[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 138 (Wednesday, July 17, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 37291-37292]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-18131]


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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 Located at 3300 South Kedzie Avenue in 
Chicago, IL

AGENCY: Employment and Training Administration.

ACTION: Preliminary Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for the 
New Job Corps Center located at 3300 South Kedzie Avenue in Chicago, 
Illinois.

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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 new 
Chicago Job Corps Center will have no significant environmental impact, 
and this Preliminary Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) will be 
made available for public review and comment for a period of 30 days.

DATES: Comments must be submitted by August 16, 1996.

ADDRESSES: Any comment(s) are to be submitted to Amy Knight, Employment 
and Training Administration, Department of Labor, 200 Constitution 
Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20210, (202) 219-5468 (this is not a toll-free 
number).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Copies of the EA and additional information are available to interested 
parties by contacting Richard Trigg, Regional Director, Region V 
(Five), Office of the Job Corps, 230 South Dearborn Street, Chicago, IL 
60604, (312) 353-1311 (this is not a toll-free number).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The proposed site is located approximately 7 
miles southwest of the Chicago Loop on a 30.7-acre parcel which is 
currently undeveloped and is in an urban/industrial area adjacent to 
the north side of the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal. The EA indicates 
that the property consists of 14 acres currently owned by the City of 
Chicago and 16.7 acres owned by the State of Illinois. An historical 
review indicates that one or several small structures may have existed 
on the property at one time or another; however, the records do not 
indicate how the structures were used. The site consists of fill 
material which is believed to have been dredged from the adjacent 
Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal. The fill has been dumped on the site 
over a period of many years along with other unknown sources of garbage 
and miscellaneous debris. The southwest corner of the site slopes 
southwest towards the Canal where a small wetland area exists. The rest 
of the site is characterized by low quality vegetation. The proposed 
site is bordered by the Illinois Central Gulf Railroad to the north, 
the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal to the south, a radio station and 
Kedzie Avenue to the east, and more vacant land and Central Park Avenue 
to the west.
    As a result of the many years of dredging and dumping of the nearby 
canal sediments onto adjacent land, the site was contaminated with lead 
and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). Contaminated soils containing 
lead and PCBs were removed from the site as part of the pre-
construction soil remediation work. If left unremediated, these 
contaminants could have posed a health risk via soil contact, air 
emissions, and groundwater contact during the construction process. 
Identified areas of PCB and lead contaminated soil have been remediated 
by the City of Chicago to safe levels.
    A Corrective Action Certification Report was prepared to certify 
that the preconstruction soil remediation work at the above referenced 
project has been completed and meets the cleanup objectives of the Site 
Management Plan approved by the IEPA. The completed remediation work 
effectively reduced the risk of exposure to personnel performing the 
construction of the Job Corps training facility, as well as to Job 
Corps personnel and students, in accordance with the risk assessment 
approved by the IEPA. The conclusions of the Site Management Plan 
clearly indicate that the goals and objectives of the Site Management 
Plan can be effectively accomplished to further reduce the overall risk 
to workers during construction and to Job Corps personnel and students 
engaged at activities planned for the Chicago Job Corps Center.
    The proposed Chicago Job Corps Center is designed to accommodate 
approximately 348 full-time residential students. An additional 
estimate of 28 non-resident students will increase the total to 376 
students. The property will consist of dormitories, educational/
vocational facilities, food service facilities, medical/dental 
facilities, recreational facilities, administrative offices, storage 
and support. The proposed project is designed to be constructed in 
accordance with the local fire, building, and zoning code requirements.
    Conversion of this undeveloped property to a Job Corps Center would 
be a positive asset to the area in terms of environmental and 
socioeconomic improvements and long-term productivity. The Chicago Job 
Corps Center will be a new source of employment opportunity. In 
addition, the Job Corps program, which provides basic education, 
vocational skills training, work experience, counseling, health care 
and related support services, is expected to graduate students ready to 
participate in the local economy and elsewhere.
    The proposed project will not have any significant adverse impact 
on any natural system or resource. There are no ``historically 
significant'' buildings on the site and no areas of archaeological 
significance. There are no threatened or endangered species located on 
the site.

[[Page 37292]]

Remediation of lead and PCB contaminated soil has been completed in 
accordance with the CDOE and IEPA approved site management plan, 
therefore surface water, ground water, and the remaining low quality 
vegetation would not be adversely affected. Future construction and 
operational activities associated with the proposed project will 
compare favorably to the surrounding land uses which are characterized 
by urban/industrial and residential construction. Any additional 
remediation of contaminated soil that may be encountered during the 
construction phase of this project will be remediated using proper 
engineering controls to minimize or eliminate impacts from 
contamination upon the natural systems and resources.
    Garbage and debris on site which could contain asbestos and/or 
lead-based paint has or will be removed as part of the site remediation 
prior to the use of the facility. The proposed site has been identified 
by the Illinois Division of Nuclear Safety has an area of low potential 
for radon gas accumulation in concentrations requiring remediation 
activities.
    The proposed project will not have any significant adverse impact 
upon air quality, noise levels, and lighting. Since this an industrial 
area, air quality is generally poorer than areas located west and north 
of the City of Chicago. The proposed project would not be a source of 
air emissions. Noise levels in the area are consistent with urban/
industrial areas and, with the exception of the construction period, 
the proposed project will not be a source of additional noise. Finally, 
street lights for the proposed project will be modified in the final 
design, if necessary, to ensure levels of illumination consistent with 
the utilization needs.
    The proposed project will not have any significant adverse impacts 
upon the existing surrounding infrastructure represented by water, 
sewer, and storm water systems. Adequate water is available to the site 
through the City of Chicago Bureau of Water Distribution. The City 
operates a combined sanitary and storm sewer system which is maintained 
by the Department of Sewers. The collection system is readily 
accessible and deemed to be adequate. All wastewater treatment will be 
handled by the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater 
Chicago at the Stickney wastewater treatment facility. The Stickney 
plant is operating under an existing National Pollution Discharge 
Elimination System (NPDES) permit.
    The proposed site is surrounded by electrical power, with power 
lines bordering the site to the north and east. New distribution 
systems would be easily accessible from the adjacent lines. The 
proposed demands on electric power are not expected to have a 
significant adverse affect on the environment. The site location to 
road and public transportation corridors makes it an excellent location 
for public access. Adequate roads within the site would also be 
constructed, and traffic patterns to and from the site would be closely 
monitored to insure a satisfactory movement of vehicles. Therefore, no 
significant adverse affects are expected.
    There will be no significant adverse affects upon local medical, 
emergency, fire and police facilities, all of which are located within 
2.25 miles of the proposed site. A medical and dental facility will 
also be part of the on-site Job Corps complex to accommodate students. 
The new Job Corps facility will be supported by local medical 
facilities, including St. Anthony Hospital and Mt. Sinai Hospital 
Medical Center located in the nearby neighborhoods of Chicago. 
Emergency, fire, and police services will be provided by the City of 
Chicago Fire and Police Departments. None of these facilities will be 
adversely impacted by the Job Corps Center.
    The proposed project population will not have a significant adverse 
sociological effect on the surrounding community, which is 
characterized by a diverse ethnicity, and offers an abundance of 
cultural, educational, and recreational opportunities. Similarly, the 
proposed project will not have a significant adverse affect on 
demographic and socioeconomic characteristics of the area.
    The alternatives considered in the preparation of the EA were as 
follows: (1) the ``No Build'' alternative, (2) the ``Alternative 
Sites'' alternative, and (3) the ``Continue as Proposed'' alternative.
    The ``No Build'' alternative, originally considered based on 
environmental concerns related to soil contamination specific to this 
site, was not selected. A Corrective Action Plan and Site Management 
Plan to address identified environmental concerns have been developed 
and approved by environmental regulatory agencies. Future actions to 
comply with the Site Management Plan include an orientation session, 
safety protocols, environmental monitoring, and placement of a 3-foot 
layer of clean fill to be spread as a protective cover over undeveloped 
portions of the site. Alternative sites in other regional metropolitan 
areas were considered by the Department of Labor for the new Job Corps 
Center site, but none of the proposed alternative sites met the minimum 
selection criteria for locating the proposed facilities. The proposed 
facilities will be suitable for their intended purpose in the Job 
Corps, will be environmentally safe, and will be consistent with 
current building codes and safety practices.
    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 a Job Corps Center 
on the undeveloped parcel of property located at 3300 South Kedzie 
Avenue in Chicago, Illinois will not create any significant adverse 
impact on the environment and, therefore, recommends that the project 
continue as proposed. The proposed project is not considered to be 
highly controversial.

    Dated at Washington, DC, this 11th day of July, 1996.
Mary H. Silva,
Director of Job Corps.
[FR Doc. 96-18131 Filed 7-16-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-30-M