[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 121 (Friday, June 24, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-15221]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: June 24, 1994]


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GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION

 

Public Buildings Service; Proposed Port of Entry, Located at 
Pacific Highway, Blaine, 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 Pacific Highway, Blaine, 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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ADDRESSES: 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 
sub consultant, 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 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, June 28, 1994 at the Blaine Public 
Library, 610 Third Street, Blaine, WA 98230. 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 Pacific Highway, 
Blaine, Washington. The scoping process will determine the issues to be 
addressed in the EA, identify the potential adverse enviromental 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 
as 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 ADDRESSES section 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 for expansion of 
a new Port of Entry at the U.S. and Canadian border at Pacific Highway, 
Blaine, Washington. The new station would replace the existing station, 
which is overcrowded and functionally obsolete. The new facility would 
be constructed on 12.06 acres of land by utilizing the existing site of 
7.88 acres and acquiring an additional 4.1 acres on either side of 
Pacific Highway (S.R. 543). This additional acreage is necessary for 
maneuverability, reconfiguration and expansion.
    This facility is the region's major commercial port as well as the 
largest commercial truck crossing point in Washington State. There has 
been an increase in total volume of traffic of 21 percent; and 
commercial traffic of 15.2 percent over the last six years at this 
facility.
    At completion, the new port facility would provide 122,900 gross 
square feet of space, including canopy areas. The new facility would 
include a new main administration and automobile inspection building, a 
bus port, a devanning building and commercial inspection office, and 
export inspection area, an Animal and Plant inspection building, a dog 
kennel, and a maintenance/workshop building. The primary inspection 
lanes would increase from four to six, secondary lanes from ten to 
twenty. The six existing primary commercial truck lanes will be reduced 
to three. However, secondary truck inspection lanes will increase from 
six to twenty. A total of 274 outside parking spaces, 214 automobile, 
and 60 truck would be provided for travelers, employees, seized 
vehicles, commercial vehicles, and government vehicles.

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 exiting 
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 directly to the east and west. 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 characteristics; 
changes in drainage and absorption patterns; water quality/groundwater 
quality; changes to vegetation, wetland and wildlife habitats; new 
sources of light or glare; 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 according to the scoping report. After its 
publication, GSA will make a decision whether an EIS will be prepared. 
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. 94-15221 Filed 6-23-94; 8:45 am]
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