[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 29 (Tuesday, February 12, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8076-8077]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-2581]


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POSTAL SERVICE


Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for 
the Proposed Construction and Operation of a Mail Processing Facility 
in Aliso Viejo, CA

AGENCY: Postal Service.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: To comply with the requirements of the National Environmental 
Policy Act (NEPA), the Postal Service intends to prepare an 
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the proposed construction and 
operation of a mail processing facility in Aliso Viejo, Orange County, 
California. The public is invited to participate in the project scoping 
process, to review and comment on the draft EIS, and to attend public 
meetings.

DATES: Please submit written scoping comments by March 9, 2008. This 
notice is the first step in the EIS process. A separate notice of 
availability will be issued when the draft EIS is available for public 
review.
    To solicit public comments, a public scoping hearing will be held 
from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. on February 27, 2008, at the Wood Canyon 
Elementary School, 23431 Knollwood Avenue, Aliso Viejo, California; 
(949) 448-0012.

ADDRESSES: To submit comments, request copies of the draft EIS or final 
EIS when available, or for more information, contact Emmy Andrews, 
Pacific Facilities Service Office, United States Postal Service, 395 
Oyster Point Boulevard, Suite 225, South San Francisco, CA 94080-0300; 
(650) 615-7200.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Emmy Andrews, 650-615-7200.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: To comply with the requirements of the 
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the Postal Service intends to 
prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) for the proposed 
construction and operation of a mail processing facility on a 25-acre 
parcel owned by the Postal Service at 50 Liberty, Aliso Viejo, Orange 
County, California. The EIS will be prepared in accordance with the 
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, 42 U.S.C. 4321 et 
seq., the Council on Environmental Quality regulations for implementing 
NEPA, 40

[[Page 8077]]

CFR parts 1500-1508, the Postal Service regulations for implementing 
NEPA, 32 CFR part 775, and the Postal Service Facilities Environmental 
Guide (Handbook RE-6, November 2004).
    The proposed project will improve regional mail handling logistics, 
expand delivery point processing capabilities and provide more 
efficient mail delivery services in southern Orange County.
    The proposed facility would be approximately 342,726 square feet 
and would contain state-of-the-art automated mail processing systems. 
The facility would be constructed over an 18-month period during normal 
daytime hours Monday through Saturday. It would include a workroom, 
administrative space, and employee facilities, such as restrooms and 
break rooms. Grading of the site would be required to achieve a uniform 
site elevation. In addition to the facility, the site would include two 
gated access roads and parking areas for tractor/trailers and employee 
vehicles. Other site improvements include a retaining wall along the 
northern edge of the site, fencing, sidewalks and curbs, outdoor 
lighting, a facility sign, and landscaping. Existing trees and other 
vegetation on the western and northern edges would remain, as would 
vegetation along the steeply graded eastern and southern parts of the 
site.
    An estimated 561 full-time employees spread over three work shifts 
would staff the facility. Typical facility activities would include 
unloading unsorted mail from delivery tractor/trailers, automated mail 
processing, loading delivery-sequenced mail onto delivery tractor/
trailers, and general administration. The facility would operate 
continuously, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It would generate an 
estimated 74 tractor/trailer round trips during each 24-hour period.
    Alternatives that will be evaluated by the Postal Service in the 
EIS include the above-described proposed action and a ``No Action'' 
alternative. Under the ``No Action'' alternative, the mail processing 
facility would not be constructed. The Postal Service may consider 
other alternatives in the EIS, including variations on the size or 
functions of the proposed facility, alternate locations for the 
proposed facility, and other reasonable alternatives identified during 
the public scoping process.
    The Postal Service is seeking public input on the scope of 
environmental issues and the range of alternatives to be addressed in 
the EIS. To assist with this scoping effort, copies of an environmental 
assessment and draft supplemental environmental assessment previously 
prepared for this project are available at the Aliso Viejo Library, 1 
Journey (949-360-1730). Those documents are also available 
electronically at http://www.alisoviejoeis.com. All comments previously 
received on the environmental assessment are being considered during 
development of the EIS.

Neva R. Watson,
Attorney, Legislative.
 [FR Doc. E8-2581 Filed 2-11-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7710-12-P