Job Corps: Preliminary Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) For the New Job Corps Center in Homestead, FL

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Job Corps: Preliminary Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI)

For the New Job Corps Center in Homestead, FL

AGENCY: Employment and Training Administration, Labor.

ACTION: Preliminary Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for the

New Job Corps Center in Homestead, Florida.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to the Council on Environmental Quality Regulations

(40 CFR Part 1500-08) implementing procedural provisions of the

National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the Department of Labor,

Employment and Training Administration, Office of Job Corps, in

accordance with 29 CFR 11.11(d), gives notice that an Environmental

Assessment (EA) has been prepared and the proposed plans for the

establishment of a Job Corps Center at the Homestead Air Force Base,

Homestead, Florida, will have no significant environment impact.

Pursuant to 29 CFR 11.11(d)(1), this Preliminary Finding of No

Significant Impact will be made available for public review and comment

for thirty (30) days.

DATES: Comments must be submitted by February 10, 1995.

ADDRESSES: Any comment(s) are to be submitted to Lynn Kotecki,

Employment and Training Administration, Department of Labor, 200

Constitution Ave., N.W., Washington, D.C., 20210, (202) 219-5468.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Copies of the EA and additional information are available to interested

parties by contracting Mr. Melvin R. Collins, Director, Region IV

(Four), Office of Job Corps, 1371 Peachtree Street, NE., room 405,

Atlanta, Georgia, (404) 347-3178.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The purpose of this action is to add a Job

Corps Center with 472 residential students to the Homestead area. The

current buildings are adaptable for this purpose and offer the

necessary facilities for the Job Corps program to provide basic

education, vocational skills training, work experience, counseling,

health care, and related support services. This new center will make

constructive changes to existing Homestead Air Force Base facilities

for dormitories, recreational, medical/dental, and administrative

services, educational and vocational training, and storage space that

is consistent with Job Corps guidelines and center needs.

The proposed sites, located in the former recreational area of the

Homestead Air Force Base, is comprised of approximately thirty-five

(35) acres in the center of the 2,900 acre Homestead Air Force Base.

The proposed site is bisected by Bougainvillea Boulevard and bordered

by St. Lo Boulevard to the south and east, and St. Mazaire Boulevard to

the north. Twelve (12) buildings currently occupy the site. The propose

site includes paved asphalt parking lots, concrete sidewalks, and grass

areas.

The United States Air Force developed and utilized the Homestead

Air Force Base from 1942-1945, and 1956-1992. During the course of

World War II, the Homestead Air Force Base operated as a scheduled

stopping point for air routes and a large training facility for fighter

pilots. Due to a major hurricane that damaged much of the Homestead Air

Force Base, it was unused by the military from 1946 through 1955. In

1955 many of the sections were rebuilt and the Homestead Air Force Base

continued to operate as a training and tactical air force facility

until August 24, 1992, when the Homestead Air Force Base was

significantly damaged by the impact of Hurricane Andrew. The reuse of

the Homestead Air Force Base, with a reduced military presence, has

been proposed. Approximately one-third of the Homestead Air Force Base

will be used for military reserve training. The remainder of the

Homestead Air Force Base will be converted for other purposes, such as

public parkland and projects like the Job Corps. Currently, the

majority of the Homestead Air Force Base is unoccupied as a result of

Hurricane Andrew. Having been used for military purposes only, the site

is not currently zoned. As a direct transfer to another Federal entity,

rezoning will not be required.

The United States Air Force historically has used the proposed site

for residential, recreational, and retail purposes. The majority of the

buildings proposed for reuse were utilized for the same proposed

purposes by the United States Air Force with the exception of Building

656, which was utilized for residential purposes; Building 902B, which

was utilized for recreational purposes; and Building 914, which was

utilized as the base exchange. Those buildings which are proposed for

similar uses by the Job Corps include medical and dental offices for

Building 656, administrative offices for Building 902B, and storage and

vocational training for Building 914.

According to the 1990 census, 162,483 people resided in the South

Dade area, including 26,866 in the city of Homestead and 5,806 in

Florida City. The population in South Dade in 1990 was predominantly

Caucasian (70%), with Hispanics representing the largest minority group

(32%). The population of the South Dade area has decreased dramatically

due to the impacts of Hurricane Andrew. Post-hurricane census

information is not available at this time.

Ample community services are available in the South Dade area.

Recreational facilities will be available at the site and a number of

large parks are located within nine (9) miles of the Homestead Air

Force Base. Power to the site is provided by the Florida Power & Light

(FP&L) company. Telephone service is provided by Southern Bell Company.

The water and sewer is supplied by the Metro-Dade County Water and

Sewer Authority. There is no solid waste disposal at the site. All non-

hazardous solid waste is removed by contractors and taken off-site for

disposal in the South Dade landfill. Police and fire protection, rescue

and emergency services will be provided by Metro-Dade. The nearest

hospital to the site is the SMH Homestead Hospital, located

approximately three (3) miles to the west of the site. Because of

abundant public, community, and emergency services in the Homestead

area, the implementation of the Job Corps on the proposed site will not

adversely impact the use of the above-mentioned services.

Natural resources in the South Florida area are abundant. Although

wetlands are not present at the proposed Job Corps site, a number of

Army Corps of Engineer jurisdiction wetlands are present within one-

quarter mile of the site. However, the proposed reuse of the Homestead

Air Force Base for Job Corps

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Center activities will not have any impact upon nearby wetlands. The

Everglades National Park, Big Cypress Preserve, and other national

parks are located in the South Florida area. However, the site is not

located in any national, state, or local protected area. No endangered

species are known to reside at the site, although transient birds may

be seen. The proposed use has no significant impact on any natural

systems or resources. The existing site and buildings at the proposed

Job Corps Center location are not designated as ``historically

significant'' and no areas of archaeological significance are present.

The activities of the proposed Job Corps Center are not of a

contaminant-generating nature. The geologic, water, and climatic

characteristics of the general vicinity of the site, coupled with the

historically known land use, minimizes the site's potential to be

contaminated from possible off-site sources and further minimizes the

impact of contamination.

During the EA, environmental concerns associated with former fuel

storage were noted. A number of underground diesel storage tanks were

removed from the site in April 1994. Tank Closure Assessment Reports

detailing the results of soil and groundwater sampling were not

submitted to the Dade County Department of Environmental Resources

Management (DERM) as of May 19, 1994. Any contamination detected from

the underground storage tank could be assessed and remediated without

adversely impacting the renovations or future use plans.

Elevated levels of radon were detected in one of the buildings;

thus, complete radon testing is recommended. The determination of a

need for remediation will be based upon the radon testing results. Any

radon remediation conducted will be in accordance with applicable

local, state, and federal regulations. Four (4) of the structures

contain asbestos that will require abatement. Asbestos has already been

abated from other structures at the proposed site. The abatement of

asbestos will be performed by a qualified asbestos-abatement contractor

in accordance with applicable local, state and federal regulations

including those of the Occupational Health and Safety Administration.

No data is available for the lead content of paint in the buildings

constructed prior to 1978; the majority of the structures exhibited

peeling and chipping paint. Procedures for the containment and removal

of lead, if deemed necessary, will be prepared by a qualified lead-

abatement contractor and will be properly managed during any future

construction activities in accordance with applicable federal, state,

and local regulations. Testing of the drinking water systems, apart

from a basewide program, has not been conducted. The underground and

aboveground storage tanks may require additional investigation. These

items are addressed in the EA.

Dade County regulations require low noise levels from 11 p.m. to 6

a.m. in the areas near the city of Homestead. Noise levels generated

from the facilities' standard air conditioning units and other

equipment are consistent with Dade County regulations. Short-term

impact from additional noise will occur during construction activities.

Because construction activities related to development of the new Job

Corps Center in Homestead will take place during normal working hours,

and the use of sound control devices and muffled exhaust on all noise-

generating construction equipment will be required, additional noise

levels generated by the renovation of the Site will be short term and

will not adversely impact the city of Homestead and any surrounding

areas. The proposed action will comply with all City noise ordinances,

permit requirements, and related building codes. The use of appropriate

techniques to minimize construction dust emissions will mitigate

construction-related air pollution concerns.

Lighting will be installed at the facility to replace that

destroyed by Hurricane Andrew. The lighting will be constructed in

accordance with local requirements and will not adversely impact

surrounding areas.

Water is available to the site through municipal lines. Stormwater

runoff is discharged to catch basins in the parking ares and canals

located along the sides of the roads. Sanitary wastes are accommodated

by discharge to municipal sewers. Based on the nature of the proposed

construction activities at the site, stormwater quality will not be

significantly impacted.

An abundance of water and electrical power are available to easily

serve facilities this size and those that are substantially larger. The

reuse of the site will not increase utility loads to above pre-

hurricane levels. Although the proposed project will cause a slight

area-wide increase in traffic, this increase in traffic is not expected

to adversely affect traffic flow on immediately neighboring streets.

The extension of an existing bus route to include the site is proposed

and it is not anticipated to significantly alter the bus scheduling in

the area. There currently is a bus stop less than one (1) mile from the

site. The bus service offers readily available transportation between

the site and the City of Homestead. The Florida Turnpike is also

located near the site, allowing easy access to the Florida Keys or

Miami areas.

A public meeting regarding the location of a new Job Corps Center

at the Homestead Air Force Base was conducted on February 2, 1994.

Representatives of the Office of Job Corps and Metro-Dade presented a

description of the proposed project. Community leaders were given an

opportunity to comment on the project and ask questions. All of the

public's responses were positive, with community organizations

extolling the benefits that the proposed Job Corps Center would have on

the rebuilding efforts in South Dade and employment opportunities for

the youth in the area. A number of groups, including schools and local

labor organizations, expressed a desire to work closely with the new

Job Corps Center.

The alternatives considered in the preparation of the EA were: (1)

The ``No Build'' alternative, (2) the ``Alternative Sites''

alternative, and (3) the ``Continue as Proposed'' alternative. Choosing

the ``No Build'' means that the Department of Labor would not proceed

with plans for development of the proposed Job Corps Center in the city

of Montgomery. Although the ``No Build'' alternative would result in no

environmental impact upon the area, it would deny the young adults of

this area a unique opportunity, as well as deny the local community an

opportunity to socioeconomically benefit from the establishment of a

new Job Corps Center. A former mental hospital in Boward County was

considered as an alternate site for the new Job Corps Center, but did

not meet the minimum selection criteria for locating new Job Corps

Centers. The opportunity to expand the Job Corps program to the

Homestead area will aid in the rebuilding efforts of the community and

allow for the substantial expansion of current programs now offered in

Miami. The potential for a new facility and improved service afforded

by the proposed action, as well as the finding that the proposed action

would not pose any significant adverse environmental impacts, indicate

that the proposed reuse and renovation of the site is the preferred

alternative.

Based on the information gathered during the preparation of the EA

for the Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration,

the Office of Job Corps finds that the establishment of

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a Job Corps Center at the Homestead Air Force Base, Homestead, Florida,

will not cause any significant impact on the environment and will be a

positive asset to the area and therefore, recommends that the project

continue as proposed. This proposed action is not considered to be

highly controversial.

Dated at Washington, DC, this 23rd day of December, 1994.

Peter E. Rell,

Director of Job Corps.

[FR Doc. 95-669 Filed 1-10-95; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4510-30-M