[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 7 (Wednesday, January 11, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2792-2794]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-672]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Job Corps: Preliminary Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) 
for the Relocation of the Marsing Civilian Conservation Center in 
Marsing, ID

AGENCY: Employment and Training Administration, Labor.

ACTION: Preliminary Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for the 
Relocation of the Marsing Civilian Conservation Center in Marsing, 
Idaho.

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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 
relocation of the Marsing Civilian Conservation Center (CCC) near 
Marsing, Idaho will have no significant environmental impact. Pursuant 
to 29 CFR 11.11(d)(1), this Preliminary Finding of No Significant 
Environmental Impact (FONSI) will be made available for public review 
and comment for a period of 30 days.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before February 19, 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 Paul J. 
Krois, Director, Region X (Ten), Office of Job Corps, 1111 Third 
Avenue, Suite 960, Seattle, Washington 98010, (206) 553-7938.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The proposed action would relocate the 
Marsing CCC to Nampa, Idaho, a distance of about 15 miles. The existing 
site is located about 4 miles south of the town of Marsing on land 
owned by the Idaho Department of Fish and Game. The proposed site is 
located within the city of Nampa, Idaho, about 3 miles northeast of the 
downtown area, at the terminus of the 11th Avenue North Extension. The 
property is on the periphery of the city, generally surrounded by 
institutional and open space land uses. The site includes two parcels. 
The primary campus area consists of 17.9 acres of land, immediately 
adjoining the Idaho State School and Hospital (ISSH). A smaller area of 
4.2 acres, divided from the primary campus by the main service road to 
ISSH, would be used for open space recreational purposes.
    The proposed campus would be similar to the existing campus. It 
would accommodate 3 dormitories, one of which would include a daycare 
component; a general education building; one or more vocational 
training buildings; greenhouse; dining hall/culinary arts building; 
gymnasium/recreation hall; medical/dental dispensary; administration 
hall; storage/maintenance warehouse; outdoor recreation area; and 
various parking and landscaped areas.
    The primary and overriding purpose of relocating the CCC facility 
from its current site to the proposed site in Nampa is to provide safe 
and stable facilities for the staff and students, which would allow the 
program to continue to serve this region. Geotechnical investigations 
have been conducted at the present site in response to structural 
damage that has occurred at the existing buildings from ground 
subsidence. The investigations have determined that groundwater moving 
through the area from the Snake River has dissolved the formations 
underlying the CCC facilities to depths of 40 feet or more. As a 
result, cracks have occurred in a number of buildings on campus. One 
dormitory has been closed because it has been found structurally 
unsafe, reducing the numbers of students that the campus can 
accommodate from 210 to 140. Additionally, the current site is isolated 
from surrounding communities that provide jobs and other on-the-job 
training opportunities, which creates substantial transportation 
demands in transporting students to jobs. The proposed site in Nampa is 
centrally located to other communities in the Treasure Valley, and is 
only a quarter of a mile from Interstate 84, thereby alleviating these 
transportation problems.
    The new CCC will provide housing, food, recreational, medical/
dental, and administrative services, educational and vocational 
training, and appurtenant storage consistent with Job Corps and Center 
needs. Establishing the CCC at this location will require new 
construction for all the proposed facilities. The proposed project will 
be constructed in accordance with local fire, building and zoning code 
requirements, and will not adversely impact the City of Nampa or Canyon 
County emergency services.
    The proposed site is located in a rural/suburban setting and is 
currently zoned ``Agriculture''. This zoning permits vocational schools 
and associated facilities as an allowed use. The site is bordered on 
the south by the ISSH and on the west, north, and east by the 
Centennial Golf Course and agricultural crop land. Interstate 84 lies 
about a quarter of a mile to the south. The site is on the edge of a 
topographic ``bench'' formed by the Boise River, which lies some 
distance to the north. Agricultural land uses to the north, therefore, 
are separated from the site by a significant difference in elevation

[[Page 2793]]

(about 100 feet). Other land uses in the vicinity include light 
industry south of the Interstate Highway. The proposed site and land 
occupied by the ISSH are owned by the Department of Health and Welfare 
of the State of Idaho. The existing CCC is located in a rural area. 
Most of the land in the surrounding area is in natural condition 
(grasses and sagebrush), although some agricultural cropland and 
grazing of cattle does occur. The lease on this land from the Idaho 
Department of Fish and Game calls for the site to be restored to its 
natural condition if the CCC uses should be discontinued. However, it 
is expected that the Department of Fish and Game will choose to use or 
lease those buildings on the site that remain in structurally sound 
condition. Through cooperative agreements with State and federal 
agencies, the federal government prefers to locate new facilities on 
state or federal lands rather than to purchase land outright.

This arrangement can result in long-term leases for new facilities at 
little or no cost to the taxpayer.
    The proposed action was found in the EA to have no significant 
impact on natural systems or resources. Minor soil erosion would occur 
during construction of the CCC at the proposed site. Best Management 
Practices, including minimizing the extent and duration of vegetation 
and soils disturbance, would be employed to minimize erosion. If 
damaged buildings were to be removed at the existing site near Marsing, 
decreased loads on soils would result in less subsidence of the ground 
surface than is currently occurring beneath existing buildings. Water 
for drinking and irrigation at the proposed facility would be provided 
by the City of Nampa. Stormwater runoff during construction would be 
maintained on site in accordance with federal requirements. Possible 
removal of some or all of the buildings at the existing site would 
result in fewer impermeable surfaces and less stormwater runoff.
    Investigation into the historical land uses/operations for the ISSH 
and surrounding properties indicates that no significant concern 
regarding contamination of these lands from hazardous materials or 
wastes is warranted. Anecdotal information regarding possible 
underground contamination resulting from the storage of DDT at ISSH 
resulted in investigation and laboratory sample analysis of soils and 
groundwater. No pesticides were detected in any of the samples; 
therefore, no further action was taken. A number of chemicals are 
stored at the existing Center for cleaning and vocational training 
purposes. Due to the nature of these chemicals and the small amount 
involved, the potential for impact is considered to be insignificant.
    Vegetation at the proposed site consists of a residual corn crop. 
In the surrounding area, almost all vegetation is ornamental. While the 
existing site is fully landscaped, most of the surrounding vegetation 
is natural, providing some cover for wildlife in the area. Construction 
of the proposed project would eliminate the temporary cover provided 
for pheasants and rodents that currently exists at the proposed site. 
Demolition of some or all of the buildings at the existing site could 
result in restoration of natural vegetation that would provide habitat 
for wildlife species in the area. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 
has written that the proposed action is not likely to cause impacts to 
the wetlands, Federal candidate, nor listed endangered or threatened 
species.
    Ambient noise levels would be increased somewhat at the proposed 
site as a result of the construction and operation of the proposed CCC. 
Because of the nature of nearby noise receptors (operations and 
maintenance facilities for ISSH), and the existence of other noises 
from the site, both types of impacts should be relatively unnoticeable. 
Noise levels at the existing Center would be expected to decline 
somewhat from current levels, but this would depend on the nature of 
any new tenant. Both the existing and the proposed sites are attainment 
areas for air quality standards. Dust and increased emissions from 
internal combustion engines will occur at the proposed site during 
construction of the Center. Best Management Practices including 
limitation of the extent and duration of soils disturbance and wetting 
down of access and construction areas will minimize impacts of dust 
during construction. Because of the nature of the surrounding uses and 
their distance from the site, these temporary air quality impacts 
should be minor. Long-term operational impacts to air quality would 
slightly increase due to emissions from additional motor vehicles in 
the area, but would not be significant. Air quality at the existing 
site would be expected to improve slightly as a result of fewer motor 
vehicles in the area, but would depend on the nature of other tenants 
that might locate or be in close proximity to this site. Outdoor 
security lighting at the proposed site would be noticeable in the area, 
but would be consistent with lighting at ISSH and would not impact 
sensitive receptors. Lighting at the existing site would be expected to 
decrease, depending on the future use of the site.
    The proposed action would not create significant adverse effects to 
the human or cultural environment. The relocation would create between 
40 and 52 new jobs in the Nampa area. No jobs would be lost in Owyhee 
County, since current employees at the Center would maintain their jobs 
at the Nampa facility. The population of Owyhee County would decrease 
by about 140 (students at Marsing CCC), and the population of Nampa 
would increase by as much as 490 people (students, new staff members 
and their dependents).
    Nampa schools in proximity to the proposed site, which are already 
at or over capacity, might be required to accommodate as many as 15 
elementary schools students as a result of the relocation since as many 
as 20 Job Corps students could bring their young children to the new 
Center. This impact would be mitigated by construction of a new 
elementary school in the area, scheduled for construction upon passing 
of a pending bond election. Because of the relatively small number of 
students expected and the nature of school funding that virtually 
requires schools capacities to be exceeded before bonds for new schools 
are approved, the anticipated impact is expected to be short-term and 
not significant.
    Police and fire services would be provided by the City of Nampa. 
Canyon County also provides emergency ambulance service to the area. 
These services would experience a small increase in demand for 
services. Owyhee County services to the existing site would be expected 
to experience a decrease in demand. Existing demands on emergency 
services would remain unchanged for the short term. In the long term, 
it would be expected that the CCC would close or relocate, and that 
there would be less demand on Owyhee County for emergency services. The 
central location of the proposed site in the region would result in 
decreased transportation requirements, both for the staff and for 
students.

Local businesses in Marsing would experience a loss of income estimated 
between $40,000 and $60,000 due to the Center relocation. This amount 
would probably be spent in Nampa or nearby communities as a result of 
the new location. Since federal facilities pay no taxes, there would be 
no adverse economic impacts to governments. Federal-in-lieu fees would 
no longer be paid to Owyhee County, but would be paid, instead, to 
Canyon County.
    No structure nor other resource exists on either the existing or 
the proposed

[[Page 2794]]

site that is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. 
Buildings at the ISSH are both placed on and are eligible for placement 
on the National Register. Since the proposed CCC would have no effect 
on these structures, there would be no impact on cultural resources. No 
areas of archaeological significance were identified at the proposed 
site. The open farmland at the proposed site would no longer offer an 
open space view, but would consist of urban development. With adjoining 
urban uses to the south, the proposed development would not contrast 
with surrounding visual conditions. If some or all of the buildings at 
the existing site were removed and replaced with natural vegetation, a 
greater extent of natural views would occur.
    A public meeting was held between representatives of the Office of 
Job Corps, the Marsing Job Corps Center staff, and the Nampa, Idaho 
city council in February, 1994. Job Corps staff presented an overview 
of the Job Corps program, and discussed the relocation of the Marsing 
Job Corps Center at the proposed site in Nampa. Community leaders were 
given an opportunity to comment on the project and ask questions. There 
were no adverse comments directed to Job Corps regarding the proposed 
relocation of the Job Corps Center to Nampa. Subsequent to the meeting, 
there were no adverse comments received by the city council or the 
Office of Job Corps from the public.
    The alternatives considered in the preparation of the EA were: (1) 
The ``Proposed Action'' (Preferred Alternative); (2) the ``No Action 
Alternative'' (continuing to operate the CCC at its existing site until 
it would be necessary to locate elsewhere or close the Center); and (3) 
the ``Alternative Sites'' alternative. All three alternatives have been 
considered, as reflected in the environmental assessment, in compliance 
with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). Although choosing 
the ``No Action'' alternative would result in no environmental impact 
upon the area, it would deny the young adults of this area the benefits 
of a Job Corps Center. Several alternative sites were considered by the 
Department of Labor for the new CCC site, but were found to be 
undesirable in terms of safety of students, compatibility with 
surrounding land uses, and/or proximity to job locations, goods and 
services. The potential for an excellent facility and operational 
efficiency afforded by the proposed action indicates that the proposed 
relocation of the Center to the city of Nampa 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 relocation of the Marsing CCC to 
the land adjoining the ISSH in Nampa, Idaho, will not cause any 
significant adverse impact on the environment and 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. 95-672 Filed 1-10-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-30-M