[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 59 (Monday, March 30, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14127-14128]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-7158]
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GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION
Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for
the Reconfiguration and Expansion of the San Luis I Land Port of Entry
AGENCY: Public Buildings Service, General Services Administration.
ACTION: Notice of intent with request for comments.
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SUMMARY: The General Services Administration (GSA) announces its intent
to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) under the National
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969 to assess the potential impacts
of reconfiguration and expansion of the San Luis I Land Port of Entry
(LPOE) in San Luis, Arizona.
The proposed action is for GSA to reconfigure the existing downtown
San Luis LPOE and expand it to improve its functionality, capacity, and
security. The San Luis I LPOE was built in 1984 and is operated by the
U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS)/U.S. Customs and Border
Protection (CBP). The facility currently handles all traffic modes,
including commercial vehicles, buses, privately operated vehicles
(POVs), and pedestrians. However, the existing facility is inadequate
relative to CBP's security standards and is incapable of adequately
handling current and projected traffic volumes. GSA therefore is
proposing to reconfigure and expand the existing San Luis I LPOE so
that it may continue to serve POV's, buses and pedestrians. GSA is
currently constructing San Luis II LPOE that will become the commercial
port of entry for Yuma County, which it expects to complete in late
2009 at which time the commercial operations at San Luis I will cease.
GSA proposes to expand the current port by utilizing the vacated
commercial space and acquiring approximately one
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acre of land along the eastern boundary of the LPOE, and approximately
one acre along the western boundary of the LPOE. This expansion will
mitigate traffic congestion in the port and allow an increase of the
number of inspection lanes and employee parking. The expansion and
reconfiguration of the LPOE will accommodate 11 primary booths for
northbound inspection and allow for the future accommodation of four
additional booths, including one booth for U.S./Mexico Emergency
Vehicle pathway. The current six primary northbound U.S. entry lanes
will be converted into three primary booths for U.S. entry for bus/high
occupancy vehicles/recreational vehicles (HOV/RV) and bicycles.
Southbound vehicle inspection lanes will be expanded from two to three
lanes and four adjacent secondary inspection stalls will be
constructed. Under the proposed action, a new headhouse facility will
be constructed, administrative offices will be renovated, and
pedestrian processing facilities would be expanded. Roadway
modifications within the port will be conducted to improve traffic
movement through the port and to enhance pedestrian safety. These
modifications will also allow for establishment of an emergency route
through the port.
The EIS will evaluate the potential environmental impacts
associated with alternatives to implement the proposed action,
including the No Action Alternative:
Alternative 1: Reconfigure the existing San Luis I LPOE and expand
facilities through acquisition of approximately one acre of adjacent
land to the west and approximately one acre of adjacent land to the
east.
No Action Alternative: Continue operations in the existing LPOE
facilities as they are currently configured. This alternative is
included to provide a basis of comparison to the action alternative as
required by NEPA regulations (40 CFR 1002.14[d]).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The public scoping period starts with
publication of this notice in the Federal Register and will continue
for 45 days from the date of the notice. GSA will consider all comments
received or post-marked by that date in defining the scope of the EIS.
A public scoping meeting will be held to provide the public with an
opportunity to present comments, ask questions, and discuss concerns
regarding the scope of the EIS with GSA representatives. GSA will hold
a public scoping meeting on April 14, 2009 at the San Luis City Hall
Council Chambers, 1090 E. Union Street from 4 to 7 p.m.
DATES: Interested parties should submit written comments on or before
May 14, 2009.
ADDRESSES: Written comments concerning the scope of the EIS should be
sent to GSA San Luis Scoping, c/o Parsons, 1700 Broadway Suite 900,
Denver, CO 80290 or send an e-mail to [email protected].
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Maureen Sheehan by phone at (415) 522-
3601 or by e-mail at [email protected].
Dated: March 20, 2009.
Abdee Gharavi,
Portfolio Division Director, 9PT.
[FR Doc. E9-7158 Filed 3-27-09; 8:45 am]
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