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

GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION

Draft Environmental Impact Statement For The Lease Construction

and Consolidation of the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS)

Miami, Dade County, Florida; Notice of Availability

March 19, 1997.

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 Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) for the

lease construction to consolidate the Immigration and Naturalization

(INS).

The DEIS was available for 45-days of public comment that closed on

March 10. A public meeting was held in Miami

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on February 12, 1997. The FEIS examined 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.

The FEIS also addresses issues that were raised at the public meeting

and issues that were expressed in writing during the comment period

that closed in March 10, 1997. GSA continued to accept and address

comments received until close of business on March 18. Issues addressed

included impacts to public facilities & infrastructure, parking,

traffic, property values, the community, and neighborhood & economic

issues. The FEIS also examined and considered measures to mitigate

unavoidable adverse impacts of the proposed action.

GSA's proposed action is to 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 would 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 in 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.

A final 30-day comment period will close on April 28, 1997.

Comments on the FEIS should be provided in writing to the address below

by close of business on Monday, April 28, 1997. Copies of the FEIS were

distributed on Wednesday, March 19. A copy of the FEIS and one copy of

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

Dade 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 3050, Atlanta, GA 30365. FAX: Mr. Phil Youngberg at

404-331-4540. Comments should be received no later than Monday, April

28, 1997. All comments must be in writing.

Dated: March 19, 1997.

Phil Youngberg,

Regional Environmental Officer (PT).

[FR Doc. 97-8448 Filed 4-2-97; 8:45 am]

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