[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 67 (Friday, April 7, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17916-17917]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-5107]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Office of the Secretary


Job Corps: Preliminary Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) 
for the Proposed Job Corps Center To Be Located at the Dome Industrial 
Park on 5th Avenue and 22nd Street in St. Petersburg, FL

AGENCY: Office of the Secretary (OSEC), Department of Labor.

ACTION: Preliminary Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for the 
proposed Job Corps Center to be located at the Dome Industrial Park on 
5th Avenue and 22nd Street in St. Petersburg, Florida.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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, 
Office of the Secretary (OSEC), 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 St. Petersburg, 
Florida, 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 30 days.

DATES: Comments must be submitted by May 8, 2006.

ADDRESSES: Any comment(s) are to be submitted to Michael F. O'Malley, 
Office of the Secretary (OSEC), 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 are available to 
interested parties by contacting Michael F. O'Malley, Architect, Unit 
Chief of Facilities, U.S. Department of Labor, Office of the Secretary 
(OSEC), 200 Constitution Avenue, NW, Room N-4460, 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 St. 
Petersburg, Florida. The subject property for the proposed Job Corps 
Center is an approximately 16-acre vacant parcel of land owned by the 
City of St. Petersburg, Florida.
    The new center will require construction of approximately seven (7) 
to ten (10) new buildings, a retention pond, and a recreation field. 
The proposed Job Corps center will provide housing, training, and 
support services for 272 resident students and approximately 28 non-
residential students for a total of 300 students. The current facility 
utilization plan includes new dormitories, a cafeteria building, 
administration offices, a Physical Fitness facility, vocational and 
educational classroom facilities, and a maintenance and storage 
facility.
    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 west-central Florida 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.
    Although the project is located in the Dome Industrial Park which 
contained the historical and significantly cultural landmark, the 
Manhattan Casino building, this landmark has experienced a major 
exterior renovation. Thus, the design and construction of a Job Corps 
center will not adversely affect any existing historic structures or 
neighborhoods, either adjacent or actually in the historically 
designated section of the Midtown neighborhood. More importantly, the 
design and construction of the center will take into account the 
historic fabric of this neighborhood in terms of construction 
materials, the physical setting of buildings and the proper use of 
color so that the center will blend into the existing neighborhood.
    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, 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. Access is 
planned from 5th Avenue and 22nd Street. Road improvements and/or 
installation of signals to facilitate site ingress/egress do not appear 
necessary.
    The proposed project will not have any significant adverse impact 
on the surrounding water, sewer, and storm water management 
infrastructure. The new building to be constructed for the proposed Job 
Corps center will be tied into the existing City of St. Petersburg 
water distribution system. The new buildings to be constructed for the 
proposed center will also be tied into the City's existing wastewater 
utility system.
    TECO would provide the electricity for the site. This is not 
expected to create any significant impact to the regional utility 
infrastructure.
    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 Bayfront Medical 
Center, approximately 1 mile from the proposed Job Corps Center. Never 
the less, the Job Corps center will have a small medical and dental 
facility as part of the campus for use by the residents, as necessary 
for providing a ward for sick students with the flu or small non-
emergency incapacities. Security services at the Job Corps will be 
provided by the center's security staff. Law enforcement services are 
provided by the St. Petersburg Police Department, located approximately 
1 mile from the proposed project site. The local fire station is the 
St. Petersburg Fire & Rescue. The fire department has two stations 
which operate 24 hours a day near the proposed site. One of the 
stations is less than 5 minutes away and will provide all of the 
necessary fire protection for the center in the near future.
    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

[[Page 17917]]

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 at the Dome Industrial Park on 5th Avenue and 22nd 
Street in St. Petersburg, Florida will not create any significant 
adverse impacts on the environment.

    Dated: April 3, 2006.
Esther R. Johnson,
National Director of Job Corps.
 [FR Doc. E6-5107 Filed 4-6-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-23-P