[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 5 (Thursday, January 8, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Page 1291]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-377]


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GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION

[2003-N01]


Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for 
the Andrade Port of Entry Expansion/Renovation

AGENCY: General Services Administration (GSA).

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement 
(EIS) for the expansion/renovation of the Andrade Port of Entry (POE).

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SUMMARY: The action to be evaluated by this EIS is the expansion/
renovation of the existing Andrade POE, located in Andrade, California, 
to improve the safety, security, and operations of the POE, and to 
maintain control over ever-present illegal activities at the border. 
The facility serves vehicular and pedestrian traffic into and out of 
the Mexican town of Algodones. Expansion/renovation of this facility is 
proposed to respond to the substantial increase in the flow of both 
vehicles and pedestrians. The existing POE facility is not equipped to 
process the number of vehicles and pedestrians anticipated at a level 
of service consistent with the Federal Inspection Service minimum 
standards for processing time and overall operational efficiency. The 
current facility layout requires northbound pedestrians to cross both 
lanes of SR-186 upon exiting the pedestrian inspection facility, which 
impedes vehicle circulation, hinders vehicle inspection efficiency, and 
presents a hazard to those pedestrians.
    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, the ``no build'' 
alternative will be analyzed. Alternatives 1 and 2, located on Fort 
Yuma (Quechan) Indian Reservation land, would expand the existing 
facility on additional property immediately north and west of the 
existing site. These two alternatives differ in how traffic would flow 
through the facility. Alternative 3, also located on Fort Yuma 
(Quechan) Indian Reservation land, would construct a new facility 
immediately across the Alamo Canal, east of the existing facility. A 
bridge over the canal would connect the new facility to the existing 
roadway. Alternative 4 would leave the existing facility in place, and 
construct a new facility east of Algodones on the Arizona side of the 
Colorado River, connecting with Algodones via a bridge. Land in this 
area is privately owned. Under Alternative 4, both POE's would remain 
open, but the majority of vehicular traffic would be expected to pass 
through the new facility.
    The EIS will address the potential environmental impacts of the 
alternatives for the proposed project, including: land use, visual and 
aesthetic resources, cultural and historic resources, traffic and 
public safety, air quality during construction and operation, noise, 
biological resources, geology and soils, water resources, and 
infrastructure and utilities. The EIS will also address the 
socioeconomic and environmental justice effects of the potential 
expansion/renovation of the Andrade POE.
    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 public scoping 
meeting for the proposed project will be held on January 7, 2004, from 
3 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the Shilo Inn, Yuma Room, 1550 South Castle Dome 
Road, Yuma, AZ, 85365 (near 16th Street exit from Interstate 8). 
Interested parties may attend to present questions and concerns that 
they believe should be addressed in the EIS. Comments and questions can 
also be submitted to the Point of Contact listed below. Due to time 
limits mandated by federal law, responses to scoping are requested no 
later than 30 days after publication of this notice. It is anticipated 
that the Draft EIS will be available for public review and comment in 
September 2004.
    If you require additional information regarding the public scoping 
meeting or proposed project, or require special assistance to attend 
the meeting, please contact the GSA or visit our Web site: http://hydra.gsa.gov/regions/r9/Andrade.
    Point of Contact: Ramon D. Riesgo, Border Station Program, GSA, 
Desert Service Center, 401 West ``A'' Street, Suite 2075, San Diego, CA 
92101-8843, (619) 557-5092 voice, (619) 557-2928 facsimile.

Peter G. Stamison,
Regional Administrator, Pacific Rim Region, General Services 
Administration.
[FR Doc. 04-377 Filed 1-7-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6820-XX-M