[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 24 (Monday, February 5, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Page 5100]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-02164]


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GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION

[Notice-PBS-2018-02; Docket No. 2018-0002; Sequence No. 2]


Notice of Scoping Meeting and Intent To Prepare a Supplemental 
Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) for the Madawaska-Edmundston 
International Bridge and New Land Port of Entry (LPOE) Project

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

ACTION: Notice of intent; announcement of meeting.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to the requirements of the National Environmental 
Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), the Council on Environmental Quality 
Regulations, and the GSA Public Buildings Service NEPA Desk Guide, GSA 
is issuing this notice to advise the public that a Supplemental 
Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) will be prepared for the proposed 
construction of the Madawaska-Edmundston International Bridge and New 
Land Port of Entry (the Project).

DATES: Meeting Date: The Public Information and Scoping Session will be 
held on Wednesday, January 31, 2018, at 7:00 p.m., EST (Eastern 
Standard Time). Interested parties are encouraged to provide written 
comments on or before Monday, February 28, 2018.

ADDRESSES: Madawaska High School Cafeteria, 135 7th Avenue, Madawaska, 
Maine 04756. The session format includes a 30-minute Open House, 
followed by formal presentation and Question & Answer session.
    Written comments can be submitted by either of the following 
methods:
     Regulations.gov: http://www.regulations.gov. Submit 
comments via the Federal eRulemaking portal by searching the Notice 
number. Select the link ``Comment Now'' that corresponds with ``PBS-
2018-02, Notice of Scoping Meeting and Intent to Prepare a Supplemental 
Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) for the Madawaska-Edmundston 
International Bridge and New Land Port of Entry (LPOE) Project.'' 
Follow the instructions provided on the screen. Please include your 
name, company name (if any), and ``PBS-2018-02, Notice of Scoping 
Meeting and Intent to Prepare a Supplemental Environmental Impact 
Statement (SEIS) for the Madawaska-Edmundston International Bridge and 
New Land Port of Entry (LPOE) Project'' on your attached document.
     Postal Mail: Ms. Alexas Kelly, Project Manager, GSA, 10 
Causeway Street, 11th Floor, Boston, MA 02222.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Alexas Kelly, Project Manager, GSA, 
New England Region, at email [email protected], or call 617-549-
8190. Please also call this number if special assistance is needed to 
attend and participate in the public scoping meeting.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    The purpose of the Project is to provide for the long-term safe and 
efficient flow of current and projected traffic volumes, including the 
movement of goods and people between Edmundston, New Brunswick and 
Madawaska, Maine. The Project is needed because (1) the existing 
International Bridge is nearing the end of its useful life, and (2) the 
existing Madawaska Land Port of Entry is substandard, inhibiting the 
agencies assigned to the Port from adequately fulfilling their 
respective missions.
    The existing Madawaska-Edmundston International Bridge, opened in 
1921, and its design life has exceeded. Notable bridge deficiencies are 
(1) substandard geometry--roadway width & clearance, (2) foundation 
susceptible to undermining, (3) piers cracked and deteriorated, (4) 
significant steel corrosion, (5) bridge capacity is insufficient, and 
(6) deficiencies prompting the bridge posting on October 27, 2017, from 
50 tons to 5 tons.
    A Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) and Record of 
Decision (ROD) were published in January 2007, which addressed the 
construction of a new Madawaska LPOE.
    Built in 1959, the current LPOE suffers from facility, operational 
and site deficiencies, and does not meet current Customs and Border 
Protection (CBP) mission & operational requirements for an LPOE. A few 
noted deficiencies: (1) Lack of office and inspection areas, (2) 
deficient inbound and outbound passenger and commercial processing 
areas, (3) inadequate queuing space for vehicles, and (4) inability to 
meet the Architectural Barriers Act. In furtherance of the LPOE 
Project, GSA previously acquired approximately nine acres of land, but 
did not commence construction.
    An SEIS is needed due to a change in circumstance, specifically the 
decision by MaineDOT and New Brunswick Department of Transportation and 
Infrastructure (NBTI), which requires the existing Edmundston/Madawaska 
International Bridge be replaced and removed. The SEIS will address 
changes to the Project, including an updated design in accordance with 
current GSA and CBP requirements, and a reconfigured International 
Bridge approach (the totality of which may require additional land 
acquisition).

Scoping Process and Next Steps

    Scoping will be accomplished through this public meeting, and 
direct mail correspondence, to appropriate Federal, state, and local 
agencies, and to private organizations and citizens who have previously 
expressed, or are known to have, an interest in the Project.
    The primary purpose of the scoping process is for the public to 
assist GSA in developing the SEIS by identifying and determining the 
range and extent of relevant issues related to the Project. 
Alternatives will be developed with input from the local community 
through the scoping process. GSA will provide public notice of this and 
any subsequent public meetings in local newspapers, radio 
announcements, postings in prominent town locations, and other outreach 
actions.

    Dated: January 29, 2018.
Drew Dilks,
Project Management Branch Chief, Design and Construction, Public 
Buildings Service.
[FR Doc. 2018-02164 Filed 2-2-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6820-23-P