[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 143 (Thursday, July 25, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48674-48675]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-18873]



[[Page 48674]]

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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration


Preliminary Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for the 
Proposed Acquisition of the Property Located at 22 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 22 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 and 
Environmental Assessment (EA) has been prepared and the proposed 
acquisition of the property located at 22 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 U.S. Department of Labor is proposing to 
acquire a 42,000 square foot property at 22 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. Initially, the U.S. Department of 
Labor Job Corps Program intends to leave the parcel vacant, possibly 
used for excess parking. The property possibly will be used in the 
future to provide space for a Child Development Center (CDC), 
recreation, dormitory, and/or an administration building. No new 
structures will be built on the property initially. The purpose and 
need for the U.S. Department of Labor's acquisition of this property is 
to allow for future expansion of the current Job Corps facilities 
currently located immediately to the east of the proposed project site.
    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 proposed project will 
initially remain undeveloped 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 property 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 site is 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; however, 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 vacant parcel will be used initially as parking, an 
activity which would only minimally disturb the surface of the property 
and would not result in any impacts on the subsurface of the property 
including groundwater. If the property is developed in the future, the 
proposed development options (a Child Development Center, recreation, 
dormitory, and/or an administration building) would not result in any 
negative impacts on the surface or subsurface including groundwater. In 
fact, improvements to sanitary sewers and drainage on the site as a 
result of development would be considered a positive benefit.
    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

[[Page 48675]]

the proposed property. Any of the proposed uses of the currently vacant 
parcel (parking, a Child Development Center, recreation, dormitory, 
and/or and administration building) are not expected to increase noise 
levels in excess of the current conditions, and thus the acquisition of 
the parcel is not expected to have any negative impacts to the noise in 
the area. Any future development on the site would more than likely 
create construction noise; however, this noise would be of short 
duration.
    Acquisition of the proposed property would not result in adverse 
impacts on the visual environment. There is a future opportunity to 
improve the aesthetics of this property as it is developed into a 
campus-like learning center. Additionally, implementing landscaping 
along the property boundaries would contribute to the revitalization 
efforts occurring throughout the north and south areas of this 
neighborhood.
    The project site is currently a vacant lot with little vegetation 
resources within the project site boundary. The small amount of 
vegetation at the property boundary will be removed. 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 use of the 
area for parking 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 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. If future development is pursued, the U.S. Department of 
Labor should comply with Section 106 of NHPA by consulting with the 
CHPO and SHPO. 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 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 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. 02-18873 Filed 7-24-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-30-P