[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 230 (Thursday, December 1, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 72122-72123]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-23522]


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GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION


Peace Arch Port of Entry, Blaine, Washington, Draft Environmental 
Impact Statement

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

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: The US General Services Administration (GSA) hereby gives 
notice that it has prepared and is distributing a Draft Environmental 
Impact Statement (DEIS) pursuant to the requirements of the National 
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, and the President's Council on 
Environmental Quality Regulations, for the construction of a new Peace 
Arch Port of Entry facility in the City of Blaine, Whatcom County, 
Washington. This project is at the planning and design stage, and site 
acquisition funding has been approved by Congress.
    The US Dept of Homeland Security is currently located in the 
existing Peace Arch Port of Entry facility. The existing facility does 
not currently meet the tenant agencies space or mission requirements. 
The existing facility cannot be adapted to accommodate the required 
future space needs of the agency tenants. GSA, assisted by Herrera 
Environmental Consultants, will prepare the Environmental Impact 
Statement (EIS). GSA is the lead agency in conducting the NEPA study 
with US Department of Transportation - Federal Highways Administration 
and Washington State Department of Transportation serving as 
cooperating agencies. 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.

DATES: Interested parties should submit comments in writing on or 
before January 17, 2006 to be considered in the formulation of the 
final rule.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments to U.S. General Services Administration, 
Regional Environmental Program Analyst (10PTTB), 400 - 15th Street SW, 
Auburn, WA 98001, ATTN: Michael Levine.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Art Campbell at Herrera Environmental 
Consultants at (206) 441-9080, 2200 Sixth Ave, Suite 1100, Seattle, WA 
98121, or Michael Levine, Regional Environmental Program Analyst, GSA, 
at (253)931-7263.
    Mailing List: If you wish to be placed on the project mailing list 
to receive further information as the EIS process develops, contact Art 
Campbell at the address and telephone number noted above.

Purpose:

    On November 30, 2004, a third public NEPA scoping meeting was held 
to gather comments from the public. On December 8, 2005 at 6:00pm, an 
informal open house will be held to inform the public about the status 
of the project and to answer any questions. On December 13, 2005 at 
6:00pm, an official NEPA DEIS public comment meeting will be held to 
ensure that the public has an opportunity to give comments about the 
DEIS that will become part of the official record. A court stenographer 
will transcribe all comments. Both meetings will be held at the Blaine 
Community Senior Center, 763 G Street in Blaine, WA. With the printing 
of this Notice of Availability in the Federal Register, the 45 day NEPA 
DEIS comment period begins. The notice of the dates of the informal 
open house meeting and formal comment meeting will be accomplished 
through direct mailing correspondence to interested persons, agencies, 
tribes and organizations, and notices in local newspapers.
    The DEIS will evaluate the proposed project, including all 
reasonable alternatives identified through the scoping process and a 
no-action alternative. GSA will respond to all relevant comments to the 
draft EIS received during the 45-day public comment period and they 
will become part of the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS). 
With the release to the public of the FEIS, GSA will identify its 
preferred alternative.
    An additional public informal comment meeting will be held after 
the release of 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 (ROD) that will 
identify all alternatives considered by GSA in reaching its decision, 
specifying the alternative which is environmental preferable. GSA may 
discuss preferences among alternatives based on relevant factors

[[Page 72123]]

including economic and technical considerations and agency statutory 
missions. GSA shall identify and discuss all such factors including any 
essential considerations of national policy which is balanced by GSA in 
making its decision and state how those considerations entered into its 
decision.

Supplemental Information:

    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. The EIS 
will examine the short and long-term impacts on the natural and 
physical environment. The assessment will include but not be limited to 
impacts such as social environment, changes in land use, aesthetics, 
changes in adjacent park land, changes in traffic patterns and access 
to the ``D'' street intersection, 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 
Historic Preservation Act to identify potential impacts to existing 
historic or cultural resources. GSA will consult with Native American 
tribes through-out the NEPA process.
    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.

    Dated: 11/18/2005.
William L. DuBray,
Executive Director, Region 10.
[FR Doc. 05-23522 Filed 11-30-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6820-EP-S