[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 143 (Thursday, July 25, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48675-48677]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-18872]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration


Job Corps: Preliminary finding of No significant impact (FONSI) 
for the Proposed Acquisition of the Property Located at 515 South First 
Street and 118 East Lincoln Street, Phoenix, AZ

AGENCY: Employment and Training Administration, Labor.

ACTION: Preliminary finding of no significant impact (FONSI) for the 
proposed acquisition of the property located at 515 South First Street 
and 118 East Lincoln Street, Phoenix, Arizona.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to the Council on Environmental Quality Regulations 
(CEQ) (40 CFR part 1500-08) implementing procedural provision of the 
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the Employment and Training 
Administration (ETA) of the Department of Labor (DOL), Office of the 
Job Corps, in accordance with 29 CFR 11.11(d), gives notice that an 
Environmental Assessment (EA) has been prepared and the proposed 
acquisition of the property located at 515 South First Street and 118 
East Lincoln Street, Phoenix, Arizona, 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: Written comments must be received by August 26, 2002.

ADDRESSES: Any comments are to be submitted to Michael F. O'Malley, 
Employment and Training Administration, Department of Labor, 200 
Constitution Avenue, NW., Room N-4460, Washington, DC 20210, (202) 693-
3108 (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 Michael 
F. O'Malley, Architect, US Department of Labor, Employment and Training 
Administration, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW., Room N-4460, Washington, 
DC 20210, (202) 693-3108 (this is not a toll-free number).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Department of Labor is proposing to 
acquire a 42,000 square foot property at 515 South First Street and 118 
East Lincoln Street, Phoenix, Arizona in order to consolidate the 
Phoenix Job Corp Center operations, currently located both east and 
west of the proposed site, into a more campus-like setting. Acquiring 
this piece of property would allow this consolidation by eliminating 
the need for a current leased piece of property that is used for 
teaching and support of the ``hard vocation'' trades such as carpentry, 
building maintenance, electronic assembly, painting, cement masonry, 
and plastering. The ``hard vocations'' would relocate to the new 
property. The existing structures on the site would be modified and 
used as classroom, shop, and support space. This consolidation would 
also allow trainees at the facility to have safer and closer access for 
training in an area where high traffic volumes can pose safety 
concerns. Property dimensions would allow expansion or additions to the 
existing buildings in the future; however, no plans exist at this time 
for these expansions.
    The purpose and need for the U.S. Department of Labor's acquisition 
of this property is to eliminate the need for

[[Page 48676]]

a current lease and accommodate the relocation of the existing 
classroom, shop, and support space used by the ``hard vocations'' 
program. The newly acquired property would also provide room for 
building expansion in the future.
    General environmental conditions and potential impacts were 
evaluated for the proposed site and a general 0.5-mile study radius 
surrounding the site.
    The area immediately surrounding the project area (0.5-mile study 
area) is a diverse mix of commercial, industrial, and residential 
areas. The residential areas contain a young and diverse population. 
The acquisition of the proposed property is not expected to have any 
negative impacts on the demographics of the surrounding area. The 
purpose of the Job Corps is to provide basic education, vocational 
skills training, health care, and work experience to allow 
disadvantaged persons from the Phoenix area to improve their position 
in the workplace and society. Initially, the property will only be used 
for classroom, shop, and support space; however, in the long term, the 
property will allow the center the flexibility for possible facility 
expansion which would provide more educational opportunities for the 
disadvantaged youth in the downtown area. Thus, the addition of this 
parcel to the Job Corps campus is expected to have a positive impact on 
the lives of disadvantaged youths living in Phoenix and specifically 
the diverse downtown area.
    The acquisition of the proposed property is not expected to have 
any negative impacts on any of the facilities, services, or existing 
infrastructure in the surrounding study area. The buildings on the 
proposed project site will be converted to classroom, shop, and support 
space, taking the place of rented space with the same function, and 
thus would not pose any additional strain to the public services, such 
as the police, fire departments, or medical facilities. Future 
development of the site would be beneficial to the surrounding 
neighborhood and any additional need for infrastructure or public 
services would cause only a negligible impact on the departments or 
services in the area. The existing schools, libraries, parks, and 
transportation facilities are not expected to be impacted by the 
acquisition of this property. Local streets and transit facilities are 
more than adequate to facilitate the current use of the site and any 
proposed future development of the parcel.
    The proposed project is not expected to have any negative impacts 
on land use or the surrounding residential communities. The acquisition 
of the property would be compatible with current land uses in the area 
including industrial, commercial, and residential. Additionally, the 
consolidation of the Job Corps facilities to a more campus-like 
environment would be a responsible and efficient use of space.
    Residential communities in the area, located generally south of the 
property, would not be impacted by the acquisition and use of this 
property. The presence of the Job Corps program in the area is a 
positive catalyst for the education of the youth in the area and 
revitalization of the surrounding residential communities, which are 
consistent with neighborhood goals.
    The acquisition of the proposed project property is not expected to 
have any negative impacts on air quality in the Phoenix metropolitan 
area. The Phoenix metropolitan area is currently in non-attainment of 
the 24-hour and annual health-based standard for particulate matter. If 
the buildings on the site are expanded or further developed in the 
future, short-term impacts may occur due to construction disturbance 
and clearing (dust). Such impacts would be localized and short-term in 
duration. The construction contractor should follow industry standards 
for minimizing dust and particulates at construction sites.
    The acquisition of this property is not expected to have any 
negative impacts on the geology, soils, and/or water resources in the 
study area. The existing buildings will be modified for use as 
classroom, shop, and support space, which should not result in any 
impacts on the surface or subsurface of the property, including 
groundwater. If the buildings are expanded or property is further 
developed in the future, the expansions should not result in any 
negative impacts on the surface or subsurface, including groundwater.
    The proposed project site is located in a light industrial, 
downtown setting. Current, typical sources of noise on the site include 
traffic from local streets, ambient noise from local businesses and 
educational facilities, and railroad traffic north of the site. 
Potentially sensitive receptors in the area consist of one church 
facility located approximately 500 feet to the south of the proposed 
property. The proposed modifications to the site are not expected to 
increase noise levels in excess of the current conditions, and thus the 
acquisition of the proposed site is not expected to have any negative 
impacts on the noise in the area. Any future development on the site, 
such as building expansions, would more than likely create construction 
noise; however, this noise would be of short duration.
    Acquisition of the proposed property for the intended purpose would 
not result in adverse impacts on the visual environment. There is an 
opportunity to improve the aesthetics of this property as it is 
developed into a campus-like learning center.
    The project site is currently an industrial site used for cold 
storage of foodstuffs with no vegetation resources within the project 
site boundary. Landscaped vegetation near Lincoln Street will not be 
impacted. The proposed action will result in little to no impacts on 
vegetation resources.
    Potential impacts on wildlife are expected to be low. For small 
mammals and birds, mainly rodents and pigeons, some habitat loss as 
well as loss of individuals (chiefly small mammals) will occur if and 
when the site is developed. Project disturbances (i.e., construction), 
although locally intense, would be temporary. No riparian or wetland 
areas occur within the project site or study area. Therefore, there 
will be no impacts on riparian and wetland vegetation. No endangered or 
threatened species are expected to occur in the study area. If any 
special status species is observed, necessary mitigation measures will 
be developed in coordination with USFWS and the Arizona Game and Fish 
Department.
    The proposed acquisition of the project property and interior 
modifications of the two buildings on the project site are expected to 
have no adverse effect on any archaeological or historical properties 
listed on or eligible for the National Register. Thus, there should be 
no significant impacts as defined by NEPA, nor any cumulative impacts. 
Any future expansion of the existing buildings or construction of new 
facilities on the project site has potential to directly affect 
archaeological resources that may be buried on the project site and 
indirectly affect adjacent historic buildings. A plan for 
archaeological testing may need to be developed and implemented, and 
subsequent data recovery studies might be required to mitigate any 
identified adverse effects. Consideration also may need to be given to 
designing any modification or new construction to minimize any 
potential for adverse visual effects or any other types of indirect 
effects to nearby historic resources listed on or eligible for the 
National Register. It seems likely that any identified adverse effects 
of future development could be satisfactorily mitigated through studies 
to recover important archaeological data or by sensitive project 
design. Therefore no

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significant impacts, as defined by NEPA, are projected.
    Based on information gathered in the preparation of the EA, 
negative impacts on the surrounding environment are not anticipated to 
be associated with this project. However, appropriate consideration to 
surrounding cultural and historic resources should be handled according 
to Section 106 of NHPA and any other applicable regulations. Mitigation 
for any possible impacts should be possible through archaeological 
studies and project design. Similarly, if any special status species is 
observed, necessary mitigation measures will be developed in 
coordination with USFWS and the Arizona Game and Fish Department.

    Dated this 19th day of July, 2002.
Richard C. Trigg,
National Director of Job Corps.
[FR Doc. 02-18872 Filed 7-24-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-30-P