[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 127 (Wednesday, July 2, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Page 39568]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-16784]


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GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION


Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for 
the San Ysidro Border Station Expansion

AGENCIES: General Services Administration (GSA), California Department 
of Transportation (CalTrans), and Federal Highway Administration 
(FHWA).

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement 
(EIS) for the upgrade and expansion of the existing San Ysidro Border 
Station.

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SUMMARY: The action to be evaluated by this EIS is the upgrade and 
expansion of the existing San Ysidro Border Station, located in San 
Ysidro, California, to relieve the substantial increase of traffic 
congestion at the southern terminus of I-5; to implement new mandated 
border entry/exit programs, in accordance with the legislative 
requirements of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant 
Responsibility Act of 1996; to further the reorganization of the 
Federal Inspection Services into an agency of Homeland Security; and, 
to maintain control over ever present illegal activities at the border.

Alternatives

    Four build alternatives for the proposed project are currently 
under consideration and will be analyzed in the EIS for potential 
environmental impacts. In addition, as required be NEPA, the ``No 
Build'' alternative will be analyzed. In an effort to provide effective 
border control services to both Mexico and the United States (U.S.), 
and to streamline traffic along I-5 between Mexico and the U.S., 
several potential developments outside of the scope of this project are 
being taken into consideration during the planning stages of the 
proposed project. One of these potential developments involves the 
Mexican Federal Government's plan to develop a new non-commercial port 
of entry at El Chaparral, located directly south of the decommissioned 
U.S. Virginia Avenue Commercial Vehicle Inspection facility. The San 
Ysidro Border Station would need to align with, or connect to, the El 
Chaparral facility. A second local area project which would affect the 
development of the proposed project is the San Ysidro Intermodal 
Transportation Center, which will improve the trolley terminus to the 
east of the existing San Ysidro Border Station. The proposed 
transportation center also includes general hardscape and landscape 
improvements, as well as upgrades to existing parking lots and 
roadways. This development would establish the area east of the 
existing San Ysidro Border Station as the main hub for the local 
population and any individuals wishing to cross the U.S./Mexico border.

Public Involvement

    The views and comments of the public are necessary in determining 
the scope and content of the environmental analysis in connection with 
the proposed project. A scoping meeting for the proposed project will 
be held on Wednesday, July 23, 2003 from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the San 
Ysidro Multi-Cultural Center, located at 4345 Otay Mesa Road in San 
Ysidro, CA. Interested parties may attend to present questions and 
concerns that they believe should be addressed in the EIS. Release of 
the Draft EIS for public comment and the public meeting will be 
announced in the local news media as these dates are established.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: General Services Administration, 
Pacific Rim Region, Ramon D. Riesgo, Border Station Program, Desert 
Service Center, 401 West ``A'' Street, Suite 2075, San Diego, CA 92101-
8843, (619) 557-5092.

Steve J. Scavo,
Acting Director, Desert Service Center.
[FR Doc. 03-16784 Filed 7-1-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6620-27-M