Notice of Availability, Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Lease Construction and Consolidation of the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS), Miami, Dade County, Florida

GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION

Notice of Availability, Draft Environmental Impact Statement for

the Lease Construction and Consolidation of the Immigration and

Naturalization Service (INS), Miami, Dade County, Florida

Pursuant to the requirements of the National Environmental Policy

Act (NEPA) of 1969, and the President's Council on Environmental

Quality Regulations (40 CFR 1500-1508), as implemented by General

Services Administration (GSA) Order PBS P 1095.4B, GSA announces the

availability of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the

lease construction to consolidate the Immigration and Naturalization

(INS).

The DEIS is available for 45 days of public comment. The DEIS

examined

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the short and long term impacts on the natural and built environments

of developing and operating a consolidated INS facility at 9300-9499 NW

41st Street, Miami, FL 33172. Potential impact assessment included

impacts to public facilities and infrastructure, parking, traffic, and

community and economic issues.

The DEIS also examined measures to mitigate unavoidable adverse

impacts of the proposed action. Concurrent with NEPA implementation,

GSA also implemented its consultation requirements under Section 106 of

the National Historic Preservation Act to identify potential impacts to

any existing historic or cultural resources.

The proposed action is to and lease a newly constructed building

for the INS consolidation on the vacant parcel of land consisting of

approximately 7.31 acres at 9300-9499 NW 41st Street, Miami, FL 33172.

The proposed facility will consist of an office building containing a

total occupiable area of approximately 214,600 square feet, along with

supporting site improvements and 885 parking spaces. The subject site

fronts for 390 feet along NW 41st Street and spans to the back to

Dressels Canal (approximately 1150 feet south from 41st Street at the

deepest point). The proposed facility would accommodate the INS by

consolidating the District Office, the Asylum Office, and the Executive

Office of Immigration Review (EOIR). The Krome Detention Center is a

high-security containment facility located in Western Dade county and

its location, function, and purpose will be unchanged as a result of

the proposed action.

GSA has identified and screened from consideration, over 20

alternatives to the proposed action since 1993. GSA has identified the

following alternatives to be examined by the EIS:

``No Action,'' that is, take no action and continue to

house the INS at its current locations.

Lease construction of a consolidated facility of 214,600

occupiable square feet (osf) at the proposed site at 9300-9499 NW 41st

Street, Miami, Florida 33172. This is the GSA preferred alternative.

The 45-day comment period will close on March 10, 1997. Comments

should be provided in writing to the address below. Copies of the DEIS

were distributed on Friday January 17. A copy of the DEIS and one copy

of all of the public comments are available for inspection at the

Metro-Date Public Library Fairlawn Branch located at 6869 SW 8th

Street, Miami, FL 33144.

Mr. Phil Youngberg, Regional Environmental Officer (4PT), General

Services Administration (GSA), 401 West Peachtree Street, NW., Suite

3010, Atlanta, GA 30365

Fax: Mr. Phil Youngberg at 404-331-4540. Comments should be

received no later than Monday, March 10, 1997. All comments must be in

writing.

Dated: January 15, 1997.

Phil Youngberg,

Regional Environmental Officer (PT).

[FR Doc. 97-1536 Filed 1-23-97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6820-23-M