[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 199 (Friday, October 14, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 63923-63924]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-26647]


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GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION

[PBS-N01; Docket 2011-0006; Sequence 19]


Notice of Availability To Distribute a Final Environmental Impact 
Statement (FEIS) for the Construction of a New Land Port of Entry in 
International Falls, MN

AGENCY: Public Buildings Service, General Services Administration 
(GSA).

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: The GSA announces its intent to distribute a FEIS under the 
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969 to assess the 
potential impacts from the construction and operation of a new land 
port of entry (LPOE) in International Falls, Minnesota (the ``Proposed 
Action'').

DATES: October 14, 2011.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Donald R. Melcher, Jr., GSA Public 
Buildings Service, Great Lakes Region, Land Ports of Entry Service 
Center, 230 South Dearborn Street, Room 3600, Chicago, IL 60604, (312) 
353-1237, [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    At the request of Customs and Border Protection, the GSA is 
proposing to construct and operate a larger and improved LPOE which 
meets their needs and the design requirements of the GSA.
    The existing facilities are undersized and functionally obsolete 
and, consequently, incapable of providing the level of security 
required. The Proposed Action includes: (a) Acquisition of adjoining 
land; (b) demolition of existing government structures at the existing 
LPOE; (c) construction of a main administration building and ancillary 
support buildings; and (d) incorporation of the principles of 
sustainable design through the Leadership in Energy and Environmental 
Design Green Building Rating System of the U.S. Green Building Council.
    Alternatives studied include alternative locations and layouts for 
the components of the LPOE that are identified in the concurrent 
Feasibility Study including the main administration and ancillary 
support buildings, the associated transportation network, and parking. 
A no-build alternative also is being studied that evaluates the 
consequences of not constructing and operating the LPOE. This 
alternative is included to provide a basis for comparison to the action 
alternatives described above as required by the NEPA regulations (40 
CFR 1002.14(d)).
    The GSA announced the availability of the Draft EIS for the 
International Falls LPOE Improvements Study on January 14, 2010. A 45-
day comment period immediately followed, during which the GSA invited 
Federal, State and local agencies, organizations and individuals to 
submit comments on the Draft EIS. A public hearing was held at the 
Rainy River Community College on January 27, 2010 and a transcript of 
the hearing was prepared. An advertisement for the public hearing 
appeared in International Falls' The Daily Journal on two occasions 
prior to the hearing and advertisements for the public hearing were 
placed at Boise, Inc., and other prominent locations. Two attendees 
offered substantive comments during the public hearing. The public 
hearing was preceded by an open house to allow attendees to view plans 
of the build alternatives in detail, review the Draft EIS and discuss 
its content with the GSA, and ask questions. The GSA received eight 
comment letters and one comment e-mail copies which are contained in 
the FEIS along with responses to the substantive comments.
    After careful consideration of the comments received on the Draft 
EIS, the GSA identified Alternative 10 as best satisfying the proposed 
action's purpose and programmatic needs and has the least impact on the 
human and natural environment. Alternative 10 is identified as the 
Preferred Alternative in the FEIS and in the Record of Decision (ROD) 
subject also to Congressional

[[Page 63924]]

authorization and appropriation of availability of funds, GSA control 
of the site to complete archaeological investigations and continuity of 
the tenant agencies' Program of Requirements as they were understood at 
the time this study was completed.
    Following this thirty (30) day notice in the Federal Register, the 
GSA will issue a ROD at which time its availability will be announced 
in the Federal Register and local media.

II. Distribution

    Copies of the FEIS are being distributed to select stakeholders as 
well as being made available for public review at the International 
Falls Public Library, Chamber of Commerce Offices, and Koochiching 
County Office Building.

    Dated: October 6, 2011.
Ann P. Kalayil,
Regional Commissioner, Public Buildings Service, Great Lakes Region.
[FR Doc. 2011-26647 Filed 10-13-11; 8:45 am]
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