[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 151 (Tuesday, August 8, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 53486-53487]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-16957]


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

GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION

[Notice-P-2023-02; Docket No. 2023-0002; Sequence No. 25]


Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement and 
Public Scoping Meeting for the Expansion and Modernization of the 
Kenneth G Ward Land Port of Entry in Lynden, Washington and the Sumas 
Land Port of Entry in Sumas, Washington

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

ACTION: Notice.

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

SUMMARY: Pursuant to the requirements of the National Environmental 
Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), the Council on Environmental Quality 
Regulations, and the GSA/PBS NEPA Desk Guide, GSA intends to prepare an 
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to analyze the potential 
environmental impacts from the proposed expansion and modernization of 
the Kenneth G. Ward Land Port of Entry (LPOE) located in Lynden, 
Washington and the Sumas LPOE located in Sumas, Washington. GSA has 
initiated the required Section 106 consultation of the National 
Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) involving outreach efforts with the 
Washington State Historic Preservation Officer (SHPO) and Tribes.

DATES: A virtual public scoping meeting, in open house format, will be 
held on Wednesday, August 23, 2023, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Pacific 
Daylight Time (PDT).
    Interested parties should submit comments by Tuesday, September 12, 
2023, to be considered in the formation of the Draft EIS. The views and 
comments of the public are necessary to help determine the scope and 
content of the environmental analysis. The meeting will be held on the 
Zoom platform where GSA will present and distribute project information 
and obtain input on the scope of the project. The link for the public 
scoping meeting can be found on the GSA project websites at:  https://www.gsa.gov/lynden or https://www.gsa.gov/sumas.
    All mail-in comments must be postmarked by September 12, 2023.
    Deadlines for Requests of Special Accommodations: Persons needing 
special accommodations shall notify Emily Grimes at [email protected] 
or [email protected] by 12:00 p.m. PDT, on August 16, 2023.

ADDRESSES: The public is encouraged to provide written comments 
regarding the scope of the EIS at the meeting and throughout the 
comment period. Submit comments identified by Notice-P-2023-02 by any 
of the following methods:
     Email: [email protected], or [email protected]. Include 
Notice Identifier in the subject line of the message.
     Virtual Meeting: Online comment forms will be available 
during the August 23rd open-house public meeting and at the GSA project 
websites listed below throughout the comment period: https://www.gsa.gov/lynden and https://www.gsa.gov/sumas.
     Mail: U.S. General Services Administration, Attention: 
Emily Grimes, Environmental Program Manager, 1301 A Street, Suite 610, 
Tacoma, WA 98402. Written comments must be postmarked by September 12, 
2023.
     Federal Register: Submit comments in response to Notice-P-
2023-02 via http://www.regulations.gov. Submit comments via the Federal 
eRulemaking portal by searching for ``Notice-P-2023-02''. Select the 
link ``Comment'' that corresponds with Notice-P-2023-02.'' Follow the 
instructions provided at the screen. Please include your name, company 
name (if any), and ``Notice-P-2023-02'' on your attached document. 
Comments received generally will be posted without change to http://www.regulations.gov, including any personal and/or business 
confidential information provided. To confirm receipt of your 
comment(s), please check http://www.regulations.gov, approximately two-
to-three days after submission to verify posting.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Emily Grimes, Environmental Program 
Manager, Facilities Management Division, GSA. Phone: (253) 394-4026. 
Email: [email protected] and [email protected].
    For press inquiries only, please contact Christi Chidester Votisek, 
Public Affairs Officer, GSA. Phone: (253) 931-7127. Email: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Kenneth G. Ward LPOE is located at 9949 
WA-539, Lynden, WA 98264

[[Page 53487]]

(hereafter Lynden LPOE), approximately 10 miles west of the Sumas LPOE 
at the end of Route 539 at the U.S.-Canada border. The Lynden LPOE is 
an inspection facility where U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) 
processes personal vehicles, buses, limited commercial vehicles (permit 
only), and pedestrian traffic. There are four primary non-commercial 
lanes, one of which can also process limited commercial traffic. The 
port was constructed in 1988 and operates 16 hours a day, seven days a 
week.
    The Sumas LPOE is an inspection facility where CBP processes 
commercial vehicles, personal vehicles, and pedestrian traffic at the 
U.S.-Canada border at 103 Cherry St, Sumas, WA 98295. There are 
currently four primary non-commercial lanes, with three lanes that 
process personal vehicles and one that accommodates buses and oversized 
vehicles; and two primary commercial lanes with booths. Pedestrian 
traffic transits through indoor processing queues and spaces. The port 
was constructed in 1988 and operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
    The current Lynden and Sumas LPOEs no longer function adequately 
and cannot meet current operational needs. At the Lynden LPOE, space 
limitations cause frequent congestion in the commercial lane and 
commercial vehicles often travel farther distances to other ports that 
offer more efficient processing. The Sumas LPOE does not have enough 
space for efficient traffic flow or safe and secure inspection areas, 
which impede the port's operations and cause traffic and safety 
concerns in the surrounding urban area.

Alternatives Under Consideration

    The EIS will evaluate a total of four alternatives at each 
location--one ``no action'' or ``no build'' alternative and three 
``action'' or ``build'' alternatives. Alternative 1 is the No Action 
Alternative, which assumes that any demolition of existing facilities, 
construction of new facilities, and expansion of LPOE operations would 
not occur. Both LPOEs would continue to operate under current 
conditions. The three action alternatives would improve the efficiency 
and effectiveness of the Lynden and Sumas LPOEs and would all include 
acquiring land, demolishing existing facilities, and constructing new 
facilities.
    At the Lynden LPOE, Alternative 2 would include an east-west 
facility layout for commercial inspections. Alternative 3 would be 
identical to Alternative 2 other than the rotation of commercial 
inspection to a north-south orientation. Land acquisition under 
Alternatives 2 and 3 at the Lynden LPOE would be similar in acreage but 
would differ in location or orientation. Alternative 4 would consist of 
the same facility layout as either Alternative 2 or 3, but would alter 
construction phasing such that construction activities at the LPOEs 
occur sequentially. Under Alternative 4, the Lynden LPOE would close 
and construction activities at the Lynden LPOE would occur first. Once 
the Lynden LPOE is reopened, the Sumas LPOE would close and 
construction activities at the Sumas LPOE would occur.
    At the Sumas LPOE, the layout of Alternative 2 is designed to 
optimize operational flow--especially for outbound non-commercial 
vehicles. The facility layout of Alternative 3 maximizes the vehicle 
maneuvering area (especially for larger vehicles like trucks). 
Alternative 4 consists of a multiple story construction in order to 
provide greater vehicle maneuvering area for transiting vehicles. 
Compared to Alternatives 2 and 3, Alternative 4 would not have a 
different number of commercial, outbound, or personal vehicle lanes, 
but it may consolidate some of the administrative buildings and have a 
slightly smaller overall footprint. Land acquisition at the Sumas LPOE 
would be identical under each alternative.
    Demolition, construction, and renovation activities would be phased 
to maintain LPOE operations at both ports for the entirety of the 
construction period under all action alternatives--except for 
Alternative 4 at the Lynden LPOE, which would require closing 
operations at both LPOEs during their respective construction 
activities. During this time, traffic at the LPOE under construction 
would be directed to the operational LPOE.
    Potential impacts from these three action alternatives will be 
compared against a first ``no action'' alternative wherein the current 
LPOE facilities would continue to operate under existing conditions. 
The EIS will address the potential environmental impacts of the 
proposed alternatives on resource areas including but not limited to 
land use, water resources (including floodplains), biological 
resources, geology and soils, transportation and traffic, noise, 
cultural and Tribal resources, socioeconomics, environmental justice 
and protection of children's health, hazardous waste and materials, air 
quality, climate change, and utilities.

Anamarie T. Crawley,
Director, GSA-PBS R10 Facilities Management Division.
[FR Doc. 2023-16957 Filed 8-7-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6820-DL-P