Job Corps: Preliminary Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for the Relocation of the Marsing Civilian Conservation Center in Marsing, ID

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

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

for the Relocation of the Marsing Civilian Conservation Center in

Marsing, ID

AGENCY: Employment and Training Administration, Labor.

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

Relocation of the Marsing Civilian Conservation Center in Marsing,

Idaho.

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

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

relocation of the Marsing Civilian Conservation Center (CCC) near

Marsing, Idaho will have no significant environmental impact. Pursuant

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

Environmental Impact (FONSI) will be made available for public review

and comment for a period of 30 days.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before February 19, 1995.

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

Employment and Training Administration, Department of Labor, 200

Constitution Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20210, (202) 219-5468.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Copies of the EA and additional

information are available to interested parties by contacting Paul J.

Krois, Director, Region X (Ten), Office of Job Corps, 1111 Third

Avenue, Suite 960, Seattle, Washington 98010, (206) 553-7938.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The proposed action would relocate the

Marsing CCC to Nampa, Idaho, a distance of about 15 miles. The existing

site is located about 4 miles south of the town of Marsing on land

owned by the Idaho Department of Fish and Game. The proposed site is

located within the city of Nampa, Idaho, about 3 miles northeast of the

downtown area, at the terminus of the 11th Avenue North Extension. The

property is on the periphery of the city, generally surrounded by

institutional and open space land uses. The site includes two parcels.

The primary campus area consists of 17.9 acres of land, immediately

adjoining the Idaho State School and Hospital (ISSH). A smaller area of

4.2 acres, divided from the primary campus by the main service road to

ISSH, would be used for open space recreational purposes.

The proposed campus would be similar to the existing campus. It

would accommodate 3 dormitories, one of which would include a daycare

component; a general education building; one or more vocational

training buildings; greenhouse; dining hall/culinary arts building;

gymnasium/recreation hall; medical/dental dispensary; administration

hall; storage/maintenance warehouse; outdoor recreation area; and

various parking and landscaped areas.

The primary and overriding purpose of relocating the CCC facility

from its current site to the proposed site in Nampa is to provide safe

and stable facilities for the staff and students, which would allow the

program to continue to serve this region. Geotechnical investigations

have been conducted at the present site in response to structural

damage that has occurred at the existing buildings from ground

subsidence. The investigations have determined that groundwater moving

through the area from the Snake River has dissolved the formations

underlying the CCC facilities to depths of 40 feet or more. As a

result, cracks have occurred in a number of buildings on campus. One

dormitory has been closed because it has been found structurally

unsafe, reducing the numbers of students that the campus can

accommodate from 210 to 140. Additionally, the current site is isolated

from surrounding communities that provide jobs and other on-the-job

training opportunities, which creates substantial transportation

demands in transporting students to jobs. The proposed site in Nampa is

centrally located to other communities in the Treasure Valley, and is

only a quarter of a mile from Interstate 84, thereby alleviating these

transportation problems.

The new CCC will provide housing, food, recreational, medical/

dental, and administrative services, educational and vocational

training, and appurtenant storage consistent with Job Corps and Center

needs. Establishing the CCC at this location will require new

construction for all the proposed facilities. The proposed project will

be constructed in accordance with local fire, building and zoning code

requirements, and will not adversely impact the City of Nampa or Canyon

County emergency services.

The proposed site is located in a rural/suburban setting and is

currently zoned ``Agriculture''. This zoning permits vocational schools

and associated facilities as an allowed use. The site is bordered on

the south by the ISSH and on the west, north, and east by the

Centennial Golf Course and agricultural crop land. Interstate 84 lies

about a quarter of a mile to the south. The site is on the edge of a

topographic ``bench'' formed by the Boise River, which lies some

distance to the north. Agricultural land uses to the north, therefore,

are separated from the site by a significant difference in elevation

[[Page 2793]]

(about 100 feet). Other land uses in the vicinity include light

industry south of the Interstate Highway. The proposed site and land

occupied by the ISSH are owned by the Department of Health and Welfare

of the State of Idaho. The existing CCC is located in a rural area.

Most of the land in the surrounding area is in natural condition

(grasses and sagebrush), although some agricultural cropland and

grazing of cattle does occur. The lease on this land from the Idaho

Department of Fish and Game calls for the site to be restored to its

natural condition if the CCC uses should be discontinued. However, it

is expected that the Department of Fish and Game will choose to use or

lease those buildings on the site that remain in structurally sound

condition. Through cooperative agreements with State and federal

agencies, the federal government prefers to locate new facilities on

state or federal lands rather than to purchase land outright.

This arrangement can result in long-term leases for new facilities at

little or no cost to the taxpayer.

The proposed action was found in the EA to have no significant

impact on natural systems or resources. Minor soil erosion would occur

during construction of the CCC at the proposed site. Best Management

Practices, including minimizing the extent and duration of vegetation

and soils disturbance, would be employed to minimize erosion. If

damaged buildings were to be removed at the existing site near Marsing,

decreased loads on soils would result in less subsidence of the ground

surface than is currently occurring beneath existing buildings. Water

for drinking and irrigation at the proposed facility would be provided

by the City of Nampa. Stormwater runoff during construction would be

maintained on site in accordance with federal requirements. Possible

removal of some or all of the buildings at the existing site would

result in fewer impermeable surfaces and less stormwater runoff.

Investigation into the historical land uses/operations for the ISSH

and surrounding properties indicates that no significant concern

regarding contamination of these lands from hazardous materials or

wastes is warranted. Anecdotal information regarding possible

underground contamination resulting from the storage of DDT at ISSH

resulted in investigation and laboratory sample analysis of soils and

groundwater. No pesticides were detected in any of the samples;

therefore, no further action was taken. A number of chemicals are

stored at the existing Center for cleaning and vocational training

purposes. Due to the nature of these chemicals and the small amount

involved, the potential for impact is considered to be insignificant.

Vegetation at the proposed site consists of a residual corn crop.

In the surrounding area, almost all vegetation is ornamental. While the

existing site is fully landscaped, most of the surrounding vegetation

is natural, providing some cover for wildlife in the area. Construction

of the proposed project would eliminate the temporary cover provided

for pheasants and rodents that currently exists at the proposed site.

Demolition of some or all of the buildings at the existing site could

result in restoration of natural vegetation that would provide habitat

for wildlife species in the area. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

has written that the proposed action is not likely to cause impacts to

the wetlands, Federal candidate, nor listed endangered or threatened

species.

Ambient noise levels would be increased somewhat at the proposed

site as a result of the construction and operation of the proposed CCC.

Because of the nature of nearby noise receptors (operations and

maintenance facilities for ISSH), and the existence of other noises

from the site, both types of impacts should be relatively unnoticeable.

Noise levels at the existing Center would be expected to decline

somewhat from current levels, but this would depend on the nature of

any new tenant. Both the existing and the proposed sites are attainment

areas for air quality standards. Dust and increased emissions from

internal combustion engines will occur at the proposed site during

construction of the Center. Best Management Practices including

limitation of the extent and duration of soils disturbance and wetting

down of access and construction areas will minimize impacts of dust

during construction. Because of the nature of the surrounding uses and

their distance from the site, these temporary air quality impacts

should be minor. Long-term operational impacts to air quality would

slightly increase due to emissions from additional motor vehicles in

the area, but would not be significant. Air quality at the existing

site would be expected to improve slightly as a result of fewer motor

vehicles in the area, but would depend on the nature of other tenants

that might locate or be in close proximity to this site. Outdoor

security lighting at the proposed site would be noticeable in the area,

but would be consistent with lighting at ISSH and would not impact

sensitive receptors. Lighting at the existing site would be expected to

decrease, depending on the future use of the site.

The proposed action would not create significant adverse effects to

the human or cultural environment. The relocation would create between

40 and 52 new jobs in the Nampa area. No jobs would be lost in Owyhee

County, since current employees at the Center would maintain their jobs

at the Nampa facility. The population of Owyhee County would decrease

by about 140 (students at Marsing CCC), and the population of Nampa

would increase by as much as 490 people (students, new staff members

and their dependents).

Nampa schools in proximity to the proposed site, which are already

at or over capacity, might be required to accommodate as many as 15

elementary schools students as a result of the relocation since as many

as 20 Job Corps students could bring their young children to the new

Center. This impact would be mitigated by construction of a new

elementary school in the area, scheduled for construction upon passing

of a pending bond election. Because of the relatively small number of

students expected and the nature of school funding that virtually

requires schools capacities to be exceeded before bonds for new schools

are approved, the anticipated impact is expected to be short-term and

not significant.

Police and fire services would be provided by the City of Nampa.

Canyon County also provides emergency ambulance service to the area.

These services would experience a small increase in demand for

services. Owyhee County services to the existing site would be expected

to experience a decrease in demand. Existing demands on emergency

services would remain unchanged for the short term. In the long term,

it would be expected that the CCC would close or relocate, and that

there would be less demand on Owyhee County for emergency services. The

central location of the proposed site in the region would result in

decreased transportation requirements, both for the staff and for

students.

Local businesses in Marsing would experience a loss of income estimated

between $40,000 and $60,000 due to the Center relocation. This amount

would probably be spent in Nampa or nearby communities as a result of

the new location. Since federal facilities pay no taxes, there would be

no adverse economic impacts to governments. Federal-in-lieu fees would

no longer be paid to Owyhee County, but would be paid, instead, to

Canyon County.

No structure nor other resource exists on either the existing or

the proposed

[[Page 2794]]

site that is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

Buildings at the ISSH are both placed on and are eligible for placement

on the National Register. Since the proposed CCC would have no effect

on these structures, there would be no impact on cultural resources. No

areas of archaeological significance were identified at the proposed

site. The open farmland at the proposed site would no longer offer an

open space view, but would consist of urban development. With adjoining

urban uses to the south, the proposed development would not contrast

with surrounding visual conditions. If some or all of the buildings at

the existing site were removed and replaced with natural vegetation, a

greater extent of natural views would occur.

A public meeting was held between representatives of the Office of

Job Corps, the Marsing Job Corps Center staff, and the Nampa, Idaho

city council in February, 1994. Job Corps staff presented an overview

of the Job Corps program, and discussed the relocation of the Marsing

Job Corps Center at the proposed site in Nampa. Community leaders were

given an opportunity to comment on the project and ask questions. There

were no adverse comments directed to Job Corps regarding the proposed

relocation of the Job Corps Center to Nampa. Subsequent to the meeting,

there were no adverse comments received by the city council or the

Office of Job Corps from the public.

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

The ``Proposed Action'' (Preferred Alternative); (2) the ``No Action

Alternative'' (continuing to operate the CCC at its existing site until

it would be necessary to locate elsewhere or close the Center); and (3)

the ``Alternative Sites'' alternative. All three alternatives have been

considered, as reflected in the environmental assessment, in compliance

with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). Although choosing

the ``No Action'' alternative would result in no environmental impact

upon the area, it would deny the young adults of this area the benefits

of a Job Corps Center. Several alternative sites were considered by the

Department of Labor for the new CCC site, but were found to be

undesirable in terms of safety of students, compatibility with

surrounding land uses, and/or proximity to job locations, goods and

services. The potential for an excellent facility and operational

efficiency afforded by the proposed action indicates that the proposed

relocation of the Center to the city of Nampa 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 relocation of the Marsing CCC to

the land adjoining the ISSH in Nampa, Idaho, will not cause any

significant adverse impact on the environment and 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. 95-672 Filed 1-10-95; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4510-30-M