[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 7 (Wednesday, January 11, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2788-2790]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-669]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------


DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Job Corps: Preliminary Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) 
For the New Job Corps Center in Homestead, FL

AGENCY: Employment and Training Administration, Labor.

ACTION: Preliminary Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for the 
New Job Corps Center in Homestead, Florida.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: Pursuant to the Council on Environmental Quality Regulations 
(40 CFR Part 1500-08) implementing procedural provisions of the 
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the Department of Labor, 
Employment and Training Administration, Office of Job Corps, in 
accordance with 29 CFR 11.11(d), gives notice that an Environmental 
Assessment (EA) has been prepared and the proposed plans for the 
establishment of a Job Corps Center at the Homestead Air Force Base, 
Homestead, Florida, will have no significant environment impact. 
Pursuant to 29 CFR 11.11(d)(1), this Preliminary Finding of No 
Significant Impact will be made available for public review and comment 
for thirty (30) days.

DATES: Comments must be submitted by February 10, 1995.

ADDRESSES: Any comment(s) are to be submitted to Lynn Kotecki, 
Employment and Training Administration, Department of Labor, 200 
Constitution Ave., N.W., Washington, D.C., 20210, (202) 219-5468.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Copies of the EA and additional information are available to interested 
parties by contracting Mr. Melvin R. Collins, Director, Region IV 
(Four), Office of Job Corps, 1371 Peachtree Street, NE., room 405, 
Atlanta, Georgia, (404) 347-3178.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The purpose of this action is to add a Job 
Corps Center with 472 residential students to the Homestead area. The 
current buildings are adaptable for this purpose and offer the 
necessary facilities for the Job Corps program to provide basic 
education, vocational skills training, work experience, counseling, 
health care, and related support services. This new center will make 
constructive changes to existing Homestead Air Force Base facilities 
for dormitories, recreational, medical/dental, and administrative 
services, educational and vocational training, and storage space that 
is consistent with Job Corps guidelines and center needs.
    The proposed sites, located in the former recreational area of the 
Homestead Air Force Base, is comprised of approximately thirty-five 
(35) acres in the center of the 2,900 acre Homestead Air Force Base. 
The proposed site is bisected by Bougainvillea Boulevard and bordered 
by St. Lo Boulevard to the south and east, and St. Mazaire Boulevard to 
the north. Twelve (12) buildings currently occupy the site. The propose 
site includes paved asphalt parking lots, concrete sidewalks, and grass 
areas.
    The United States Air Force developed and utilized the Homestead 
Air Force Base from 1942-1945, and 1956-1992. During the course of 
World War II, the Homestead Air Force Base operated as a scheduled 
stopping point for air routes and a large training facility for fighter 
pilots. Due to a major hurricane that damaged much of the Homestead Air 
Force Base, it was unused by the military from 1946 through 1955. In 
1955 many of the sections were rebuilt and the Homestead Air Force Base 
continued to operate as a training and tactical air force facility 
until August 24, 1992, when the Homestead Air Force Base was 
significantly damaged by the impact of Hurricane Andrew. The reuse of 
the Homestead Air Force Base, with a reduced military presence, has 
been proposed. Approximately one-third of the Homestead Air Force Base 
will be used for military reserve training. The remainder of the 
Homestead Air Force Base will be converted for other purposes, such as 
public parkland and projects like the Job Corps. Currently, the 
majority of the Homestead Air Force Base is unoccupied as a result of 
Hurricane Andrew. Having been used for military purposes only, the site 
is not currently zoned. As a direct transfer to another Federal entity, 
rezoning will not be required.
    The United States Air Force historically has used the proposed site 
for residential, recreational, and retail purposes. The majority of the 
buildings proposed for reuse were utilized for the same proposed 
purposes by the United States Air Force with the exception of Building 
656, which was utilized for residential purposes; Building 902B, which 
was utilized for recreational purposes; and Building 914, which was 
utilized as the base exchange. Those buildings which are proposed for 
similar uses by the Job Corps include medical and dental offices for 
Building 656, administrative offices for Building 902B, and storage and 
vocational training for Building 914.
    According to the 1990 census, 162,483 people resided in the South 
Dade area, including 26,866 in the city of Homestead and 5,806 in 
Florida City. The population in South Dade in 1990 was predominantly 
Caucasian (70%), with Hispanics representing the largest minority group 
(32%). The population of the South Dade area has decreased dramatically 
due to the impacts of Hurricane Andrew. Post-hurricane census 
information is not available at this time.
    Ample community services are available in the South Dade area. 
Recreational facilities will be available at the site and a number of 
large parks are located within nine (9) miles of the Homestead Air 
Force Base. Power to the site is provided by the Florida Power & Light 
(FP&L) company. Telephone service is provided by Southern Bell Company.
    The water and sewer is supplied by the Metro-Dade County Water and 
Sewer Authority. There is no solid waste disposal at the site. All non-
hazardous solid waste is removed by contractors and taken off-site for 
disposal in the South Dade landfill. Police and fire protection, rescue 
and emergency services will be provided by Metro-Dade. The nearest 
hospital to the site is the SMH Homestead Hospital, located 
approximately three (3) miles to the west of the site. Because of 
abundant public, community, and emergency services in the Homestead 
area, the implementation of the Job Corps on the proposed site will not 
adversely impact the use of the above-mentioned services.
    Natural resources in the South Florida area are abundant. Although 
wetlands are not present at the proposed Job Corps site, a number of 
Army Corps of Engineer jurisdiction wetlands are present within one-
quarter mile of the site. However, the proposed reuse of the Homestead 
Air Force Base for Job Corps

[[Page 2789]]

Center activities will not have any impact upon nearby wetlands. The 
Everglades National Park, Big Cypress Preserve, and other national 
parks are located in the South Florida area. However, the site is not 
located in any national, state, or local protected area. No endangered 
species are known to reside at the site, although transient birds may 
be seen. The proposed use has no significant impact on any natural 
systems or resources. The existing site and buildings at the proposed 
Job Corps Center location are not designated as ``historically 
significant'' and no areas of archaeological significance are present. 
The activities of the proposed Job Corps Center are not of a 
contaminant-generating nature. The geologic, water, and climatic 
characteristics of the general vicinity of the site, coupled with the 
historically known land use, minimizes the site's potential to be 
contaminated from possible off-site sources and further minimizes the 
impact of contamination.
    During the EA, environmental concerns associated with former fuel 
storage were noted. A number of underground diesel storage tanks were 
removed from the site in April 1994. Tank Closure Assessment Reports 
detailing the results of soil and groundwater sampling were not 
submitted to the Dade County Department of Environmental Resources 
Management (DERM) as of May 19, 1994. Any contamination detected from 
the underground storage tank could be assessed and remediated without 
adversely impacting the renovations or future use plans.
    Elevated levels of radon were detected in one of the buildings; 
thus, complete radon testing is recommended. The determination of a 
need for remediation will be based upon the radon testing results. Any 
radon remediation conducted will be in accordance with applicable 
local, state, and federal regulations. Four (4) of the structures 
contain asbestos that will require abatement. Asbestos has already been 
abated from other structures at the proposed site. The abatement of 
asbestos will be performed by a qualified asbestos-abatement contractor 
in accordance with applicable local, state and federal regulations 
including those of the Occupational Health and Safety Administration. 
No data is available for the lead content of paint in the buildings 
constructed prior to 1978; the majority of the structures exhibited 
peeling and chipping paint. Procedures for the containment and removal 
of lead, if deemed necessary, will be prepared by a qualified lead-
abatement contractor and will be properly managed during any future 
construction activities in accordance with applicable federal, state, 
and local regulations. Testing of the drinking water systems, apart 
from a basewide program, has not been conducted. The underground and 
aboveground storage tanks may require additional investigation. These 
items are addressed in the EA.
    Dade County regulations require low noise levels from 11 p.m. to 6 
a.m. in the areas near the city of Homestead. Noise levels generated 
from the facilities' standard air conditioning units and other 
equipment are consistent with Dade County regulations. Short-term 
impact from additional noise will occur during construction activities. 
Because construction activities related to development of the new Job 
Corps Center in Homestead will take place during normal working hours, 
and the use of sound control devices and muffled exhaust on all noise-
generating construction equipment will be required, additional noise 
levels generated by the renovation of the Site will be short term and 
will not adversely impact the city of Homestead and any surrounding 
areas. The proposed action will comply with all City noise ordinances, 
permit requirements, and related building codes. The use of appropriate 
techniques to minimize construction dust emissions will mitigate 
construction-related air pollution concerns.
    Lighting will be installed at the facility to replace that 
destroyed by Hurricane Andrew. The lighting will be constructed in 
accordance with local requirements and will not adversely impact 
surrounding areas.
    Water is available to the site through municipal lines. Stormwater 
runoff is discharged to catch basins in the parking ares and canals 
located along the sides of the roads. Sanitary wastes are accommodated 
by discharge to municipal sewers. Based on the nature of the proposed 
construction activities at the site, stormwater quality will not be 
significantly impacted.
    An abundance of water and electrical power are available to easily 
serve facilities this size and those that are substantially larger. The 
reuse of the site will not increase utility loads to above pre-
hurricane levels. Although the proposed project will cause a slight 
area-wide increase in traffic, this increase in traffic is not expected 
to adversely affect traffic flow on immediately neighboring streets. 
The extension of an existing bus route to include the site is proposed 
and it is not anticipated to significantly alter the bus scheduling in 
the area. There currently is a bus stop less than one (1) mile from the 
site. The bus service offers readily available transportation between 
the site and the City of Homestead. The Florida Turnpike is also 
located near the site, allowing easy access to the Florida Keys or 
Miami areas.
    A public meeting regarding the location of a new Job Corps Center 
at the Homestead Air Force Base was conducted on February 2, 1994. 
Representatives of the Office of Job Corps and Metro-Dade presented a 
description of the proposed project. Community leaders were given an 
opportunity to comment on the project and ask questions. All of the 
public's responses were positive, with community organizations 
extolling the benefits that the proposed Job Corps Center would have on 
the rebuilding efforts in South Dade and employment opportunities for 
the youth in the area. A number of groups, including schools and local 
labor organizations, expressed a desire to work closely with the new 
Job Corps Center.
    The alternatives considered in the preparation of the EA were: (1) 
The ``No Build'' alternative, (2) the ``Alternative Sites'' 
alternative, and (3) the ``Continue as Proposed'' alternative. Choosing 
the ``No Build'' means that the Department of Labor would not proceed 
with plans for development of the proposed Job Corps Center in the city 
of Montgomery. Although the ``No Build'' alternative would result in no 
environmental impact upon the area, it would deny the young adults of 
this area a unique opportunity, as well as deny the local community an 
opportunity to socioeconomically benefit from the establishment of a 
new Job Corps Center. A former mental hospital in Boward County was 
considered as an alternate site for the new Job Corps Center, but did 
not meet the minimum selection criteria for locating new Job Corps 
Centers. The opportunity to expand the Job Corps program to the 
Homestead area will aid in the rebuilding efforts of the community and 
allow for the substantial expansion of current programs now offered in 
Miami. The potential for a new facility and improved service afforded 
by the proposed action, as well as the finding that the proposed action 
would not pose any significant adverse environmental impacts, indicate 
that the proposed reuse and renovation of the site is the preferred 
alternative.
    Based on the information gathered during the preparation of the EA 
for the Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, 
the Office of Job Corps finds that the establishment of

[[Page 2790]]

a Job Corps Center at the Homestead Air Force Base, Homestead, Florida, 
will not cause any significant impact on the environment and will be a 
positive asset to the area and therefore, recommends that the project 
continue as proposed. This proposed action is not considered to be 
highly controversial.

    Dated at Washington, DC, this 23rd day of December, 1994.
Peter E. Rell,
Director of Job Corps.
[FR Doc. 95-669 Filed 1-10-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-30-M