[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 69 (Tuesday, April 10, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18641-18642]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-8744]


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GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION


Public Buildings Service; Region 10; Notice of Intent To Prepare 
an Environmental Impact Statement

ACTION:  The US General Services Administration (GSA) hereby gives 
notice that it intends to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement 
(EIS) pursuant to the requirements of the National Environmental Policy 
Act (NEPA) of 1969, and the President's Council on Environmental 
Quality

[[Page 18642]]

Regulations (40 CFR parts 1500-1508), for the construction of a new 
Port of Entry facility at Peace Arch in the City of Blaine, Whatcom 
County, Washington.

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    Procedures: This project is at the feasibility stage and has not 
been approved by Congress. A scoping meeting is being held at this time 
to ensure that all significant environmental issues are identified and 
thoroughly studied as part of the environmental analysis. This will be 
the second scoping meeting about the new Port of Entry. The first 
scoping meeting was held on August 11, 1999. Numerous responses were 
received at the meeting, and in the weeks following the meeting. Based 
on that input, new alternatives for the new Peace Arch Port of Entry 
were developed and will be presented at the second scoping meeting. 
When the prospectus for the project is submitted to Congress for 
approval and funding, it will take into consideration these significant 
issues.
    The EIS will evaluate the proposed project, including all 
reasonable alternatives identified through the scoping process and a 
no-action alternative. The scoping process will be accomplished through 
direct mailing correspondence to interested persons, agencies, and 
organizations, notices in local newspapers and through a public scoping 
meeting. The public scoping meeting will be held on April 12, 2001 at 
the Blaine Community Senior center located at 763 G Street, Blaine, 
Washington at 7:00 pm following an open house beginning at 6:00 pm. GSA 
will publish a public notice of the meeting in Blaine newspapers 
approximately two weeks prior to the events. Scoping will be limited to 
identifying significant issues to be analyzed in the environmental 
document and commenting on alternatives and the merit of the proposal.
    Additional public meetings will be held after the release of the 
Draft Environmental Impact Statement and GSA will respond to all 
relevant comments received during the 45-day public comment period in 
the Final Environmental Impact Statement. After a minimum 30-day period 
following publication of the Final Environmental Impact Statement, GSA 
will issue a Record of Decision that will identify the alternative 
selected.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: GSA, assisted by Herrera Environmental 
Consultants, will prepare the Environmental Impact Statement. GSA will 
serve as the lead agency and scoping will be conducted consistent with 
NEPA regulations and guidelines. GSA invites interested individuals, 
organizations, and federal, state, and local agencies to participate in 
defining and identifying any significant impacts and issues to be 
studied in the EIS, including social, economic, or environmental 
concerns.
    Project Purpose, Historical Background, and Description: The US 
Customs, Immigration and Naturalization Service, and Dept of 
Agriculture are currently located in the existing Peace Arch Port of 
Entry facility. The existing facility does not currently meet the 
tenant agencies space requirement due to the present configuration of 
the site. The existing facility cannot be adapted to accommodate the 
required space needs of the agency tenants.
    Alternatives: The EIS will examine the short- and long-term impacts 
on the natural and physical environment. The impact assessment will 
include but not be limited to impacts such as social environment, 
changes in land use, aesthetics, changes in park land, changes in 
traffic and parking patterns, economic impacts, and consideration of 
City planning and zoning requirements. The EIS will examine measures to 
mitigate significant adverse impacts resulting from the proposed 
action. Concurrent with NEPA implementation, GSA will also implement 
its consultation responsibilities under Section 106 of the National 
Historical Preservation Act to identify potential impacts to existing 
historic or cultural resources.
    The EIS will consider a no-action alternative and action 
alternatives. The no-action alternative would continue the occupancy in 
the existing Peace Arch Port of Entry facility in Blaine. The action 
alternatives will consist of three different configurations for 
construction of a new Port of Entry facility. The action alternatives 
reflect varying impacts on highway alignment, railroad changes and 
adjacent park land.

ADDRESSES: In addition to the public scoping process, you may send 
written comments on the scope of alternatives and potential impacts to 
the following address: Michael D. Levine, Regional Environmental 
Program Manager, 10PCP, General Services Administration, 400 15th 
Street SW, Auburn, WA, 98001, or fax: Michael D. Levine at 253-931-
7308, or e-mail at [email protected] Written comments should be 
received no later than 45 days after the publishing of this notice.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John Meerscheidt at Herrera 
Environmental Consultants, 2200 Sixth Ave, Suite 601, Seattle, 
Washington, 98121 or call 206-441-9080; or Michael D. Levine, GSA (253) 
931-7263.
    Mailing List: If you wish to be placed on the project mailing list 
to receive further information as the EIS process develops, contact 
John Meerscheidt at the address noted above.

    Dated: March 28, 2001.
Bill DuBray,
Acting Regional Administrator (10A).
[FR Doc. 01-8744 Filed 4-9-01; 8:45 am]
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