[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 195 (Tuesday, October 8, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 81529-81530]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-23200]


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GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION

[Notice-PBS-2024-13; Docket No. 2024-0002; Sequence No. 45; UNIQUE 
IDENTIFIER: SEIS-023-00-009-1727281974]


Notice of Intent To Prepare a Supplemental Environmental Impact 
Statement for the Expansion and Modernization of the Raul Hector Castro 
Land Port of Entry and Proposed Commercial Land Port of Entry in 
Douglas, Arizona

AGENCY: Public Buildings Service (PBS), General Services Administration 
(GSA).

ACTION: Notice of intent (NOI); announcement of public scoping meeting.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to the requirements of the National Environmental 
Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), the Council on Environmental Quality 
Regulations, and the GSA Public Buildings Service NEPA Desk Guide, GSA 
is issuing this notice to advise the public that a Supplemental 
Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) will be prepared to evaluate 
potential environmental impacts from a proposed flood channel 
realignment and expansion of retention basin to the west of the Raul 
Hector Castro (RHC) Land Port of Entry (LPOE) in Douglas, Arizona. This 
NOI also announces the public scoping process for the SEIS.

DATES: 
    Public Scoping Period--The public scoping period begins on Friday, 
October 11, 2024. Interested parties are encouraged to provide comments 
regarding the scope of the SEIS. Written comments must be received by 
November 11, 2024 (see ADDRESSES section of this NOI on how to submit 
comments).
    Meeting Date--A public scoping meeting will be held on Thursday, 
October 24, 2024, from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. The meeting will be held 
in the Douglas Visitor Center (see ADDRESSES section for location 
address), where GSA will meet with governmental and public stakeholders 
to explain the project and obtain input on the scope of the project. 
The meeting will be an informal open house, where visitors may come, 
receive information, and provide written comments. No formal 
presentation will be provided.

ADDRESSES: 
    Public Scoping Comments--You may send comments, identified by 
[2024-0002], by one of the following methods:
    <bullet> Email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#602f130d01080e4e2b01041209200713014e070f16"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="4c033f212d242262072d283e250c2b3f2d622b233a">[email protected]</span></a>. Include [2024-0002] in the 
subject line of the message.
    <bullet> Mail: Attention: Osmahn Kadri, NEPA Project Manager, U.S. 
General Services Administration, c/o Potomac-Hudson Engineering, Inc., 
77 Upper Rock Circle, Suite 302, Rockville, MD 20850.
    Meeting Location--A public scoping meeting will be held at the 
Douglas Visitor Center, 345 16th St., Douglas, AZ 85607.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Osmahn Kadri, 415-522-3617, 
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#b6f9c5dbd7ded898fdd7d2c4dff6d1c5d798d1d9c0"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="c58ab6a8a4adabeb8ea4a1b7ac85a2b6a4eba2aab3">[email protected]</span></a>.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    GSA is beginning preparation of a SEIS to analyze the potential 
impacts resulting from the proposed realignment and reconstruction of 
the Rose Avenue Channel and construction of a new stormwater retention 
basin west of the expanded and modernized RHC LPOE. This SEIS will 
supplement the previous Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the 
RHC LPOE expansion and modernization project. GSA signed the Record of 
Decision (ROD) for the Final EIS for the Expansion and Modernization of 
the RHC LPOE and Proposed Commercial LPOE in Douglas, Arizona on May 6, 
2024. GSA approved the preferred alternative, identified in the Final 
EIS as Alternative 2 (Concurrent Construction--Westward Expansion), 
which would involve construction of a new Commercial LPOE and phased 
expansion and modernization of the existing RHC LPOE at the same time, 
with expansion primarily to the west of the existing RHC LPOE.
    Under the Proposed Action for the SEIS, the existing concrete box 
culvert beneath the LPOE would be partially maintained and extended 
westward near the existing vehicle inspection booths. From there, an 
open channel would be constructed generally parallel and to the north 
of Border Road and would discharge into an existing wash just west of 
Chino Road. The existing north-south channel that runs parallel to Pan 
American Avenue would be abandoned and sealed or demolished in 
conjunction with the expansion and modernization of the RHC LPOE. An 
expanded stormwater retention basin would also be constructed just west 
of

[[Page 81530]]

the existing Alternative 2 Expansion Area as identified in the Final 
EIS. In addition to the Proposed Action, GSA will also consider the No 
Action Alternative.
    The purpose of the Proposed Action is to address stormwater 
management and flood control needs for the expanded and modernized RHC 
LPOE. The need for the Proposed Action is that the current alignment of 
the Rose Avenue Channel will result in engineering conflicts with the 
current proposed layout for the expanded RHC LPOE and requires re-
routing. Additional land area is also required for necessary stormwater 
retention at the expanded and modernized RHC LPOE.
    Preliminary analysis indicates that short-term adverse 
environmental impacts may occur during construction on air quality and 
greenhouse gases from emissions; geology and soils and water resources 
from ground disturbance; and biological resources from ground 
disturbance and construction noise. GSA will be conducting a 
jurisdictional determination, archaeological survey, and Phase I 
Environmental Site Assessment to inform potential impacts to Waters of 
the United States, cultural resources, and human health and safety, 
respectively. Minimal or no impacts are expected to occur to the 
following resources: transportation and traffic; noise; socioeconomics, 
and environmental justice. Beneficial impacts are expected to 
infrastructure and utilities from the improvement of stormwater 
management facilities. The Proposed Action may require acquisition of 
additional land to the west of the RHC LPOE. Necessary permits and 
authorizations will be identified within the Draft EIS.
    The Draft EIS is expected to be published in early 2025.

Russell Larson,
Director, Portfolio Management Division, Pacific Rim Region, Public 
Buildings Service.
[FR Doc. 2024-23200 Filed 10-7-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6820-YF-P


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