2786 Federal Register / Vol. 60, No. 7 / Wednesday, January 11, 1995 / Notices

adversely impact upon existing

facilities.

Telephone pedestals, where telephone

connections can be made and brought

onto the proposed site, are located along

the bordering streets. The proposed

Center will not adversely impact

existing telephone services because the

location was a residential area and the

lines already in use and presently

underutilized the demolition of the

private residences.

The Flint River lies approximately

3500 feet east of the subject site. A

‘‘basin’’, located in the south central

section of Parcel A, appears to be lowest

in the terminal area of the cul-de-sac.

Run-off in this area is expected to

collect in the basin and eventually

infiltrate into the ground. The manmade earthen berm that parallels North

Saginaw Street on the western side of

the property and extends the entire

length of the property blocks run-off

from the property to North Saginaw

Street. Groundwater in water table

aquifers, which may underlie the site,

may conform with the topographic relief

and flow east towards the Flint River.

The proposed Center will have no

adverse impact on ground water flow.

The proposed use of the site has no

significant impact on any natural

systems, resources, or any endangered

flora or fauna.

There are no buildings on or near the

site that are designated as ‘‘historically

significant’’ and no areas of

archaeological significance are present.

The City of Flint is regulated under

the Federal Clean Air Act, as amended

in 1990. The proposed action will have

no adverse effect on air quality.

Noise levels that may be generated

from air conditioning and other

equipment that may be installed in the

new facility are expected to be

consistent with the City of Flint

regulations. Although there may be

some short-term impact from additional

noise during the construction activities,

the completed facility is expected to

remain within allowable noise limits

and will not adversely impact

neighboring properties.

Pole-mounted street lights presently

provide general site lighting. On-site

lighting will be installed as part of the

new construction. The additional

lighting should have a positive impact

on the surrounding area. Lighting can

improve security by reducing crime and

vandalism, and also aesthetically

enhance the site.

Although the proposed project will

cause an increase in the traffic in the

community, the increase is not expected

to adversely impact traffic flow. The

proposed action is not expected to

adversely affect emergency response

companies, police and fire services,

hospital service or the City’s public

transportation system.

A public forum was held on January

22, 1994 concerning the establishment

and location of the Job Corps Center.

Approximately 200 people were in

attendance at the meeting representing

over 30 agencies, members of the clergy,

community members, neighborhood

organizations, businesses and elected

officials. The proposal to site a new Job

Corps Center in the City of Flint was

strongly supported by the people in

attendance at the forum.

Analysis of the following three

alternatives were made: (1) The ‘‘No

Build’’ alternative; (2) the ‘‘Alternative

Sites’’ alternative; and (3) the ‘‘Continue

as Proposed’’ alternative. The ‘‘No

Build’’ alternative implies that the

Department of Labor would not proceed

with the proposed Center in the Flint

Area. Although this would result in no

environmental impact upon the area,

the socioeconomic loss to the City of

Flint would be significant. Alternative

sites in Saginaw and Ann Arbor,

Michigan were considered by the

Department of Labor for the new Job

Corps Center site, but did not meet the

minimum selection criteria for locating

a new Job Corps Center. The ‘‘Continue

as Proposed’’ alternative (preferred

alternative) means that the site will be

developed to provide facilities and a

setting for the Flint Job Corps Center in

Flint, Michigan.

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 location of the

Flint Job Corps Center at the proposed

site 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, DC, this 23rd day of

December 1994.

Peter E. Rell,

Director of Job Corps.

[FR Doc. 95–671 Filed 1–10–95; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4510–30–M

Job Corps: Preliminary Finding of No

Significant Impact (FONSI) for the New

Job Corps Center in Ft. Devens, MA

AGENCY: Employment and Training

Administration, Labor.

ACTION: Preliminary Finding of No

Significant Impact (FONSI) for the New

Job Corps Center in Ft. Devens,

Massachusetts.

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), gives notice that an

Environmental Assessment (EA) has

been prepared and the proposed plans

for the establishment of a Job Corps

Center on a portion of former Ft.

Devens, Massachusetts, will have no

significant environmental impact, and

this Preliminary Finding of No

Significant Impact (FONSI) will be

made available for public review and

comment for a period of 30 days.

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 Albert Glastetter,

Director, Region I (One), Office of Job

Corps, One Congress Street, 11th Floor,

Boston, Massachusetts, 02114, (617)

565–2167.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The

proposed site, located in the abandoned

Verbeck Housing Complex on Ft.

Devens, Massachusetts, is comprised of

thirty-five (35) acres. The site is part of

the larger Ft. Devens complex which

consists of approximately 9,300 acres,

but which is to be downsized pursuant

to a recommendation by the Defense

Base Realignment and Closure

Committee. Ft. Devens has served its

military role since 1917. The proposed

site is located in the Main Post of Ft.

Devens, bordered by West Main Street

to the north, and the Town of Ayer to

the east.

Prior to initiating the proposed action,

the Verbeck Housing Complex is

scheduled to be razed, along with

ancillary facilities that currently occupy

the site. Following the demolition, the

proposed Job Corps Center would be

constructed to accommodate 400 fulltime residential students with

dormitories, educational/vocational

facilities, food service facilities,

medical/dental facilities, administrative

offices, storage and support.

Approximately 201,200 gross square feet

of new structures is planned. The
Federal Register / Vol. 60, No. 7 / Wednesday, January 11, 1995 / Notices 2787

proposed project will be constructed in

accordance with local fire, building, and

zoning code requirements and will not

adversely impact local police, fire, or

emergency services.

The site is located in a rural/suburban

setting with substantial open space

extending in all directions. To the north,

across West Main Street, in Ayer,

Massachusetts is a substantial wetland.

To the east is a wooded hill and to the

west are large, grassy fields. Towards

the south are playgrounds that surround

an elementary school that is part of Ft.

Devens.

The new facilities associated with the

Job Corps would make use of an existing

roadway network and infrastructure

such as water and sewer lines,

telephone poles, and stormwater

drainage systems. The razing operation

will include removal of all asbestos

materials, lead-based paints,

underground storage tanks, and

contaminated soils resulting from earlier

fuel oil spills as required by local, state

and federal laws. Conversion of this part

of Ft. Devens to a Job Corps Center

would be a positive asset to the area in

terms of environmental and

socioeconomic improvements and longterm productivity. The Job Corps

program, which will provide basic

education, and vocational skills

training, work experience, counseling,

health care and related support services,

is expected to graduate students who are

ready to participate in the local

economy that, with the loss of Ft.

Devens as a significant employer, is

expected to realize an increase in

demand for employment.

The proposed project would have no

significant adverse impact on any

natural system or resource. The existing

buildings that will be removed are not

designated ‘‘historically significant’’ and

the site includes no areas of

archaeological significance.

Construction of new Job Corps Center

buildings will not adversely impact the

existing environment including surface

water, groundwater, woodlands,

wetlands, threatened and endangered

species in the Ft. Devens area because

operational activities associated with

the proposed project do not represent a

significant change from the historical

use of the Verbeck site as a residential

area. A short-term impact from

construction, such as fugitive dust

emissions, will be mitigated through the

use of dust suppression techniques,

thereby reducing dust exposure to areas

in the vicinity of the proposed

construction sites. The expected basewide remediation of contamination,

currently underway by the U.S. Army,

both in the Verbeck site and throughout

Ft. Devens, would minimize impacts

from existing sources of contamination

upon the natural systems and resources.

Based upon preliminary analysis, no

significant levels of radon exist on site.

Water quality of both the Ft. Devens

water supply and the adjoining Town of

Ayer water supply document no levels

of lead present in the drinking water.

An asbestos assessment of the existing

building complex is currently underway

and all asbestos will be removed in

accordance with all applicable local,

state, and federal safety and health laws,

when the buildings are razed.

Leadbased paint, abandoned

underground storage tanks, and

contaminated soils will be similarly

removed when the site is demolished.

The proposed project would have no

significant adverse impact upon current

air quality, noise levels, and lighting.

Air quality is good in the area and the

proposed project would not be a source

of air emissions. Operational noise

levels of the project are consistent with

rural/suburban areas and, with the

exception of the construction period,

would not be source of additional noise

in the area. Finally, street lights for the

proposed project can be modified in the

final design to ensure levels of

illumination consistent with those in

the surrounding area.

The proposed project would have no

significant adverse impacts upon the

existing infrastructure represented by

water, sewer and stormwater

systems.Adequate water is available to

the site through the Ft. Devens water

supply system or that of the nearby

Town of Ayer. Stormwater runoff is

accommodated by an in-place system

that can be improved with minimal

repairs. The sanitary sewer collection

system is in place and deemed to be

adequate. Wastewater treatment can be

achieved at the nearby Ft. Devens

Wastewater Treatment Plant or the

Town of Ayer’s Treatment Plant once

those facilities have met the state

regulations for treatment and

discharge—activities that are currently

underway.

The proposed site has an abundance

of electrical power and natural gas

delivered to its boundaries, but would

require installation of new distribution

systems to bring all facilities up to

codes. The proposed demands on

electric power and natural gas, however,

are not expected to have a significant

adverse impact on the environment.

Similarly, traffic behavior patterns are

not expected to change as a result of the

proposed project; the main intersection

(Verbeck Gate) would continue to

provide an adequate level of service

onto West Main Street, so no significant

adverse impact is expected.

It is not anticipated that the proposed

site will have a significant adverse

impact upon the local medical,

emergency, fire and police facilities, all

of which are located in the Town of

Ayer, which is within one mile of the

proposed site. The existing facilities

will be adequate to address normal

emergencies; however, they can be

supported, if necessary, by other

medical facilities such as the seven

hospitals located within a fifteen-mile

radius of the site. There are additional

emergency, fire and police facilities in

the neighboring towns of Harvard and

Shirley, and in Ft. Devens itself.

The proposed project would not have

a significant adverse effect on the

surrounding community, which is

characterized by a diverse ethnicity and

offers an abundance of recreational,

educational and cultural opportunities.

Similarly, the proposed project would

not have a significant adverse impact on

demographics and socioeconomic

characteristics of the area. Rather, the

implementation of a Job Corps Center on

the proposed site will help to fill a void

created by the closure of Ft. Devens by

providing jobs and educational

opportunities for local residents.

A public forum was held in Fort

Devens on February 2, 1994. There was

voiced strong support from the Towns

of Ayer, Harvard, and Shirley for the

proposed project. All towns were in

favor of siting a Job Corps Center on Fort

Devens, and concluded that the Job

Corps program is a very worthwhile

Program and would benefit the area as

a whole.

The alternatives considered in the

preparation of the EA were: (1) The ‘‘No

Build’’ alternative, (2) the ‘‘Alternative

Sites’’ alternative, and (3) the ‘‘Continue

as Proposed’’ alternative. The ‘‘No

Build’’ alternative is considered

inadequate because it would require

fitting the Job Corps program into an

existing building complex that is illequipped for its intended use and, due

to its age, is characterized by old, outof-date systems and potential sources of

environmental contamination (e.g.

asbestos, lead-based paint,

contaminated soils). Alternative

locations, meanwhile, are determined to

be not available because all locations

were originally evaluated through a

formal rating process nationwide before

selecting the Ft. Devens site. The

Proposed Project meets both the goals of

the Job Corps and the location

requirements. After construction, the

new facilities would be suitable for their

intended purpose in the Job Corps, and

would be environmentally safe and
2788 Federal Register / Vol. 60, No. 7 / Wednesday, January 11, 1995 / Notices

consistent with current building codes

and safety practices.

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 location of a Job

Corps Center at the former Verbeck

Housing Complex on Ft. Devens,

Massachusetts, 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, DC, this 23rd day of

December, 1994.

Peter E. Rell,

Director of Job Corps.

[FR Doc. 95–667 Filed 1–10–95; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4510–30–M

Job Corps: Preliminary Finding of No

Significant Impact (FONSI) For the New

Job Corps Center in Homestead, FL

AGENCY: Employment and Training

Administration, Labor.

ACTION: Preliminary Finding of No

Significant Impact (FONSI) for the New

Job Corps Center in Homestead, Florida.

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), gives notice that an

Environmental Assessment (EA) has

been prepared and the proposed plans

for the establishment of a Job Corps

Center at the Homestead Air Force Base,

Homestead, Florida, will have no

significant environment impact.

Pursuant to 29 CFR 11.11(d)(1), this

Preliminary Finding of No Significant

Impact will be made available for public

review and comment for thirty (30)

days.

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., N.W., Washington, D.C., 20210,

(202) 219–5468.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Copies of the EA and additional

information are available to interested

parties by contracting Mr. Melvin R.

Collins, Director, Region IV (Four),

Office of Job Corps, 1371 Peachtree

Street, NE., room 405, Atlanta, Georgia,

(404) 347–3178.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The

purpose of this action is to add a Job

Corps Center with 472 residential

students to the Homestead area. The

current buildings are adaptable for this

purpose and offer the necessary

facilities for the Job Corps program to

provide basic education, vocational

skills training, work experience,

counseling, health care, and related

support services. This new center will

make constructive changes to existing

Homestead Air Force Base facilities for

dormitories, recreational, medical/

dental, and administrative services,

educational and vocational training, and

storage space that is consistent with Job

Corps guidelines and center needs.

The proposed sites, located in the

former recreational area of the

Homestead Air Force Base, is comprised

of approximately thirty-five (35) acres in

the center of the 2,900 acre Homestead

Air Force Base. The proposed site is

bisected by Bougainvillea Boulevard

and bordered by St. Lo Boulevard to the

south and east, and St. Mazaire

Boulevard to the north. Twelve (12)

buildings currently occupy the site. The

propose site includes paved asphalt

parking lots, concrete sidewalks, and

grass areas.

The United States Air Force

developed and utilized the Homestead

Air Force Base from 1942–1945, and

1956–1992. During the course of World

War II, the Homestead Air Force Base

operated as a scheduled stopping point

for air routes and a large training facility

for fighter pilots. Due to a major

hurricane that damaged much of the

Homestead Air Force Base, it was

unused by the military from 1946

through 1955. In 1955 many of the

sections were rebuilt and the Homestead

Air Force Base continued to operate as

a training and tactical air force facility

until August 24, 1992, when the

Homestead Air Force Base was

significantly damaged by the impact of

Hurricane Andrew. The reuse of the

Homestead Air Force Base, with a

reduced military presence, has been

proposed. Approximately one-third of

the Homestead Air Force Base will be

used for military reserve training. The

remainder of the Homestead Air Force

Base will be converted for other

purposes, such as public parkland and

projects like the Job Corps. Currently,

the majority of the Homestead Air Force

Base is unoccupied as a result of

Hurricane Andrew. Having been used

for military purposes only, the site is

not currently zoned. As a direct transfer

to another Federal entity, rezoning will

not be required.

The United States Air Force

historically has used the proposed site

for residential, recreational, and retail

purposes. The majority of the buildings

proposed for reuse were utilized for the

same proposed purposes by the United

States Air Force with the exception of

Building 656, which was utilized for

residential purposes; Building 902B,

which was utilized for recreational

purposes; and Building 914, which was

utilized as the base exchange. Those

buildings which are proposed for

similar uses by the Job Corps include

medical and dental offices for Building

656, administrative offices for Building

902B, and storage and vocational

training for Building 914.

According to the 1990 census,

162,483 people resided in the South

Dade area, including 26,866 in the city

of Homestead and 5,806 in Florida City.

The population in South Dade in 1990

was predominantly Caucasian (70%),

with Hispanics representing the largest

minority group (32%). The population

of the South Dade area has decreased

dramatically due to the impacts of

Hurricane Andrew. Post-hurricane

census information is not available at

this time.

Ample community services are

available in the South Dade area.

Recreational facilities will be available

at the site and a number of large parks

are located within nine (9) miles of the

Homestead Air Force Base. Power to the

site is provided by the Florida Power &

Light (FP&L) company. Telephone

service is provided by Southern Bell

Company.

The water and sewer is supplied by

the Metro-Dade County Water and

Sewer Authority. There is no solid

waste disposal at the site. All nonhazardous solid waste is removed by

contractors and taken off-site for

disposal in the South Dade landfill.

Police and fire protection, rescue and

emergency services will be provided by

Metro-Dade. The nearest hospital to the

site is the SMH Homestead Hospital,

located approximately three (3) miles to

the west of the site. Because of abundant

public, community, and emergency

services in the Homestead area, the

implementation of the Job Corps on the

proposed site will not adversely impact

the use of the above-mentioned services.

Natural resources in the South Florida

area are abundant. Although wetlands

are not present at the proposed Job

Corps site, a number of Army Corps of

Engineer jurisdiction wetlands are

present within one-quarter mile of the

site. However, the proposed reuse of the

Homestead Air Force Base for Job Corps