[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 7 (Wednesday, January 11, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2794-2795]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-674]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Job Corps: Preliminary Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) 
for the New Job Corps Center in Montgomery, AL

AGENCY: Employment and Training Administration, Labor.

ACTION: Preliminary Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for the 
New Job Corps Center in Montgomery, Alabama.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to the Council on Environmental Quality Regulations 
(40 CFR Part 1500-08) implementing procedural provisions of the 
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the Department of Labor, 
Employment and Training Administration, Office of Job Corps, in 
accordance with 29 CFR 11.11(d)(1), gives notice that an Environmental 
Assessment (EA) has been prepared and the proposed plans for the 
establishment of a Job Corps Center in Montgomery, Alabama will have no 
significant environmental impact.

DATES: Comments must be submitted by February 10, 1995.

ADDRESSES: Any comment(s) are to be submitted to Lynn Kotecki, 
Employment and Training Administration, Department of Labor, 200 
Constitution Ave., NW., Washington, DC, 20210, (202) 219-5468.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Copies of the EA and additional 
information are available to interested parties by contacting Mr. 
Melvin R. Collins, Director, Region IV (Four), Office of Job Corps, 
1371 Peachtree Street, NE., room 405, Atlanta, Georgia, 30367, (404) 
347-3178.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The purpose of the proposed action is to 
develop the site into the Montgomery Job Corps Center for 272 resident 
and 600 non-resident students. A dormitory and other buildings will be 
constructed in order to provide the Job Corps Center with the necessary 
facilities for education, vocational skills training, work experience, 
counseling, health care, and related support services. To meet 
recreational needs, based on the Job Corps prototype for recreational 
activities, some construction is also needed; however, Trenholm and the 
local YMCA have offered to share their recreational facilities with the 
Job Corps Center. All of these newly constructed facilities will be 
consistent with Job Corps guidelines and center needs.
    The proposed project will also be constructed in accordance with 
local fire, building and zoning code requirements and will not 
adversely impact the City of Montgomery police, fire, or emergency 
services.
    The proposed site, located in the area of 1225 Airbase Boulevard, 
Montgomery, Alabama is comprised of 23 acres and is bounded on one side 
by the Montgomery Youth Detention Center and on the other by Trenholm 
State Technical College. The site has no structures on it. The site is 
located in an industrial/residential setting and is currently zoned as 
light industrial. The zoning is compatible with the intended use and, 
therefore, no rezoning will be required. The site is bordered on the 
north and east by railroad tracks, on the west by a drainage ditch, and 
to the south by Airbase Boulevard.
    The proposed use has no significant impact on any natural systems 
or resources. No areas of archaeological significance are present at 
the proposed Job Corps Center site. The activities of the proposed Job 
Corps Center are not of a contaminant-generating nature. The geologic, 
water, and climatic characteristics of the general vicinity of the 
site, coupled with the historically known land use, minimizes the 
site's potential to be contaminated from possible off-site sources and 
further minimizes the impact of contamination.
    Because there are no existing buildings or water pipes on this 
site, there was no need to test for radon, asbestos, lead-based paint, 
or lead in drinking water. These items are addressed in the EA.
    A short-term impact from additional noise will occur during 
construction activities; however, construction activities will be 
limited to the hours of 7 am to 4 pm. The use of sound control devices 
and muffled exhausts on all noise-generating construction equipment 
will be required. Appropriate techniques to mitigate fugitive dust and 
emissions during construction activities will be used.

[[Page 2795]]

Noise and dust impacts will terminate when construction is through.
    Indoor/outdoor lighting will have to be installed when construction 
begins. The lighting systems will not impact the surrounding areas.
    Water is available to the site through municipal lines. Stormwater 
runoff and sanitary wastes are accommodated by discharge to municipal 
sewers. Based on the nature of the proposed construction activities at 
the site, stormwater quality will not be significantly impacted.
    Montgomery has an abundance of water, electrical power and natural 
gas to easily serve facilities of this size and those substantially 
larger. Although the proposed project will cause an increase in traffic 
in the community, the increase in traffic value is not expected to 
adversely affect traffic flow on neighborhood streets. Several 
emergency response companies service the area. Police and fire stations 
are located near the subject property. A major hospital is within \1/4\ 
mile of the subject site.
    Several bus routes offer readily available transportation to and 
through the subject area at a reasonable cost. Interstates 65 and 85 
are close to the site and allow fast and easy access throughout the 
Montgomery area. These emergency and community services are abundant in 
the Montgomery area; therefore, the siting of Job Corps center in this 
area will not adversely impact the existing availability of the above-
mentioned services upon the area. The implementation of the Job Corps 
on the proposed site will provide jobs for vicinity residents. There 
will not be an adverse impact on the infrastructure or the 
socioeconomic structure in Montgomery.
    A public hearing was held on January 27, 1994 concerning the 
establishment and location of the Job Corps Center. Approximately 135 
people attended and those who spoke were very supportive of the 
establishment of the Center.
    The alternatives considered in the preparation of the EA were: (1) 
The ``No Build'' alternative, (2) the ``Alternate Sites'' alternative, 
and (3) the ``Continue as Proposed'' alternative. Choosing the ``No 
Build'' alternative means that the Department of Labor would not 
proceed with plans for development of the proposed Job Corps Center in 
Montgomery, and would result in no environmental impact upon the area. 
The ``No Build'' alternative would deny the youth of the Montgomery 
area a unique opportunity to educationally benefit from programs 
offered by Job Corps, in addition to denying the city an opportunity to 
benefit socioeconomically from such a program. Sites in Hollandale, 
Mississippi and Hahnville, Louisiana were also considered, but did not 
meet the minimum selection criteria for locating new Job Corps Centers. 
The potential for an excellent facility and operational efficiency 
afforded by the proposed action, as well as the finding of no 
significant adverse impacts upon the environment resulting from 
construction, indicate that the proposed development of the site in 
Montgomery is the preferred alternative.
    Based on the information gathered during the preparation of the EA 
for the Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, 
the Office of Job Corps finds that the proposed location of the 
Montgomery Job Corps Center to the 1225 Airbase Blvd. area location in 
Montgomery, Alabama, will not cause any significant impact on the 
environment and, therefore, recommends that the project continue as 
proposed. This proposed action is not considered to be highly 
controversial.

    Dated at Washington, D.C., this 23rd day of December, 1994.
Peter E. Rell,
Director of Job Corps.
[FR Doc. 95-674 Filed 1-10-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-30-M