[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 193 (Friday, October 4, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 53151-53152]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-21691]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION

[Notice-PBS-2019-07; Docket No. 2019-0002; Sequence No. 17]


Notice of Availability of a Final Supplemental Environmental 
Impact Statement/Final Programmatic Section 4(f) Evaluation for the 
Construction of a New U.S. Land Port of Entry in Madawaska, Maine, and 
a New Madawaska-Edmundston International Bridge (the FSEIS)

AGENCY: Public Buildings Service (PBS), General Services Administration 
(GSA); Federal Highway Administration (FHWA); Maine Department of 
Transportation (MaineDOT).

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: Pursuant to the requirements of the National Environmental 
Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), the Council on Environmental Quality 
Regulations, GSA Order ADM 1095.1F Environmental Considerations in 
Decision Making, the GSA PBS NEPA Desk Guide, the FHWA Policy Guide, 
and FHWA's Environmental Impact and Related Procedures, GSA, PBS, FHWA, 
and MaineDOT, in cooperation with the U.S. Coast Guard and in 
coordination with the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), 
announce the availability of a Final Supplemental Environmental Impact 
Statement (FSEIS)/Final Programmatic Section 4(f) Evaluation for the 
proposed new U.S. land port of entry (LPOE) in Madawaska, Maine, and a 
new International Bridge between Madawaska, Maine, and Edmundston, New 
Brunswick, Canada.

DATES: The comment period for the FSEIS will end November 4, 2019. 
Comments should be sent to the individuals listed below.

ADDRESSES: GSA, FHWA, and MaineDOT will have copies of the FSEIS for 
review at the Town of Madawaska Town Office on 328 St. Thomas Street, 
Suite 101, Madawaska, Maine 04756. Further information, including an 
electronic copy of the FSEIS, may be found online on the following 
websites:
     gsa.gov/madawaskalpoe.
     https://www.maine.gov/mdot/planning/studies/meib/.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Alexas Kelly, Project Manager, GSA, 
New England Region, 10 Causeway Street, 11th Floor, Boston, MA 02222, 
by phone at 617-549-8190, or by email at [email protected]; or 
Cheryl Martin, Assistant Division Administrator, FHWA, Edmund S. Muskie 
Federal Building, 40 Western Avenue, Room 614, Augusta, ME 04330, by 
phone at 207-512-4912, or by email at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The purpose of the Proposed Action 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 Proposed 
Action is needed because (1) the existing International Bridge is 
nearing the end of its useful life, and (2) the existing Madawaska LPOE 
is substandard, inhibiting the agencies assigned to the Port from 
adequately fulfilling their respective missions.
    The existing Madawaska-Edmundston International Bridge opened to 
traffic in 1921 and its design life has been exceeded. Notable bridge 
deficiencies are (1) substandard roadway width and 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 CBP mission and 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.
    A Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) was needed due 
to a change in circumstance: The decision by MaineDOT and New Brunswick 
Department of Transportation and Infrastructure (NBDTI) to include 
alternatives for addressing deficiencies to the existing Madawaska-
Edmundston International Bridge. The SEIS addresses changes to the 
Proposed Action, including an updated design in accordance with current 
GSA and CBP requirements, a new International Bridge, and additional 
land acquisition.
    The FSEIS identifies the Preferred Alternative for the new U.S. 
LPOE and

[[Page 53152]]

new International Bridge location and design; describes the 
environmental impacts of the proposed project and proposed mitigation; 
and addresses comments received on the Draft Supplemental Environmental 
Impact Statement/Draft Programmatic Section 4(f) Evaluation issued on 
November 26, 2018.
    The Preferred Alternative is identified as LPOE Alternative C and 
Bridge Alternative 2 (bridge replacement with a steel plate girder 
bridge with six spans and five piers, west of the existing bridge) from 
the Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement.
    The new LPOE would consist of a main administration building and 
support building with parking, circulation and processing areas. The 
new LPOE would be designed in accordance with the requirements and 
criteria of the GSA and CBP to provide facilities adequate for 
fulfilling the agencies' respective missions. Portions of Mill Street 
and Main Street adjacent to the LPOE may be reconstructed or re-
profiled to provide smooth ingress and egress to the LPOE. The Proposed 
Action includes the demolition of the existing LPOE.
    The new International Bridge would be designed in accordance with 
MaineDOT standards with a design life of at least 75 years. The 
Proposed Action includes the demolition of the existing International 
Bridge.
    In accordance with GSA Order #ADM 1095.1F Environmental 
Considerations in Decision Making and 23 CFR 771 Environmental Impact 
and Related Procedures, GSA and FHWA expect to complete and sign a 
Record of Decision (ROD) no sooner than 30 days after publication of 
the FSEIS Notice of Availability in the Federal Register by the U.S. 
Environmental Protection Agency.

    Dated: September 23, 2019.
Drew Dilks,
Acting Division Director, Design and Construction, Public Buildings 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2019-21691 Filed 10-3-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6820-FP-P