```

[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 2 (Friday, January 3, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Page 319]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-31568]

=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION

[Notice-PBS-2024-17; Docket No. 2024-0002; Sequence No. 51]

Notice of Availability of the Final Environmental Impact 
Statement for the Proposed Modernization of the Bridge of The Americas 
Land Port of Entry, El Paso, Texas

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

ACTION: Notice of availability.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The GSA, in cooperation with the U.S. Customs and Border 
Protection, the U.S. International Boundary and Water Commission and in 
accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, 
announces the availability of the Final Environmental Impact Statement 
(EIS) for the proposed modernization of the BOTA LPOE in El Paso, Texas 
and by this notice is announcing the start of a 30-day waiting period.

DATES: The date of the publication by the Environmental Protection 
Agency (EPA) in the Federal Register; Friday January 3, 2025 with the 
end of the 30-day period being Monday February 3, 2025.

ADDRESSES: The Final EIS is available on the GSA project website at: 
gsa.gov/bota under Project News.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Karla R. Carmichael, NEPA Program 
Manager, Environmental, Fire and Safety & Health Branch, GSA/PBS, 
Facilities Management and Services Programs Division, Greater Southwest 
Region 7, 819 Taylor St, Fort Worth, TX, 76102 or via telephone at 817-
822-1372. Email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    On November 6, 2021, Congress passed the Bipartisan Infrastructure 
Law (BIL), also known as the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act 
(IIJA). On November 15, 2021, the President signed Executive Order 
(E.O.) 14052 ``Implementation of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs 
Act.'' On December 13, 2021, the President signed E.O. 14508 
``Transforming Federal Customer Experience and Service Delivery to 
Rebuild Trust in Government.'' On February 25, 2022, President Biden 
and the GSA announced the list of major LPOE projects funded by the 
BIL. This included the Bridge of the Americas (BOTA) LPOE in El Paso, 
Texas.
    The Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) has been prepared in 
accordance with section 102 of the National Environmental Policy Act 
(NEPA) of 1969 (42 United States Code [U.S.C.] 4321 to 4370d), as 
implemented by the regulations promulgated by the Council on 
Environmental Quality (CEQ) (40 Code of Federal Regulations [CFR] 1500-
1508). The principal objectives of NEPA are to ensure the careful 
consideration of environmental aspects of proposed actions in federal 
decision-making processes and to make environmental information 
available to decision makers and the public before decisions are made 
and actions are taken.
    Additionally, this EIS has been prepared in accordance with GSA 
NEPA guidelines (GSA Order ADM 1095.1F and the Public Buildings Service 
[PBS] NEPA Desk Guide, both dated October 1999) and serves as a 
mechanism for compliance with the National Historic Preservation Act 
(NHPA) of 1966 (as amended) and other relevant laws and/or regulations.

Purpose and Need for Action

    The purpose of the proposed action is for the GSA to support the 
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) mission by bringing the BOTA 
LPOE infrastructure in line with current CBP land port design standards 
(i.e., CBP Land Port of Entry Design Standard) and operational 
requirements while addressing existing deficiencies identified with the 
ongoing port operations. In order to bring the BOTA LPOE in line with 
CBP's design standards and operational requirements, action is needed 
to satisfy the following overriding needs:
     Improve the capacity and functionality of the LPOE to meet 
future public demand, while maintaining the capability to meet border 
security initiatives.
     Ensure the safety and security for the employees and the 
travelling public.

Proposed Action and Alternatives Development

    As part of project planning, the GSA developed two (2) action 
alternatives as potential means of implementing the proposed action. 
The no action alternative has also been considered in the EIS. Both 
action alternatives include the phased razing of all existing 
buildings/structures and infrastructure within the existing LPOE 
boundaries and construction of new buildings/structures and supporting 
infrastructure. Both action alternatives also include minimal land 
acquisition in areas immediately adjacent to the port.

Summary of Potential Impacts

    The EIS has identified, describes, and analyzes the potential 
effects of the action alternatives developed to implement the proposed 
action and the no action alternative. This includes direct, indirect, 
and cumulative effects. GSA identified the following resources/issues 
for analysis of both beneficial and adverse potential impacts and the 
results are summarized in the Final EIS:
     Hazardous Materials, Waste, and/or Site Contamination
     Socioeconomics (including Environmental Justice)
     Public Services, Infrastructure, and Utilities
     Surface Waters, Drainage, and Floodplains
     Land Use and Zoning (including Visual and Aesthetics)
     Traffic (Vehicular and Pedestrian), Transportation, and 
Parking
     Air Quality (including Greenhouse Gas Emissions)
     Noise and Vibration
     Cultural and Historic Resources
    The EIS documents measures that could potentially avoid, minimize, 
or mitigate any identified adverse impacts.

Michael Clardy,
Director, Facilities Management Division (7PM), General Services 
Administration-Public Building Service, Greater Southwest Region.
[FR Doc. 2024-31568 Filed 1-2-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6820-AY-P
```