[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 39 (Monday, March 1, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 9219-9220]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-4188]


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GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION


Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for 
the Otay Mesa Land Port of Entry

AGENCY: General Services Administration.

ACTION: Notice of Intent.

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SUMMARY: The General Services Administration (GSA) announces its intent 
to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the 
modernization of the Otay Mesa Land Port of Entry (LPOE) in San Diego, 
California. The project will modernize the existing port to improve its 
functionality, capacity, and security.
    The facility currently handles all traffic modes, including 
commercial vehicles, buses, privately operated vehicles (POVs), and 
pedestrians. Built in 1984 and expanded in 1994 to accommodate new 
commercial facilities and southbound commercial traffic, the existing 
10 commercial and 13 POV booths no longer meet the Department of 
Homeland Security (DHS) security standards and are incapable of 
adequately handling current and projected traffic volumes.
    GSA proposes to modernize the current port by remodeling, improving 
and expanding the existing facility through the acquisition of 
approximately 10 acres of land along the eastern boundary of the port. 
The modernized POV port will accommodate 24 primary booths for 
northbound inspection with future accommodation of another 12 booths. 
Roadway modifications within the port will be designed to improve 
traffic circulation through the LPOE and to enhance pedestrian safety. 
The commercial import facility will accommodate 12 primary booths and 
be modified to safely expedite truck inspections and decrease wait 
times. Energy conservation and sustainability provisions will be 
applied throughout the facility.
    The EIS will evaluate the potential environmental impacts 
associated with alternatives to implement the proposed action described 
below, including the No Action Alternative:
    Alternative 1--POV/Commercial LPOE: GSA will modernize the existing 
Otay Mesa LPOE to accommodate 12 commercial lanes and a combination of 
24 POV/bus lanes. Approximately 10 acres of adjacent land on the east 
side of the LPOE will be acquired which will modernize the facility to 
accommodate modern operational requirements.
    Alternative 2--Multimodal/Commercial LPOE: GSA will modernize the 
existing Otay Mesa LPOE as mentioned in Alternative 1 and integrate 
long range pedestrian and public transit capabilities.
    Alternative 3--No Action: Continue operations at the existing LPOE 
facilities as they are currently configured.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Maureen Sheehan by phone at 253-931-
7548 or by e-mail at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The scoping process has involved newspaper 
announcements in the San Diego Union Tribune on June 18, 2009 and in 
the Hispanos Unidos Spanish language newspaper on June 19, 2009. A 
project fact sheet has been distributed among likely stakeholders and 
one notice was placed in the July/August 2009 edition of the Otay 
Action Newsletter distributed by the Otay Mesa Chamber of Commerce. All 
announced open house was held within the community at the Otay Mesa 
Holiday

[[Page 9220]]

Inn Express on July 7, 2009. All public materials presented at the open 
house were made available in English and Spanish. The purpose of the 
open house was to present information about the project and to receive 
input from the public regarding concerns or issues with the existing 
condition of the Otay Mesa LPOE and the proposed action. The public was 
also provided the opportunity to comment on the project by means of a 
form provided with the fact sheet and at the open house, or 
electronically via the project e-mail address 
([email protected]). Comments were accepted by any of the means 
described above through August 7, 2009.
    Twenty-six individuals attended the open house (excluding GSA 
project and contractor staff--five individuals), with the majority of 
those attending associated with a federal, state, or local agency. 
Comments were provided during discussions about the project with GSA 
and contractor staff. Written comments were provided by three emails 
and one letter. These communications suggested that there is a high 
degree of controversy surrounding the underwriting of local 
infrastructure needs associated with the project. GSA has therefore 
decided to prepare an EIS per GSA NEPA Desk Guide (1999; Section 7.4):

    Acquisition of space by Federal construction or lease 
construction, or expansion or improvement of an existing facility, 
where one or more of the following applies:

* * * The proposed use will substantially increase the number of 
motor vehicles at the facility;

* * * There is evidence of current or potential community 
controversy about environmental justice or other environmental 
issues.

     Dated: February 9, 2010.
Abdee Gharavi,
Program Director for Land Port of Entry.
[FR Doc. 2010-4188 Filed 2-26-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6820-YF-P