[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 7 (Wednesday, January 11, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2790-2792]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-670]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Job Corps: Preliminary Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) 
for the New Job Corps Center in Long Beach, CA

agency: Employment and Training Administration, Labor.

action: Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for the New Job Corps 
Center in Long Beach, California.

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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 in Long Beach, California, will 
have no significant environmental 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., NW., Washington, DC 20210, (202) 219-5468.

for further information contact: Copies of the EA and additional 
information are available to interested parties by contacting Marta 
Aguilar-Duggan, Director, Office of Job Corps, 71 Stevenson Street, 
Suite 1015, San Francisco, California, (415) 744-6658.

supplementary information: The Proposed Action includes development and 
operation of a new Job Corps Center proposed on a 17-acre portion of an 
existing 90.8 acre federally-owned site containing 110 recently 
decommissioned U.S. Naval Cabrillo family housing units located in the 
City of Long Beach. This new Job Corps Center will serve 300 
residential students and 20 non-resident students, for a total of 320 
students, as well as approximately 70 full-time, day and night staff.
    Development of the proposed Job Corps Center will require 
demolition of the 110 decommissioned units of approximately 151,250 
square feet for construction of approximately 160,100 square feet of 
new facilities. The new Job Corps Center facilities will feature one-
story buildings, including administrative and medical support 
buildings; educational, library and instruction buildings; dormitory 
buildings; a food service building and a one-story gymnasium structure.
    The project site is accessible from the surrounding region via 
Willow Street to the north, Pacific Coast Highway to the south, Long 
Beach Freeway (Freeway 710) to the east, Terminal Island Freeway to the 
west, as well as from the various existing, non-public internal 
streets. The project site is located in a primarily residential section 
of Long Beach, although there are several commercial developments along 
Pacific Coast Highway and Santa Fe Avenue. Heavy industrial development 
including railroad and oil refining operations are situated west and 
adjacent to the Terminal Island Freeway.
    The Long Beach project site is not located within an 
environmentally sensitive area. The proposed action will not have any 
significant adverse impacts on any prime agricultural lands, soils, or 
related designated land conservation programs, development of mineral 
resources, or on any unique topography.
    There are no surface hydrological features present on the site such 
as drainage swales, intermittent streams, wetlands, and/or ground water 
production or related injection wells. The proposed action will not 
involve the storage or on-site use of major quantities of hazardous 
chemicals. Project development will not have any adverse impacts on 
subsurface hydrogeological resources.
    Project development will result in insignificant storm-water 
related runoff. An on-site storm water discharge permit will be secured 
to insure management in compliance with state and local requirements. 
The proposed action is not expected to produce any significant adverse 
drainage effect on adjacent property or any overloading of the public 
storm water drainage system.
    All new construction must conform to the Uniform Building Code 
which includes establishing compatible building pad elevations and 
structural designs which inherently mitigate seismic impacts, flood 
hazards and related impacts to an acceptable risk. This is considered 
to be a significant beneficial improvement over existing conditions. No 
significant adverse flood-related impacts or geologic-related impacts 
are anticipated.
    Based on historic aerial photographs, personal interviews, visual 
site reconnaissance, and reviews of available public and EPA-required 
listings of hazardous sites, there appears to be no current or past 
hazardous waste sources within the Long Beach site.
    Existing structures have asbestos, lead paint, and potential PCB's 
present on-site. However, all contaminated materials will be removed 
and disposed of in accordance with applicable local, state, and federal 
laws.
    The development of the Proposed Action will generate approximately 
25 percent less vehicular trips and associated automobile emissions 
than that of recent conditions, which is considered to be a significant 
beneficial improvement over existing conditions. Metropolitan bus 
service has sufficient capacity to handle any increase in public 
transit generated by the proposed action.
    Demolition and development will generate temporary short-term 
adverse dust and particulate matter during project construction 
activities. However, maximum daily emission peaks would occur only 
intermittently during the construction cycle and air emissions will 
cease upon completion of the estimated 9-month construction period. All 
applicable regulations will be complied with to insure specific 
mitigation efforts.
    Demolition, site preparation, and construction is expected to 
generate average on-site noise levels of 65 to 95 dba with intervening 
quieter periods. These levels are not considered to be severe or 
present a health risk, as noise levels tend to reduce significantly at 
distances greater than 100 feet. The presence of the existing 12-foot 
high concrete wall lessens off-site construction noise for residential 
properties located to the northeast of the project site. The proposed 
action will comply with all City noise ordinances and related building 
codes.
    Due to a decrease in the number of vehicle trips because of a 
reduced on-site population and the increased use of public transit and 
car pooling over previous site area conditions, the new Job Corps 
Center would generate significantly less peak and average noise 
ambience levels over previously existing site conditions. This is 
considered to be an improvement over previously

[[Page 2791]]

existing local noise ambience conditions.
    There is existing area and security lighting on the project site, 
which currently presents no significant light or glare effects because 
of the site interior and the remote location within the Cabrillo family 
housing area. The Job Corps Center will feature new facility area and 
security lighting on the project site. Lighting impacts from the 
proposed action upon off-site areas are expected to decrease over 
existing conditions because the campus site design will feature more 
modern, low intensity lighting fixtures. This is considered to be a 
beneficial improvement over previously existing local lighting ambience 
conditions.
    There are no rare or endangered flora or fauna species known to 
exist on the project site. Although development of the project will 
remove existing non-native residential landscaping, forcing existing 
urban animal species to relocate to adjacent areas, the proposed site 
design will feature California native flora species designed to attract 
desired fauna.
    The proposed action will result in a 15.9 percent decrease in 
population over previously existing conditions on site. This is 
considered to be a beneficial reduction in population density of the 
Long Beach site and surrounding community area. The affected source of 
demolition and related construction is considered non-public (formerly 
military) housing, and will have no impact on pricing in the local 
housing market. No significant adverse population or housing resource 
related project impacts are anticipated.
    Development of the proposed site is estimated to generate a total 
of 256 direct and indirect job opportunities in the City of Long Beach 
and surrounding regions. The proposed action will not have any adverse 
effect on the local job market, given the relatively high unemployment 
rates in all sectors, including the local construction industry.
    The proposed action is exempt from State property taxation. 
However, construction material purchases are subject to both State 
Sales and Use-related taxes. Accordingly, public tax revenues, expected 
to increase as a result of project development, are considered to be a 
beneficial improvement over existing local and regional employment and 
economic conditions.
    There is no evidence of any prehistoric archaeological or 
historical sites on the Long Beach project site.
    The existing family housing units at Cabrillo do not constitute 
sufficient historical or architectural qualities to meet the criteria 
for eligibility in the National Register of Historical Sites.
    The proposed action is not expected to have an adverse impact on 
established area facilities and opportunities including, but not 
limited to, recreational and community services or public educational 
services.
    Although there are no on-site stormwater management-related 
retention basins, or related treatment facilities, existing runoff and 
related drainage patterns on- and off-site are not expected to be 
significantly impacted by the project's minor surface paving. Provision 
of on-site storm-water management facilities, as well as use of 
intensive site landscaping, will minimize potential off-site stormwater 
impacts.
    Project development will have no adverse direct impact on City of 
Long Beach street maintenance including any capital improvement 
expenditures or other related public fiscal effects.
    Security services are currently provided by the U.S. Navy Military 
Police. This will become the responsibility of the Job Corps Center, 
which will maintain access control and provide site security. The city 
of Long Beach provides police services to the surrounding community 
from the central station located 1.5 miles away. The public police 
services are adequate for the project area and surrounding community 
area. Project development will have no significant, adverse impact on 
public services.
    The fire-suppression services on-site are currently provided by the 
U.S. Navy and will become the responsibility of the Job Corps Center. 
The final site design will provide adequate fire suppression and 
control features, including installation of automatic sprinkler fire 
suppression systems, for all proposed construction. The site and 
surrounding community are served by a Long Beach City Fire Station 
located 1.0 mile away. Project development is not anticipated to have a 
significant, adverse impact on existing public services.
    Primary medical and paramedic services on-site will be the initial 
responsibility of the Job Corps Center, with emergency backup provided 
by the city of Long Beach. The closest hospital services are within 1.5 
miles of the project site. The proposed project will have no 
significant, adverse impact upon existing community emergency or 
medical services.
    None of the existing site facilities including family housing units 
has radon levels above EPA's Radon Action Level of four picocuries per 
liter (0.4 pCi/L). Appropriate building design will ensure safe radon 
levels are maintained on the project site.
    There would be no problem with lead in drinking water via the on-
site distribution systems since there are no old pre-1965 pipes. New 
construction would eliminate any related problems in the future. 
Appropriate demolition and legal disposal of all lead or lead alloy/
solders, as well as appropriate building design will ensure that safe 
drinking water is maintained on the project site.
    The project site does not appear to be subject to any significant 
natural hazards. The project site is located above the 100-year flood 
plain, and is not within a designated special hazard zone.
    No significant adverse, long-term irreversible environmental 
resource losses are associated with the proposed action. Accordingly it 
is concluded that the proposed action will not result in any 
significant adverse site specific and/or cumulative environmental 
resource impacts.
    A public meeting regarding the location of the new Job Corps Center 
at the proposed site was held on February 7, 1994 at the Naval Housing 
Cabrillo in Long Beach. Representatives from the city of Long Beach and 
the Office of Job Corps presented a description of the proposed 
project, a discussion of the reuse of Naval properties, the benefits to 
the youth of the area and general community benefits as a result of 
siting a Job Corps in Long Beach. Community leaders as well as the 
general public were given an opportunity to comment on the project and 
ask questions. All of the responses were positive, with community 
organizations addressing the benefits that the proposed Job Corps 
Center would have on employment opportunities for the youth in the 
area.
    The project alternatives reviewed and considered in this EA 
included: (1) the ``No Build'' alternative; (2) the ``Alternative 
Sites'' alternative; and (3) the ``Continue as Proposed'' alternative. 
Choosing the ``No Build'' alternative implies that the U.S. Department 
of Labor would not proceed with the proposed construction and operation 
of a new Job Corps Center in the Long Beach area. Under this 
alternative, existing Job Corps Center facilities in Los Angeles would 
be used to provide current limited services. The existing facilities 
are at a maximum capacity and do not offer any opportunity to provide 
expanded and up-graded Job Corps Center training facilities and related 
community-based employment development services.

[[Page 2792]]

    The U.S. Department of Labor conducted a qualitative evaluation of 
potential new Job Corps Center sites criteria as required by the 
standard Federal Facility Acquisition criteria. The Federal Related 
Program Design Criteria was used to establish a shortlist of 
alternative project sites within the region. The project was selected 
after having undergone detailed, comparative Facility Utilization 
Evaluation studies and a related review of shortlisted site 
alternatives, in accordance with facility use requirements including 
location, suitability and availability of campus scale land 
requirements.
    The Job Corps site review teams identified alternative potential 
project sites. These included the Park Plaza Hotel site in Los Angeles, 
and available Federally-owned surplus sites including: U.S. Navy White 
Point family housing area in San Pedro, California; Cabrillo family 
housing area, Seabright family housing area, and Savannah Substandard 
housing in Long Beach, California; as well as a Reserve Center housing 
area in Los Alamitos, California.
    To Continue as Proposed with the Long Beach Site would eliminate 
costly and unnecessary acquisition of private land for public uses. 
Development of this preferred site would also provide for continued 
government ownership, maintenance and economic reuse of existing 
federal properties.
    Based on the information gathered during the preparation of the EA 
for the Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, 
Office of Job Corps finds that the proposed new Job Corps Center in 
Long Beach, California, will not cause any significant adverse impact 
of the environment; 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. 95-670 Filed 1-10-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-30-M