, GSA has found it is impractical to consider leasing an 
existing office building to meet these needs. GSA is proposing to 
construct the facility at the site of the existing port of entry and to 
acquire a parcel of land lying west-southwest of the present station. 
The no-action alternative would continue the use of the overcrowded and 
obsolete station.

Probable Effects

    GSA will evaluate significant environmental, social, and economical 
impacts of the alternatives in the EA. Potential impacts include, but 
are not limited to, changes in geological and/or soil characteristics; 
changes in drainage and absorption patterns; water quality/groundwater 
quality; new sources of light or glare; changes to recreational 
opportunities; changes to vegetation, wetlands and wildlife habitat; 
impacts to local residences and businesses; loss of open space; and, 
changes in traffic and circulation patterns. The impacts will be 
evaluated both for the construction period and for the life of the 
project. Measures to mitigate any identifiable adverse impacts will be 
addressed.

Procedures

    The EA will be prepared based on the scoping report. After its 
publication, GSA will make a decision whether an EIS will be required. 
If an EIS is to be prepared, a Draft EIS would be made available for 
public and agency review and comment, and a public hearing would be 
held. A Final EIS would be prepared following the closing of the 
comment period of the Draft.

    Dated: June 10, 1994.
L. Jay Pearson,
Regional Administrator (10A).
[FR Doc. 94-15222 Filed 6-22-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6820-23-M