[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 229 (Tuesday, November 26, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Page 60091]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-30083]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Economic Development Administration


Notice of Intent to Prepare a Draft Environmental Impact 
Statement for Development of a New Business Park to be Located in 
Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania

AGENCY: Economic Development Administration, U.S. Department of 
Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of Intent to prepare a Draft Environmental Impact 
Statement.

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SUMMARY: The Economic Development Administration (EDA) is issuing this 
notice to advise the public that a draft Environmental Impact Statement 
(EIS) will be prepared and considered in EDA's decision whether to 
provide federal financial assistance for the development of a new 
business park to be located in Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: EDA received an application from the 
Scranton Lackawanna County Industrial Building Company (SLIBCO) for 
financial assistance from EDA to develop a new business park, located 
in Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania. EDA initially made the award, but 
suspended the grant to undertake further review of the impacts of 
developing such a business park at the selected location. SLIBCO 
studied several alternative sites before selecting the proposed site 
located in the Borough of Jessup, approximately eight miles northeast 
of the City of Scranton, along SR 247, referred to as Moosic Mountain. 
Additionally, the Federal Bureau of Prisons (Bureau), U.S. Department 
of Justice, is considering locating a federal correctional facility in 
the area, and is considering a portion of the Moosic Mountain site as a 
location for that facility. The Bureau plans to cooperate with EDA as 
necessary during the process and to distribute for public review 
documentation if applicable, which further discusses the Bureau's 
proposal.
    Whether, and upon what conditions, EDA should award financial 
assistance to develop the Moosic Mountain site in the manner proposed 
by SLIBCO will be the subject of a detailed study in the form of a 
draft EIS. The topics to be studied as part of the draft EIS include, 
but are not limited to: topography, geology/soils, hydrology, 
biological resources, utility services, transportation services, 
cultural resources, land uses, hazardous materials, air and noise 
quality, and secondary and cumulative impacts, among others.

PUBLIC SCOPING MEETING: To ensure that the full range of issues related 
to the proposed action are addressed and all potential significant 
issues are identified and considered, comments and suggestions are 
being solicited. to facilitate receipt of comments, representatives of 
EDA will conduct a Scoping Meeting to which all interested persons are 
invited to attend. The Scoping Meeting will be held at a location 
convenient to the citizens of Lackawanna County. Both written and oral 
comments will be accepted at the meeting.

DRAFT EIS PREPARATION: Public notice will be given concerning the 
availability of the draft EIS for public review and comment.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Edward Hummel, Regional Environmental 
Officer, U.S. Department of Commerce, Economic Development 
Administration, The Curtis Center--Suite 140 South, 600 Walnut Street, 
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19106, Telephone 215.597.6767.
    Dated: November 15, 1996.
Edward Hummel,
Regional Environmental Officer.
[FR Doc. 96-30083 Filed 11-25-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-24-M