[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 7 (Wednesday, January 11, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2785-2786]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-671]
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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Employment and Training Administration
Job Corps: Preliminary Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI)
for the new Job Corps Center in Flint, MI
AGENCY: Employment and Training Administration.
ACTION: Preliminary Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for the
new Job Corps Center in Flint, Michigan.
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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 Flint, Michigan, 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 comments 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 Gordon
Carlson, Director, Region V (Five), Office of Job Corps, 230 South
Dearborn Street, Room 676, Chicago, Illinois, 60604, (312) 353-1311.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The purpose of this proposed action is to
construct a new facility with a campus-like setting. The new center is
proposed as a 400-student program, with 328 residential and 72 non-
residential students. With a total of 36 single- parent students, a
comprehensive on-site child care services component for 50 children is
prescribed by the Military Department of Social Services (DSS) and
Greater Flint/Thumb Area 4C Association (Community Coordinated Child
Care) to serve infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and school-aged
children.
The proposed site location for the Flint Job Corps Center is a
property identified as a portion of Oak Technology Park, located at
2400 North Saginaw Street, Flint, Genesee County, Michigan. The site
comprises two parcels of vacant land with a total of 20.78 acres, which
are identified as Parcel A with 12.9 acres and Parcel B with 7.88
acres. The site is bordered by North Saginaw Street on the west side of
the property, Taylor Street on the north side, North Boulevard on the
east side, and Newall Street on the south side. An east-west street,
Baker Street, divides the two parcels. Parcel A is the portion located
north of Newall Street and south of Baker Street; Parcel B is the
portion located north of Baker Street and south of Taylor Street.
Access to the site can be made from any of the streets.
The proposed Flint Job Corps Center will be a totally new facility
and will consist of a number of buildings to sufficiently accommodate
student capacity. The buildings will include dormitories, classrooms,
administrative and support facilities. The dormitories will consist of
one building for females, one for males, and one single-parent
dormitory. A child development center is included in the project.
Classroom spaces will be provided in the education building. There will
also be a vocational-educational building, a cafeteria/culinary arts
building, a recreation building, an administration building, a medical/
dental building, a maintenance/warehouse building and a building that
houses reception/security functions. The building areas are projected
to total 179,700 gross square feet (GSF). The proposed project will be
constructed in accordance with local fire, building an zoning code
requirements and will not adversely impact the City of Flint police,
fire or emergency services.
The site is in an area of the city that is currently zoned heavy
commercial and limited manufacturing. Establishment of a Job Corps
Center is not prohibited by current zoning.
An investigation of previous and historical activities on or near
the site identified some potential environmental concerns. A gasoline
fuel service station existed for some 40 years on North Boulevard at
the corner of Baker Street. Along North Saginaw Street, fifteen
commercial locations were identified: a photography shop, printing
company, auto repair, new and used car dealerships and several other
businesses that could warrant concern upon excavation of the site. Most
specifically, an obsolete underground storage tank may exist at the
location of 2510-18 North Saginaw Street. These concerns could be
easily remedied through soil testing and, if found necessary, soil
remediation prior to excavation and building. DOL does not believe that
the construction of the Center will have a cummulative adverse impact
on these concerns.
The City water distribution system serves the site and is comprised
of underground water lines that run parallel to the project site on
both North Saginaw and North Streets. Water supply could be brought on
to the site from either of these lines. Each building could have its
own individual water meter or a single meter could be installed to
serve all buildings. The City sewage system serves the site and is
comprised of underground sanitary sewer lines that run parallel to the
project site on North Saginaw and North Streets.
Storm water run-off from the proposed buildings can be discharged
either to grade or can be piped directly to the storm sewer pipe. There
are underground storm sewer lines that run parallel to the project
sites on the east and west boundaries. The Center will not adversely
impact upon any of the existing services.
A natural gas distribution station to the south of the project site
provides gas to the site via an underground gas pipe that runs along
North Street. An 8,320 volts, three-phase overhead distribution line,
located along North Street, provides adequate electricity to the site.
The distribution system is in good condition and would adequately
accommodate a required secondary service to the proposed buildings. The
options of individual metering or multi-metering are available. The
proposed Flint Job Corps Center will not
[[Page 2786]]
adversely impact upon existing facilities.
Telephone pedestals, where telephone connections can be made and
brought onto the proposed site, are located along the bordering
streets. The proposed Center will not adversely impact existing
telephone services because the location was a residential area and the
lines already in use and presently underutilized the demolition of the
private residences.
The Flint River lies approximately 3500 feet east of the subject
site. A ``basin'', located in the south central section of Parcel A,
appears to be lowest in the terminal area of the cul-de-sac. Run-off in
this area is expected to collect in the basin and eventually infiltrate
into the ground. The man-made earthen berm that parallels North Saginaw
Street on the western side of the property and extends the entire
length of the property blocks run-off from the property to North
Saginaw Street. Groundwater in water table aquifers, which may underlie
the site, may conform with the topographic relief and flow east towards
the Flint River. The proposed Center will have no adverse impact on
ground water flow.
The proposed use of the site has no significant impact on any
natural systems, resources, or any endangered flora or fauna.
There are no buildings on or near the site that are designated as
``historically significant'' and no areas of archaeological
significance are present.
The City of Flint is regulated under the Federal Clean Air Act, as
amended in 1990. The proposed action will have no adverse effect on air
quality.
Noise levels that may be generated from air conditioning and other
equipment that may be installed in the new facility are expected to be
consistent with the City of Flint regulations. Although there may be
some short-term impact from additional noise during the construction
activities, the completed facility is expected to remain within
allowable noise limits and will not adversely impact neighboring
properties.
Pole-mounted street lights presently provide general site lighting.
On-site lighting will be installed as part of the new construction. The
additional lighting should have a positive impact on the surrounding
area. Lighting can improve security by reducing crime and vandalism,
and also aesthetically enhance the site.
Although the proposed project will cause an increase in the traffic
in the community, the increase is not expected to adversely impact
traffic flow. The proposed action is not expected to adversely affect
emergency response companies, police and fire services, hospital
service or the City's public transportation system.
A public forum was held on January 22, 1994 concerning the
establishment and location of the Job Corps Center. Approximately 200
people were in attendance at the meeting representing over 30 agencies,
members of the clergy, community members, neighborhood organizations,
businesses and elected officials. The proposal to site a new Job Corps
Center in the City of Flint was strongly supported by the people in
attendance at the forum.
Analysis of the following three alternatives were made: (1) The
``No Build'' alternative; (2) the ``Alternative Sites'' alternative;
and (3) the ``Continue as Proposed'' alternative. The ``No Build''
alternative implies that the Department of Labor would not proceed with
the proposed Center in the Flint Area. Although this would result in no
environmental impact upon the area, the socioeconomic loss to the City
of Flint would be significant. Alternative sites in Saginaw and Ann
Arbor, Michigan were considered by the Department of Labor for the new
Job Corps Center site, but did not meet the minimum selection criteria
for locating a new Job Corps Center. The ``Continue as Proposed''
alternative (preferred alternative) means that the site will be
developed to provide facilities and a setting for the Flint Job Corps
Center in Flint, Michigan.
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 location of the Flint Job Corps
Center at the proposed site will not cause any significant impact on
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. 95-671 Filed 1-10-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-30-M