[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 30 (Friday, February 13, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7261-7262]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-3182]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration


Job Corps: Preliminary Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) 
for the Proposed Job Corps Center Located on Scott Hamilton Drive in 
Little Rock, AR

AGENCY: Employment and Training Administration, Labor.

ACTION: Preliminary Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for the 
proposed Job Corps Center to be located on Scott Hamilton Drive in 
Little Rock, Arkansas.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to the Council on Environmental Quality Regulations 
(40 CFR part 1500-08) implementing procedural provisions of the 
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the Department of Labor, 
Employment and Training Administration, Office of Job Corps, in 
accordance with 29 CFR 11.11(d), gives notice that an Environmental 
Assessment (EA) has been prepared for a proposed new Job Corps Center 
to be located in Little Rock, Arkansas, and that the proposed plan for 
a new Job Corps Center will have no significant environmental impact. 
This preliminary Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) will be made 
available for public review and comment for a period of 45 days.

DATES: Comments must be submitted by March 29, 2004.

ADDRESSES: Any comment(s) are to be submitted to Eric Luetkenhaus, 
Employment and Training Administration, Department of Labor, 200 
Constitution Avenue, NW., Room S-4203, Washington, DC 20210, (202) 693-
3109 (this is not a toll-free number).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Copies of the EA are available to 
interested parties by contacting Michael F. O'Malley, Architect, DOL 
Historic Preservation Officer, U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and 
Training Administration, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW., Room N-4659, 
Washington, DC 20210, (202) 693-3108 (this is not a toll-free number).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This Environmental Assessment (EA) summary 
addresses the proposed construction of a new Job Corps Center in Little 
Rock, Arkansas. The subject property for the proposed Job Corps Center 
is an approximately 32-acre undeveloped parcel of land owned by 
Celestica Corporation.
    The new center will require construction of nine (9) new buildings. 
The proposed Job Corps Center will provide housing, training, and 
support services for 272 resident students and 28 non-resident 
students. The current facility utilization plan includes new 
dormitories, a cafeteria building, administration offices, recreation 
facilities, and classroom facilities.
    The construction of the Job Corps Center on this proposed site 
would be a positive asset to the area in terms of environmental and 
socioeconomic improvements, and long-term productivity. The proposed 
Job Corps Center will be a new source of employment opportunity for 
people in the central Arkansas area. The Job Corps program provides 
basic education, vocational skills training, work experience, 
counseling, health care and related support services. The program is 
designed to graduate students who are ready to participate in the local 
economy.
    The proposed project will not have any significant adverse impact 
on any natural systems or resources. No State or Federal threatened or 
endangered species (proposed or listed) have been identified on the 
subject property.
    The Job Corps Center construction will not affect any existing 
historic structures, as there are no known historic or archeologically 
sensitive areas on the proposed property parcel.
    Air quality and noise levels should not be affected by the proposed 
development project. Due to the nature of the proposed project, it 
would not be a significant source of air pollutants or additional 
noise, except possibly during construction of the facility. All 
construction activities will be conducted in accordance with applicable 
noise and air pollution regulations, and all pollution sources will be 
permitted in accordance with applicable pollution control regulations.
    The proposed Job Corps Center is not expected to significantly 
increase the vehicle traffic in the vicinity.
    The proposed project will not have any significant adverse impact 
on the surrounding water, sewer, and storm water management 
infrastructure. The new buildings to be constructed for the proposed 
Job Corps Center will be tied in to the existing Central Arkansas Water 
distribution system. The new buildings to be constructed for the 
proposed Job Corps Center will also be tied in to the existing Little 
Rock Wastewater Utility system.
    Entergy would provide the electricity for the site. This is not 
expected to create any significant impact to the regional utility 
infrastructure.
    The relocation of the Job Corps Center is not expected to result in 
a significant

[[Page 7262]]

increase in vehicular traffic, since many of the Job Corps Center 
residents will either live at the Job Corps Center or use public 
transportation. While some Job Corps Center students and staff may use 
personal vehicles, their number would not result in a significant 
increase in vehicular traffic in the area. However, the proposed Job 
Corps Center entrance would be from Scott Hamilton Road. Scott Hamilton 
Road is a well used, two-lane thoroughfare. It may be necessary to 
install a traffic signal or widen Scott Hamilton Road in the area of 
the property.
    No significant adverse affects to local medical, emergency, fire 
and police services are anticipated. The primary medical provider 
located closest to the proposed Job Corps parcel is the Southwest 
Hospital, approximately 5 miles from the proposed Job Corps Center. The 
Job Corps Center will have a small medical and dental facility on-site 
for use by the residents as necessary. Security services at the Job 
Corps will be provided by the center's security staff. Law enforcement 
services are provided by the Little Rock Police Department's Southwest 
Little Rock Patrol Division, located approximately 5 miles from the 
proposed project site. The local fire station is the Little Rock Fire 
Department. The fire department has two stations which operate 24 hours 
a day near the proposed site.
    The proposed project will not have a significant adverse 
sociological affect on the surrounding community. Similarly, the 
proposed project will not have a significant adverse affect on 
demographic and socioeconomic characteristics of the area.
    The alternatives considered in the preparation of this FONSI were 
as follows: (1) No action; and (2) continue project as proposed. The no 
action alternative was not selected. The U.S. Department of Labor's 
goal of improving the Job Corps Program by improving the learning 
environment at Job Corps Centers would not be met under this 
alternative. Due to the suitability of the proposed site for 
establishment of a new Job Corps Center, and the absence of any 
identified significant adverse environmental impacts from locating a 
Job Corps Center on the subject property, the ``continue project as 
proposed'' alternative was selected.
    Based on the information gathered during the preparation of the EA, 
no environmental liabilities, current or historical, were found to 
exist on the proposed Job Corps Center site. The construction of the 
Job Corps Center on Scott Hamilton Road in Little Rock, Arkansas will 
not create any significant adverse impacts on the environment.

    Dated this 9th day of February, 2004.
Richard C. Trigg,
Administrator, Office of Job Corps.
[FR Doc. 04-3182 Filed 2-12-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-30-P