[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 7 (Wednesday, January 11, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2785-2786]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-671]


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

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration


Job Corps: Preliminary Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) 
for the new Job Corps Center in Flint, MI

AGENCY: Employment and Training Administration.

ACTION: Preliminary Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for the 
new Job Corps Center in Flint, Michigan.

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

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 in Flint, Michigan, will have no 
significant environmental impact. Pursuant to 29 CFR 11.11(d)(1), this 
Preliminary Finding of No Significant Impact will be made available for 
public review and comments 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., 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 Gordon 
Carlson, Director, Region V (Five), Office of Job Corps, 230 South 
Dearborn Street, Room 676, Chicago, Illinois, 60604, (312) 353-1311.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The purpose of this proposed action is to 
construct a new facility with a campus-like setting. The new center is 
proposed as a 400-student program, with 328 residential and 72 non-
residential students. With a total of 36 single- parent students, a 
comprehensive on-site child care services component for 50 children is 
prescribed by the Military Department of Social Services (DSS) and 
Greater Flint/Thumb Area 4C Association (Community Coordinated Child 
Care) to serve infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and school-aged 
children.
    The proposed site location for the Flint Job Corps Center is a 
property identified as a portion of Oak Technology Park, located at 
2400 North Saginaw Street, Flint, Genesee County, Michigan. The site 
comprises two parcels of vacant land with a total of 20.78 acres, which 
are identified as Parcel A with 12.9 acres and Parcel B with 7.88 
acres. The site is bordered by North Saginaw Street on the west side of 
the property, Taylor Street on the north side, North Boulevard on the 
east side, and Newall Street on the south side. An east-west street, 
Baker Street, divides the two parcels. Parcel A is the portion located 
north of Newall Street and south of Baker Street; Parcel B is the 
portion located north of Baker Street and south of Taylor Street. 
Access to the site can be made from any of the streets.
    The proposed Flint Job Corps Center will be a totally new facility 
and will consist of a number of buildings to sufficiently accommodate 
student capacity. The buildings will include dormitories, classrooms, 
administrative and support facilities. The dormitories will consist of 
one building for females, one for males, and one single-parent 
dormitory. A child development center is included in the project. 
Classroom spaces will be provided in the education building. There will 
also be a vocational-educational building, a cafeteria/culinary arts 
building, a recreation building, an administration building, a medical/
dental building, a maintenance/warehouse building and a building that 
houses reception/security functions. The building areas are projected 
to total 179,700 gross square feet (GSF). The proposed project will be 
constructed in accordance with local fire, building an zoning code 
requirements and will not adversely impact the City of Flint police, 
fire or emergency services.
    The site is in an area of the city that is currently zoned heavy 
commercial and limited manufacturing. Establishment of a Job Corps 
Center is not prohibited by current zoning.
    An investigation of previous and historical activities on or near 
the site identified some potential environmental concerns. A gasoline 
fuel service station existed for some 40 years on North Boulevard at 
the corner of Baker Street. Along North Saginaw Street, fifteen 
commercial locations were identified: a photography shop, printing 
company, auto repair, new and used car dealerships and several other 
businesses that could warrant concern upon excavation of the site. Most 
specifically, an obsolete underground storage tank may exist at the 
location of 2510-18 North Saginaw Street. These concerns could be 
easily remedied through soil testing and, if found necessary, soil 
remediation prior to excavation and building. DOL does not believe that 
the construction of the Center will have a cummulative adverse impact 
on these concerns.
    The City water distribution system serves the site and is comprised 
of underground water lines that run parallel to the project site on 
both North Saginaw and North Streets. Water supply could be brought on 
to the site from either of these lines. Each building could have its 
own individual water meter or a single meter could be installed to 
serve all buildings. The City sewage system serves the site and is 
comprised of underground sanitary sewer lines that run parallel to the 
project site on North Saginaw and North Streets.
    Storm water run-off from the proposed buildings can be discharged 
either to grade or can be piped directly to the storm sewer pipe. There 
are underground storm sewer lines that run parallel to the project 
sites on the east and west boundaries. The Center will not adversely 
impact upon any of the existing services.
    A natural gas distribution station to the south of the project site 
provides gas to the site via an underground gas pipe that runs along 
North Street. An 8,320 volts, three-phase overhead distribution line, 
located along North Street, provides adequate electricity to the site. 
The distribution system is in good condition and would adequately 
accommodate a required secondary service to the proposed buildings. The 
options of individual metering or multi-metering are available. The 
proposed Flint Job Corps Center will not

[[Page 2786]]

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 man-made 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