Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement

GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION

Public Buildings Service; Region 10

Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement

agency: General Service Administration (GSA).

action: The U.S. General Service Administration (GSA) hereby gives

notice that it intends to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement

(EIS) pursuant to the requirements of the National Environmental Policy

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

Quality Regulations (40 CFR parts 1500-1508), for the construction of a

new Port of Entry facility at Peace Arch in Blaine, Whatcom County,

Washington.

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procedures: This project is at the feasibility stage and has not been

approved by Congress. The scoping meeting is being held at this time to

ensure that all significant environmental issues are identified and

thoroughly studied as part of the environmental analysis. When the

prospectus for the project is submitted to Congress for approval and

funding, it will take into consideration these significant issues. When

the project is approved by Congress, the EIS will be prepared based

upon the scoping report. The EIS will evaluate the proposed project,

including all reasonable alternatives identified through the scoping

process and a no-action alternative. Scoping will be accomplished

through direct mailing correspondence to interested persons, agencies,

and organizations and through a Public Scoping Meeting. The public

scoping meeting will be held on August 11th, 1999 at the Peace Arch

State Park, Kitchen Shelter meeting room, Blaine, WA, (tel. 360-332-

8221) at 6:30 p.m. following an open house beginning at 6:00 p.m. GSA

will publish a public notice of the meeting in Blaine newspapers

approximately two weeks prior to the events.

Public meetings will be held after the release of the Draft

Environmental Impact Statement and GSA will respond to all relevant

comments received during the 45-day public comment period in the Final

Environmental Impact Statement. After a minimum 30-day period following

publication of the Final Environmental Impact Statement GSA will issue

a Record of Decision that will identify the alternative selected.

supplementary information: GSA, assisted by Herrera Environmental

Consultants, will prepared the Environmental Impact Statement to

acquire land, design, and construct a new Peace Arch Port of Entry

Facility. GSA will serve as the lead agency and scoping will be

conducted consistent with NEPA regulations and guidelines. GSA invites

interested individuals, organizations, and federal, state, and local

agencies to participate in defining and identifying any significant

impacts and issues to be studied in the EIS, including social,

economic, or environmental concerns. Scoping will be limited to

identifying significant issues to be analyzed in the environmental

document and commenting on alternatives and the merit of the proposal.

Project Purpose, Historical Background, and Description

The US Customs, Immigration and Naturalization Service, and Dept.

of Agriculture are currently located in the existing Peace Arch Port of

Entry facility. The existing facility does not currently meet the

tenant agencies space requirement due to the present configuration of

the site. The existing facility cannot be adapted to accommodate the

required space needs of the agency tenants.

Alternatives

The EIS will examine the short- and long-term impacts on the

natural and physical environment. The impact assessment will include

but not be limited to impacts such as social environment, changes in

land use, aesthetics, changes in traffic and parking patterns, economic

impacts, and consideration of city planning and zoning requirements.

The EIS will examine measures to mitigate significant adverse

impacts resulting from the proposed action. Concurrent with NEPA

implementation, GSA will also implement its consultation

responsibilities under section 106 of the National Historical

Preservation Act to identify potential impacts to existing historic or

cultural resources.

The EIS will consider a no-action alternative and action

alternatives. The no-action alternative would continue the occupancy in

the existing Peace Arch Port of Entry facility in Blaine. The action

alternatives will consist of three different configurations for

construction of a new port of entry facility.

addresses: In addition to the public scoping process, you may send

written comments on the scope of alternatives and potential impacts to

the following address: Michael D. Levine, Regional Environmental

Program Manager, 10PCB, General Service Administration, 400 15th Street

SW, Auburn, WA, 98001, or fax: Michael D. Levine at 253-931-7308, or e-

mail at [email protected] Written comments should be received no

later than September 10, 1999.

for further information contact: Peter Sparhawk at Herrera

Environmental Consultants, 2200 Sixth Ave., Suite 601, Seattle,

Washington, 98121 or call 206-441-9080; or Michael D. Levine, GSA (253)

931-7263.

mailing list: If you wish to be placed on the project mailing list to

receive further information at the EIS process develops, contact Peter

Sparhawk at the address noted above.

Dated: July 13, 1999.

William Dubray,

Executive Director.

[FR Doc 99-18639 Filed 7-26-99; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6820-23-M