Notice of Availability for a Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement and Floodplain Assessment and Statement of Findings for the International Falls Land Port of Entry Modernization and Expansion Project in International Falls, Minnesota, 73853-73855 [2023-23490]
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Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 207 / Friday, October 27, 2023 / Notices
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408 Adopted: June 25, 2018. https://
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TIME AND DATE:
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Laura E. Sinram,
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(202) 694–1220.
TIME AND DATE:
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Individuals who plan to attend in
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Laura E. Sinram,
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[FR Doc. 2023–23930 Filed 10–25–23; 4:15 pm]
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GENERAL SERVICES
ADMINISTRATION
[Notice–PBS–2023–06; Docket No. 2023–
0002; Sequence No. 26]
Notice of Availability for a Draft
Supplemental Environmental Impact
Statement and Floodplain Assessment
and Statement of Findings for the
International Falls Land Port of Entry
Modernization and Expansion Project
in International Falls, Minnesota
Public Buildings Service (PBS),
General Services Administration (GSA).
ACTION: Notice of Availability (NOA);
Announcement of public hearing.
AGENCY:
This notice announces the
availability of the Draft Supplemental
Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS),
which examines potential
environmental impacts from the
modernization and expansion of the
International Falls Land Port of Entry
(LPOE) in International Falls,
Minnesota. The existing International
Falls LPOE is owned and managed by
GSA and is operated by the U.S.
Department of Homeland Security’s
Customs and Border Protection (CBP).
The Draft SEIS describes the purpose
and need for the project; alternatives
considered; the existing environment
that could be affected; the potential
impacts resulting from each of the
alternatives; and proposed best
management practices and/or mitigation
measures. The Draft SEIS also includes
the Draft Finding of No Practicable
Alternative (FONPA), which provides a
floodplain assessment and statement of
findings as a result of construction in a
floodplain at the International Falls
LPOE.
SUMMARY:
DATES:
Public Comment Period—Interested
parties are invited to provide comments
on the Draft SEIS and Floodplain
Assessment and Statement of Findings.
The Public Comment Period begins with
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Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 207 / Friday, October 27, 2023 / Notices
publication of this NOA in the Federal
Register and will last for 45 days until
December 11, 2023. Written comments
must be received by the last day of the
Public Comment Period (see ADDRESSES
section of this NOA on how to submit
comments). After the comment period,
GSA will prepare the Final EIS.
Hearing Date—GSA will host a hybrid
virtual and in-person public hearing on
Wednesday, November 8, 2023, from 6
to 8 p.m., Central Standard Time (CST),
where interested parties are invited to
join and provide verbal or written
comments on the Draft SEIS and
Floodplain Assessment and Statement
of Findings. The hearing will be
primarily virtual in nature, although
members of the public may attend at the
Koochiching County Court
Administration Building to view an
online broadcast of the hearing in
person (see ADDRESSES section for
location address). Refer to the VIRTUAL
PUBLIC HEARING INFORMATION
section of this NOA on how to access
the online public hearing.
ADDRESSES:
Hearing Location—The public may
attend the virtual hearing at the
Koochiching County Court
Administration building at 715 4th
Street, 3rd Floor, International Falls,
MN, 56649, to view the online
presentation in-person. A GSA staff
member will be available (in-person and
virtually) to assist the public in
providing public comments via the
virtual platform.
ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES1
Public Comments
In addition to oral comments and
written comments provided at the
public hearing, members of the public
may also submit comments by one of
the following methods. All oral and
written comments will be considered
equally and will be part of the public
record.
• Email: michael.gonczar@gsa.gov.
Please include ‘International Falls LPOE
SEIS’ in the subject line of the message.
• Mail: ATTN: Michael Gonczar,
International Falls LPOE SEIS; U.S.
General Services Administration,
Region 5; 230 S Dearborn Street, Suite
3600, Chicago, IL 60604.
Virtual Public Hearing Information
The hybrid virtual public hearing will
begin with presentations on the NEPA
and National Historic Preservation Act
(NHPA) processes, which are being
executed concurrently for this project,
as well as an overview of the proposed
project, and then will continue with the
findings of the Draft SEIS. A copy of the
presentation slideshow will be made
available prior to the hearing at: https://
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17:44 Oct 26, 2023
Jkt 262001
www.gsa.gov/real-estate/gsa-properties/
land-ports-of-entry-and-the-bil/
bipartisan-infrastructure-lawconstruction-project/minnesota.
Following the presentation, there will
be a moderated session during which
members of the public can provide oral
comments. Members participating
virtually or attending in-person will be
able to comment. Commenters will be
allowed 3 minutes to provide
comments. Comments will be recorded.
Attendees can also provide written
comments at the public hearing should
they not wish to speak.
Members of the public may join the
Draft SEIS virtual public hearing by
entering the Meeting ID: 847 2762 2357,
using any of the below methods, or by
using the following link https://
us06web.zoom.us/j/84727622357. Note
that the hearing is best viewed through
the Zoom app. Attendees are
encouraged to download the Zoom app
at the Zoom website (https://zoom.us)
on their personal computer or on their
mobile device and test their connection
prior to the hearing to ensure best
results.
• By personal computer (via the
Zoom app)—Install the Zoom app at the
Zoom website (https://zoom.us) and
launch the Zoom app. Click ‘Join a
Meeting’ and enter the above Meeting
ID. Follow the prompts to enter your
name and email address to access the
hearing; or
• By personal computer (via the
Zoom website)—Using your computer’s
browser, go to the Zoom website at
https://zoom.us/join and enter the above
Meeting ID. Click ‘Join from your
browser’ and follow the prompts to enter
your name; or
• By mobile device (via the Zoom
mobile app)—Install and launch the
Zoom app. Enter the above Meeting ID.
Whether joining through the Zoom
app or web browser, attendees should
follow the prompts to connect their
computer audio. Attendees are
encouraged to connect through the
‘Computer Audio’ tab and click ‘Join
Audio by Computer’ under the ‘Join
Audio’ button on the bottom of their
screen. Users who do not have a
computer microphone and wish to
provide a comment during the hearing
may connect by following the prompts
under the ‘Phone Call’ tab under the
‘Join Audio’ button.
For members of the public who do not
have access to a personal computer,
they may join the hearing audio by
dialing the following number: 1–305–
224–1968. When prompted, enter the
following information: Meeting ID—847
2762 2357, followed by the pound (#)
key; then press pound (#) again when
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prompted for a participant ID. Note,
dialing in to the hearing is only
necessary if you are not accessing the
hearing through a personal computer or
mobile app, or if you would like to
provide oral comments during the
hearing but do not have a computer
microphone.
The public hearing will be recorded,
and all comments provided will become
part of the formal record.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Michael Gonczar, NEPA Program
Manager, GSA, 312–810–2326,
michael.gonczar@gsa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Public Comment Period
The views and comments of the
public are necessary in helping GSA in
its decision-making process with
impacts to environmental, cultural, and
economic impacts. The public comment
process will be accomplished through a
hybrid virtual and in-person public
hearing, direct mail correspondence to
appropriate federal, state, and local
agencies, and to private organizations
and citizens who have previously
expressed, or are known to have, an
interest in the project. The Draft SEIS
has considered previous input provided
during the scoping period.
Background:
The existing 1.6-acre LPOE is located
on the south bank of the Rainy River
and serves as the port of entry to people
and vehicles crossing the International
Bridge that connects International Falls,
Minnesota to the town of Fort Frances,
Ontario, Canada. The International Falls
Land Port of Entry Improvements Study
Final EIS, released in 2011, assessed the
potential environmental impacts
associated with the proposed action of
replacing the undersized International
Falls LPOE with a new LPOE facility ‘‘to
improve safety, security, and
functionality.’’ A total of ten build
alternatives were considered, and a
preferred action alternative was
identified. This alternative would
consist of demolishing the existing
building, constructing new facilities at
the existing LPOE, and expanding the
LPOE to meet the required space
standards and increased security
requirements of the Federal Inspection
Services. This alternative would move
the majority of the LPOE improvements
and operations to an approximately 20acre site southeast of the existing site
between 4th Street and Rainy River.
GSA signed and released a Record of
Decision in January 2012 that identified
a preferred alternative as it best satisfied
the purpose and needs of the project
with the least overall adverse impacts to
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Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 207 / Friday, October 27, 2023 / Notices
the environment. The ROD stated that
the preferred alternative would have
less-than-significant impacts on the
natural and social environment of the
study area and International Falls,
including minor changes or impacts to
surface water, surface water runoff,
traffic, increased lighting, and
hazardous substances.
Since 2011, GSA has identified the
following changes to the project, which
differ from the preferred alternative
described in the 2011 EIS:
• There have been proposed changes
in tenants and use of the space. U.S.
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) no
longer requires space at the LPOE;
however, the U.S. Department of
Agriculture/Animal Plant Health
Inspection Services/–Plant Protection
and Quarantine (USDA/APHIS–PPQ),
and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
(USFWS) will need space and facilities
at the LPOE.
• The Packaging Corporation of
America (PCA) has acquired Boise, Inc.
and has a different timber unloading
operation occurring adjacent to the
proposed acquisition parcel, which will
require modifications to the original site
plan at the LPOE and offsite on PCA
lands. This includes PCA’s proposed
trailer parking lot that was shifted
further east (beyond First Creek) and
includes a paved 90-trailer parking lot
for PCA, which will modify traffic
patterns for the LPOE.
• A section of First Creek between
Route 11 and the Rainy River that was
previously contained in a culvert was
identified following the 2011 EIS. The
culvert has been removed and is now
daylighted, requiring impacts analysis.
• There has been an increase in the
proposed usable square feet (USF) for
overall building space needed from
42,282 to 80,611, based on the addition
of a maintenance building and
expansion in the sizes of all other
buildings per updated agency
requirements.
• Stormwater management would be
redesigned in the 300-foot section of
First Creek due to two new areas of
pavement crossing the creek.
• The Resolute Paper Mill in Fort
Frances, Ontario has since closed and
has decreased rail traffic.
• New renewable energy technologies
are being considered for implementation
at the expanded and modernized LPOE,
including solar, geothermal, and river
water cooling geothermal technologies.
GSA has prepared a Draft SEIS to
assess the potential impacts of these
updates, which were not assessed in the
2011 EIS.
Alternatives Under Consideration:
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The Proposed Action would comprise
of modernization and expansion of
existing International Falls LPOE
facilities as previously considered in the
2011 EIS, but to consider the above
project changes. GSA also considered
the No Action Alternative, which
assumes that GSA would not expand or
modernize the International Falls LPOE.
The purpose of the Proposed Action
is for GSA to support CBP’s mission by
bringing the International Falls LPOE
operations in line with current land port
design standards and operational
requirements of CBP while addressing
existing deficiencies identified with the
ongoing port operations. Generally, the
deficiencies described in the 2011 EIS
remain at the LPOE. The deficiencies
fall into two broad categories:
deficiencies in the overall site layout
and substandard building conditions.
Therefore, in order to bring the
International Falls LPOE operations in
line with CBP’s design standards and
operational requirements, the Proposed
Action is needed to (1) improve the
capacity and functionality of the
International Falls LPOE to meet future
demand, while maintaining the
capability to meet border security
initiatives; (2) address spatial and layout
constraints that lead to traffic
congestion and safety issues for the
employees and users of the LPOE; and
(3) provide adequate space and facilities
for the federal agencies to accomplish
their missions.
The Draft SEIS addresses the potential
environmental impacts of the proposed
alternatives on environmental resources
including geology and soils, water
resources, biological resources, air
quality, noise, transportation and traffic,
land use and visual resources,
infrastructure and utilities,
socioeconomics, cultural resources,
human health and safety, and
environmental justice. Based on the
analysis presented in the Draft SEIS,
impacts to all resource areas would be
less-than-significant (i.e., negligible,
minor, or moderate) adverse or
beneficial. Impact reduction measures
are presented in the Draft SEIS to reduce
potential adverse effects.
GSA is currently undergoing formal
consultation with the State Historic
Preservation Officer (SHPO) and
consulting parties to follow
coordination procedures as required
under Section 106 of the NHPA to
determine impacts to historic
properties. Mitigation measures may be
determined in consultation between
GSA, SHPO, and applicable consulting
parties.
Under the Endangered Species Act
(ESA), GSA coordinated with USFWS
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73855
per Section 7 requirements to determine
effects to federally protected species.
There would be no adverse effects to
federally threatened or endangered
species. Correspondence with USFWS
and findings are incorporated in the
Draft SEIS.
The Proposed Action would take
place within the 1-percent-annualchance floodplain (also referred to as
the base flood or 100-year flood) and
0.2-percent-annual-chance floodplain
(also referred to as the 500-year flood)
at the International Falls LPOE. In
compliance with Executive Order 11988
(Floodplain Management), GSA
prepared a Draft FONPA addressing
potential impacts on floodplains, which
is included in the Draft SEIS for public
review and comment. As described in
the Draft SEIS, GSA would follow
federal, state, and local regulatory
compliance requirements and
incorporate design standards at the
International Falls LPOE to minimize
impacts to floodplains.
William Renner,
Director, Facilities Management and Services
Programs Division, Great Lakes Region 5, U.S.
General Services Administration.
[FR Doc. 2023–23490 Filed 10–26–23; 8:45 am]
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[Document Identifier: CMS–10143]
Agency Information Collection
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SUMMARY:
E:\FR\FM\27OCN1.SGM
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 207 (Friday, October 27, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 73853-73855]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-23490]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION
[Notice-PBS-2023-06; Docket No. 2023-0002; Sequence No. 26]
Notice of Availability for a Draft Supplemental Environmental
Impact Statement and Floodplain Assessment and Statement of Findings
for the International Falls Land Port of Entry Modernization and
Expansion Project in International Falls, Minnesota
AGENCY: Public Buildings Service (PBS), General Services Administration
(GSA).
ACTION: Notice of Availability (NOA); Announcement of public hearing.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: This notice announces the availability of the Draft
Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS), which examines
potential environmental impacts from the modernization and expansion of
the International Falls Land Port of Entry (LPOE) in International
Falls, Minnesota. The existing International Falls LPOE is owned and
managed by GSA and is operated by the U.S. Department of Homeland
Security's Customs and Border Protection (CBP). The Draft SEIS
describes the purpose and need for the project; alternatives
considered; the existing environment that could be affected; the
potential impacts resulting from each of the alternatives; and proposed
best management practices and/or mitigation measures. The Draft SEIS
also includes the Draft Finding of No Practicable Alternative (FONPA),
which provides a floodplain assessment and statement of findings as a
result of construction in a floodplain at the International Falls LPOE.
DATES:
Public Comment Period--Interested parties are invited to provide
comments on the Draft SEIS and Floodplain Assessment and Statement of
Findings. The Public Comment Period begins with
[[Page 73854]]
publication of this NOA in the Federal Register and will last for 45
days until December 11, 2023. Written comments must be received by the
last day of the Public Comment Period (see ADDRESSES section of this
NOA on how to submit comments). After the comment period, GSA will
prepare the Final EIS.
Hearing Date--GSA will host a hybrid virtual and in-person public
hearing on Wednesday, November 8, 2023, from 6 to 8 p.m., Central
Standard Time (CST), where interested parties are invited to join and
provide verbal or written comments on the Draft SEIS and Floodplain
Assessment and Statement of Findings. The hearing will be primarily
virtual in nature, although members of the public may attend at the
Koochiching County Court Administration Building to view an online
broadcast of the hearing in person (see ADDRESSES section for location
address). Refer to the VIRTUAL PUBLIC HEARING INFORMATION section of
this NOA on how to access the online public hearing.
ADDRESSES:
Hearing Location--The public may attend the virtual hearing at the
Koochiching County Court Administration building at 715 4th Street, 3rd
Floor, International Falls, MN, 56649, to view the online presentation
in-person. A GSA staff member will be available (in-person and
virtually) to assist the public in providing public comments via the
virtual platform.
Public Comments
In addition to oral comments and written comments provided at the
public hearing, members of the public may also submit comments by one
of the following methods. All oral and written comments will be
considered equally and will be part of the public record.
Email: [email protected]. Please include
`International Falls LPOE SEIS' in the subject line of the message.
Mail: ATTN: Michael Gonczar, International Falls LPOE
SEIS; U.S. General Services Administration, Region 5; 230 S Dearborn
Street, Suite 3600, Chicago, IL 60604.
Virtual Public Hearing Information
The hybrid virtual public hearing will begin with presentations on
the NEPA and National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) processes, which
are being executed concurrently for this project, as well as an
overview of the proposed project, and then will continue with the
findings of the Draft SEIS. A copy of the presentation slideshow will
be made available prior to the hearing at: https://www.gsa.gov/real-estate/gsa-properties/land-ports-of-entry-and-the-bil/bipartisan-infrastructure-law-construction-project/minnesota. Following the
presentation, there will be a moderated session during which members of
the public can provide oral comments. Members participating virtually
or attending in-person will be able to comment. Commenters will be
allowed 3 minutes to provide comments. Comments will be recorded.
Attendees can also provide written comments at the public hearing
should they not wish to speak.
Members of the public may join the Draft SEIS virtual public
hearing by entering the Meeting ID: 847 2762 2357, using any of the
below methods, or by using the following link https://us06web.zoom.us/j/84727622357. Note that the hearing is best viewed through the Zoom
app. Attendees are encouraged to download the Zoom app at the Zoom
website (https://zoom.us) on their personal computer or on their mobile
device and test their connection prior to the hearing to ensure best
results.
By personal computer (via the Zoom app)--Install the Zoom
app at the Zoom website (https://zoom.us) and launch the Zoom app.
Click `Join a Meeting' and enter the above Meeting ID. Follow the
prompts to enter your name and email address to access the hearing; or
By personal computer (via the Zoom website)--Using your
computer's browser, go to the Zoom website at https://zoom.us/join and
enter the above Meeting ID. Click `Join from your browser' and follow
the prompts to enter your name; or
By mobile device (via the Zoom mobile app)--Install and
launch the Zoom app. Enter the above Meeting ID.
Whether joining through the Zoom app or web browser, attendees
should follow the prompts to connect their computer audio. Attendees
are encouraged to connect through the `Computer Audio' tab and click
`Join Audio by Computer' under the `Join Audio' button on the bottom of
their screen. Users who do not have a computer microphone and wish to
provide a comment during the hearing may connect by following the
prompts under the `Phone Call' tab under the `Join Audio' button.
For members of the public who do not have access to a personal
computer, they may join the hearing audio by dialing the following
number: 1-305-224-1968. When prompted, enter the following information:
Meeting ID--847 2762 2357, followed by the pound (#) key; then press
pound (#) again when prompted for a participant ID. Note, dialing in to
the hearing is only necessary if you are not accessing the hearing
through a personal computer or mobile app, or if you would like to
provide oral comments during the hearing but do not have a computer
microphone.
The public hearing will be recorded, and all comments provided will
become part of the formal record.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael Gonczar, NEPA Program Manager,
GSA, 312-810-2326, [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Public Comment Period
The views and comments of the public are necessary in helping GSA
in its decision-making process with impacts to environmental, cultural,
and economic impacts. The public comment process will be accomplished
through a hybrid virtual and in-person public hearing, direct mail
correspondence to appropriate federal, state, and local agencies, and
to private organizations and citizens who have previously expressed, or
are known to have, an interest in the project. The Draft SEIS has
considered previous input provided during the scoping period.
Background:
The existing 1.6-acre LPOE is located on the south bank of the
Rainy River and serves as the port of entry to people and vehicles
crossing the International Bridge that connects International Falls,
Minnesota to the town of Fort Frances, Ontario, Canada. The
International Falls Land Port of Entry Improvements Study Final EIS,
released in 2011, assessed the potential environmental impacts
associated with the proposed action of replacing the undersized
International Falls LPOE with a new LPOE facility ``to improve safety,
security, and functionality.'' A total of ten build alternatives were
considered, and a preferred action alternative was identified. This
alternative would consist of demolishing the existing building,
constructing new facilities at the existing LPOE, and expanding the
LPOE to meet the required space standards and increased security
requirements of the Federal Inspection Services. This alternative would
move the majority of the LPOE improvements and operations to an
approximately 20-acre site southeast of the existing site between 4th
Street and Rainy River. GSA signed and released a Record of Decision in
January 2012 that identified a preferred alternative as it best
satisfied the purpose and needs of the project with the least overall
adverse impacts to
[[Page 73855]]
the environment. The ROD stated that the preferred alternative would
have less-than-significant impacts on the natural and social
environment of the study area and International Falls, including minor
changes or impacts to surface water, surface water runoff, traffic,
increased lighting, and hazardous substances.
Since 2011, GSA has identified the following changes to the
project, which differ from the preferred alternative described in the
2011 EIS:
There have been proposed changes in tenants and use of the
space. U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) no longer requires space
at the LPOE; however, the U.S. Department of Agriculture/Animal Plant
Health Inspection Services/-Plant Protection and Quarantine (USDA/
APHIS-PPQ), and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) will need space
and facilities at the LPOE.
The Packaging Corporation of America (PCA) has acquired
Boise, Inc. and has a different timber unloading operation occurring
adjacent to the proposed acquisition parcel, which will require
modifications to the original site plan at the LPOE and offsite on PCA
lands. This includes PCA's proposed trailer parking lot that was
shifted further east (beyond First Creek) and includes a paved 90-
trailer parking lot for PCA, which will modify traffic patterns for the
LPOE.
A section of First Creek between Route 11 and the Rainy
River that was previously contained in a culvert was identified
following the 2011 EIS. The culvert has been removed and is now
daylighted, requiring impacts analysis.
There has been an increase in the proposed usable square
feet (USF) for overall building space needed from 42,282 to 80,611,
based on the addition of a maintenance building and expansion in the
sizes of all other buildings per updated agency requirements.
Stormwater management would be redesigned in the 300-foot
section of First Creek due to two new areas of pavement crossing the
creek.
The Resolute Paper Mill in Fort Frances, Ontario has since
closed and has decreased rail traffic.
New renewable energy technologies are being considered for
implementation at the expanded and modernized LPOE, including solar,
geothermal, and river water cooling geothermal technologies.
GSA has prepared a Draft SEIS to assess the potential impacts of
these updates, which were not assessed in the 2011 EIS.
Alternatives Under Consideration:
The Proposed Action would comprise of modernization and expansion
of existing International Falls LPOE facilities as previously
considered in the 2011 EIS, but to consider the above project changes.
GSA also considered the No Action Alternative, which assumes that GSA
would not expand or modernize the International Falls LPOE.
The purpose of the Proposed Action is for GSA to support CBP's
mission by bringing the International Falls LPOE operations in line
with current land port design standards and operational requirements of
CBP while addressing existing deficiencies identified with the ongoing
port operations. Generally, the deficiencies described in the 2011 EIS
remain at the LPOE. The deficiencies fall into two broad categories:
deficiencies in the overall site layout and substandard building
conditions. Therefore, in order to bring the International Falls LPOE
operations in line with CBP's design standards and operational
requirements, the Proposed Action is needed to (1) improve the capacity
and functionality of the International Falls LPOE to meet future
demand, while maintaining the capability to meet border security
initiatives; (2) address spatial and layout constraints that lead to
traffic congestion and safety issues for the employees and users of the
LPOE; and (3) provide adequate space and facilities for the federal
agencies to accomplish their missions.
The Draft SEIS addresses the potential environmental impacts of the
proposed alternatives on environmental resources including geology and
soils, water resources, biological resources, air quality, noise,
transportation and traffic, land use and visual resources,
infrastructure and utilities, socioeconomics, cultural resources, human
health and safety, and environmental justice. Based on the analysis
presented in the Draft SEIS, impacts to all resource areas would be
less-than-significant (i.e., negligible, minor, or moderate) adverse or
beneficial. Impact reduction measures are presented in the Draft SEIS
to reduce potential adverse effects.
GSA is currently undergoing formal consultation with the State
Historic Preservation Officer (SHPO) and consulting parties to follow
coordination procedures as required under Section 106 of the NHPA to
determine impacts to historic properties. Mitigation measures may be
determined in consultation between GSA, SHPO, and applicable consulting
parties.
Under the Endangered Species Act (ESA), GSA coordinated with USFWS
per Section 7 requirements to determine effects to federally protected
species. There would be no adverse effects to federally threatened or
endangered species. Correspondence with USFWS and findings are
incorporated in the Draft SEIS.
The Proposed Action would take place within the 1-percent-annual-
chance floodplain (also referred to as the base flood or 100-year
flood) and 0.2-percent-annual-chance floodplain (also referred to as
the 500-year flood) at the International Falls LPOE. In compliance with
Executive Order 11988 (Floodplain Management), GSA prepared a Draft
FONPA addressing potential impacts on floodplains, which is included in
the Draft SEIS for public review and comment. As described in the Draft
SEIS, GSA would follow federal, state, and local regulatory compliance
requirements and incorporate design standards at the International
Falls LPOE to minimize impacts to floodplains.
William Renner,
Director, Facilities Management and Services Programs Division, Great
Lakes Region 5, U.S. General Services Administration.
[FR Doc. 2023-23490 Filed 10-26-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6820-CF-P
