[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 194 (Friday, October 7, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 61017-61018]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-21886]


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GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION

[Notice-PBS-2022-05; Docket No. 2022-0002; Sequence No. 24]


Notice of Availability for the Final Environmental Assessment for 
the Calexico West Land Port of Entry Temporary Pedestrian Process 
Facility Calexico, California

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

ACTION: Notice; public meeting.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces the availability of the Final 
Environmental Assessment (EA) for the proposed construction of a 
temporary pedestrian processing facility adjacent to the Historic 
Customs House, and interior renovation of the Historic Customs House at 
340 East 1st Street, Calexico, California. The Final EA describes the 
reason the Project is being proposed; the alternatives that were 
evaluated; the potential impacts of each of the alternatives on the 
existing environment; and the proposed avoidance, minimization, and/or 
mitigation measures related to those alternatives.

DATES: A virtual public meeting to solicit comments and provide 
information about the Final EA will be held on October 24th, 2022, at 
4:30 p.m., Pacific Standard Time at: https://teams.microsoft.com/l/meetup-join/19%3ameeting_NTNiNmE2MDktNTk5OC00OGYxLWFmZjYtZjdlZGRhMTkxNWNh%40thread.v2/0?context=%7b%22Tid%22%3a%228aec2bf0-04af-4841-bcf6-bac6a58dd4ef%22%2c%22Oid%22%3a%221894920d-2cd7-4a1a-aa78-0ebeddc5bdf6%22%7d. The availability period for the Final EA ends on 
November 7th, 2022.

ADDRESSES: Further information, including an electronic copy of the 
Final EA may be found online on the following website: https://www.gsa.gov/about-us/regions/welcome-to-the-pacific-rim-region-9/land-ports-of-entry/calexico-west-land-port-of-entry.
    Questions or comments concerning the Draft EA should be directed to 
Osmahn Kadri, EPA Program Manager, GSA, via email: [email protected] 
or Ms. Bianca Rivera, 355 South Euclid Avenue, Suite 107, Tucson, AZ 
85719 via postal mail/commercial delivery.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  Mr. Osmahn A. Kadri, NEPA Program 
Manager, GSA, Pacific Rim Region, at 415-522-3617 or email 
[email protected]. Please call this number if special assistance is 
needed to attend and participate in the public meeting.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The Project is located adjacent to the Historic Customs House at 
340 East 1st Street, Calexico, California. The Project is proposed to 
provide a temporary pedestrian processing facility for use during the 
demolition of existing structures and construction of the new 
processing building while ensuring continued services to those 
utilizing the international crossing between the United States of 
American and Mexico. The temporary facility is anticipated to be 
constructed on Heffernan Road, south of East 1st Street, to the west of 
the Historic Customs House. The facility will require the acquisition 
of Heffernan Road, to the south of East 1st Street. The building will 
be approximately 8,804 square feet and include a fire lane to the west, 
pedestrian ramps leading to/from the building, and pedestrian pick-up 
and drop-off areas at the north side of the building. The interior 
building will include wait areas, administrative offices, property 
storage interview rooms, inspection areas, processing areas, and 
restrooms.
    The EA considered one Action Alternative (the Proposed Action) and 
the No Action Alternative. The Action Alternative would consist of the 
construction of the temporary processing facility and associated 
infrastructure. The Project is proposed to provide a temporary 
pedestrian processing facility for use during the demolition of 
existing structures and construction of the new processing building 
while ensuring continued services to those utilizing the international 
crossing between the United States of American and Mexico. The 
temporary facility is anticipated to be constructed on Heffernan Road, 
south of East 1st Street, to the west of the Historic Customs House. 
Even though the facility is temporary, the project will require the 
permanent acquisition of Heffernan Road, to the south of East 1st 
Street, removing the parking/pick up area. The building will be 
approximately 8,804 square feet and include a fire lane to the west, 
pedestrian ramps leading to/from the building, and pedestrian pick-up 
and drop-off areas at the north side of the building. The interior 
building will include wait areas, administrative offices, property 
storage interview rooms, inspection areas, processing areas, and 
restrooms. Since the facility is temporary, there would be no change in 
personnel staffing at this port of entry. Construction is likely to 
impact parking and loading/unloading merchandise for the retail 
facility to the west of the proposed facility, as well as traffic flow 
along East 1st Street during construction.
    Under the No Action Alternative the construction of the temporary 
facilities, construction of the ramp, and renovations within the 
existing Historic Customs House would not occur.
    The Draft EA was made publicly available on August 19, 2022, for a 
30-day period. The public review period closed on September 26, 2018. 
The Notice of Availability for the Draft EA was published in the 
Federal Register at 87 FR 51110 on August 19, 2022. A virtual public 
meeting took place on August 23, 2022. In preparing this Final EA, GSA 
considered public comments received regarding the Draft EA during the 
public review period.
    After careful consideration of the environmental analysis and 
associated environmental effects of the Proposed Action Alternative and 
No Action Alternative, the purpose and need for the Project, and 
comments received on the Draft EA, GSA will be implementing the 
Proposed Action Alternative.
    Finding: Pursuant to the provision of GSA Order ADM 1095.1F, the 
PBS NEPA Desk Guide, and the regulations issued by the Council on 
Environmental Quality (CEQ; 40 CFR parts 1500 to 1508), this notice 
advises the public of our finding that the Proposed Action will not 
significantly affect the quality of the human environment.
    Basis for Finding: The environmental impacts of constructing the 
proposed structural enhancements were considered in the Final EA 
pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and the CEQ 
regulations implementing NEPA. No significant impacts on the 
environment would occur with implementation of best management 
practices and avoidance, minimization, and mitigation measures 
identified in the Final EA.

[[Page 61018]]

    The Final EA can be viewed on the GSA website at https://www.gsa.gov/about-us/regions/welcome-to-the-pacific-rim-region-9/land-ports-of-entry/calexico-west-land-port-of-entry.
    The Finding of No Significant Impact will be signed thirty (30) 
days after the publication of this notice, provided that no information 
leading to a contrary finding is received or comes to light during this 
period.

Russell Larson,
Director, Portfolio Management Division, Pacific Rim Region, Public 
Buildings Service.
[FR Doc. 2022-21886 Filed 10-6-22; 8:45 am]
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