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[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 1 (Thursday, January 2, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 107-108]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-30597]

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GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION

[Notice-P-2024-03; Docket No. 2024-0002; Sequence No. 59]

Notice of Availability (NOA) for the Record of Decision (ROD) on 
the Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and Floodplain 
Assessment and Statement of Findings for the Kenneth G. Ward (Lynden) 
and Sumas Land Ports of Entry (LPOE) Modernization and Expansion 
Projects in Lynden and Sumas, Washington

AGENCY: Public Buildings Service (PBS), United States (U.S.) General 
Services Administration (GSA).

ACTION: NOA; public notice of ROD for the Final EIS and Floodplain 
Assessment and Statement of Findings.

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SUMMARY: GSA issued a ROD for the Modernization and Expansion of the 
Lynden and Sumas LPOEs in Lynden and Sumas, Washington on December 27, 
2024 (Identification Number: EISX-023-00-010-1728643103). The ROD was 
prepared in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act 
(NEPA) of 1969 and the GSA PBS NEPA Desk Guide.

DATES: Applicable: Friday, December 27, 2024.

ADDRESSES: The ROD may be found online at the GSA project websites: 
www.gsa.gov/lynden and www.gsa.gov/sumas.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Patrick Manning, Capital Project 
Manager, GSA at [email protected] or [email protected], or call 202-
501-4755.

[[Page 108]]

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    GSA is planning to modernize and expand the Lynden and Sumas LPOEs. 
The existing 4.8-acre Lynden LPOE serves as the port of entry for 
people and vehicles connecting Lynden, Washington to Aldergrove, 
British Columbia, Canada. The Lynden LPOE currently operates 16 hours 
per day, 7 days per week and processes privately owned vehicles (POVs), 
buses, pedestrians, and permitted commercial traffic. The existing 4.0-
acre Sumas LPOE serves as the port of entry for people and vehicles 
connecting Sumas, Washington, to Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada. 
The Sumas LPOE operates 24 hours per day, 7 days per week and processes 
POVs, buses, pedestrians, and commercial traffic.
    The purpose of these projects is for GSA to support the U.S. 
Department of Homeland Security's Customs and Border Protection (CBP) 
mission through modernizing and expanding the Lynden and Sumas LPOEs. 
Accomplishing this purpose would increase the functionality, capacity, 
operational efficiency, effectiveness, security, sustainability, and 
safety of the Lynden and Sumas LPOEs. The projects are generally needed 
to update the current facilities at the Lynden and Sumas LPOEs, which 
no longer function adequately and cannot meet CBP current operational 
needs or Program of Requirements.
    The existing Lynden and Sumas LPOEs have not undergone major 
improvements since their initial construction in the late 1980s and do 
not have sufficient space for modernization and expansion. Both 
facilities also have configuration and space issues that cause 
congestion, delays in processing times, and safety and security issues 
for inspection personnel. Additionally, these facilities do not have 
the ability to incorporate new technologies as they become available. 
The projects at the Lynden and Sumas LPOEs are analyzed jointly in this 
Final EIS due to their proximity (approximately 10 miles) to one 
another. Operational changes at the Lynden and Sumas LPOEs could impact 
each other, especially during construction.
    GSA prepared a Final EIS to assess the potential impacts of these 
expansion and modernization projects. On August 8, 2023, GSA published 
a Notice of Intent for the EIS and underwent a 30-day scoping period 
(88 FR 53486). The Draft EIS, which considered two action alternatives 
and a No Action Alternative for the Lynden LPOE and three action 
alternatives and a No Action Alternative for the Sumas LPOE, was made 
available for a 45-day public comment period from August 12, 2024 to 
September 26, 2024. The Final EIS was issued on November 15, 2024 (89 
FR 90292); starting a 30-day waiting period that ended on December 16, 
2024.
    One comment from U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), 
Region 10 was received during the Final EIS 30-day waiting period from 
November 15, 2024 to December 16, 2024. The USEPA indicated that GSA 
addressed all the USEPA comments on the Draft EIS related to 
information on measures to protect water resources, improve air 
quality, and sustainable building design to adapt to a changing 
climate. No other comments were received during the Final EIS 30-day 
waiting period.

GSA's Preferred Alternatives and Environmentally Preferable 
Alternatives

    GSA considered the findings in the Final EIS, stakeholder input, 
public comments, and tenant needs at the LPOEs to determine the 
preferred alternatives, including the environmentally preferable 
alternatives, which are discussed below.

Lynden LPOE

    GSA's preferred alternative for the Lynden LPOE is to implement 
Lynden LPOE Alternative 3 (North-South Oriented LPOE Expansion) as 
described in the Final EIS. GSA has selected this alternative because 
it would match the orientation of the existing LPOE and facilitate more 
efficient traffic flow. GSA has also identified Lynden LPOE Alternative 
3 as the environmentally preferable alternative.
    Lynden LPOE Alternative 3 (North-South Oriented LPOE Expansion) 
would involve potential acquisition of primarily agricultural land to 
the west of the LPOE, site preparation, and construction to modernize 
and expand the LPOE. The maximum proposed limits of disturbance for 
Lynden LPOE Alternative 3 would be approximately 10.3 acres.

Sumas LPOE

    GSA's preferred alternative for the Sumas LPOE is to implement 
Sumas LPOE Alternative 4 (Multi-Story Construction LPOE Expansion) as 
described in the Final EIS. GSA has selected this alternative because 
the operational space within the Main Building would be consolidated, 
and the building would use a smaller footprint within the LPOE allowing 
more space for other LPOE functions and increasing LPOE operational 
efficiency. This alternative would also add a pedestrian bridge, 
further increasing employee safety. GSA has also identified Sumas LPOE 
Alternative 4 as the environmentally preferable alternative.
    Sumas LPOE Alternative 4 (Multi-Story Construction LPOE Expansion) 
would involve potential acquisition of land south and east of the LPOE, 
site preparation, and construction to modernize and expand the LPOE. 
The maximum proposed limits of disturbance for Sumas LPOE Alternative 4 
would be approximately 12.9 acres.

Lynden LPOE and Sumas LPOE Construction Sequencing Options

    The Final EIS evaluated two construction sequencing options, which 
could be implemented under the preferred action alternatives selected. 
Construction sequencing options are still being evaluated and will be 
determined during the design-build phase.
    Under the Concurrent Construction Option, both ports would remain 
open during construction. Pedestrian and POV access would be maintained 
through the ports but limits on the number of open processing lanes and 
shifting of POVs to commercial owned vehicle (COV) lanes for limited 
times may be necessary. COVs may be detoured at times to other ports to 
permit adequate space for continued POV processing. Under the 
Sequential Construction Option, all traffic, pedestrians, POVs, and 
COVs would be detoured from the Lynden LPOE during the majority of its 
construction. Once the Lynden LPOE was reopened, construction that 
impacts traffic would begin on the Sumas LPOE. The Sumas LPOE would 
remain open to pedestrians and POVs during construction to the greatest 
extent possible. COVs would be detoured from the Sumas LPOE to other 
LPOEs during portions of the construction period.

Anamarie Crawley,
Director, R10 Facilities Management Division, Northwest/Arctic Region 
10, U.S. General Services Administration.
[FR Doc. 2024-30597 Filed 12-31-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6820-DL-P
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