[Federal Register: February 13, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 30)]
[Notices]
[Page 7261-7262]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr13fe04-124]
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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Employment and Training Administration
Job Corps: Preliminary Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI)
for the Proposed Job Corps Center Located on Scott Hamilton Drive in
Little Rock, AR
AGENCY: Employment and Training Administration, Labor.
ACTION: Preliminary Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for the
proposed Job Corps Center to be located on Scott Hamilton Drive in
Little Rock, Arkansas.
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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), gives notice that an Environmental
Assessment (EA) has been prepared for a proposed new Job Corps Center
to be located in Little Rock, Arkansas, and that the proposed plan for
a new Job Corps Center will have no significant environmental impact.
This preliminary Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) will be made
available for public review and comment for a period of 45 days.
DATES: Comments must be submitted by March 29, 2004.
ADDRESSES: Any comment(s) are to be submitted to Eric Luetkenhaus,
Employment and Training Administration, Department of Labor, 200
Constitution Avenue, NW., Room S-4203, Washington, DC 20210, (202) 693-
3109 (this is not a toll-free number).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Copies of the EA are available to
interested parties by contacting Michael F. O'Malley, Architect, DOL
Historic Preservation Officer, U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and
Training Administration, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW., Room N-4659,
Washington, DC 20210, (202) 693-3108 (this is not a toll-free number).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This Environmental Assessment (EA) summary
addresses the proposed construction of a new Job Corps Center in Little
Rock, Arkansas. The subject property for the proposed Job Corps Center
is an approximately 32-acre undeveloped parcel of land owned by
Celestica Corporation.
The new center will require construction of nine (9) new buildings.
The proposed Job Corps Center will provide housing, training, and
support services for 272 resident students and 28 non-resident
students. The current facility utilization plan includes new
dormitories, a cafeteria building, administration offices, recreation
facilities, and classroom facilities.
The construction of the Job Corps Center on this proposed site
would be a positive asset to the area in terms of environmental and
socioeconomic improvements, and long-term productivity. The proposed
Job Corps Center will be a new source of employment opportunity for
people in the central Arkansas area. The Job Corps program provides
basic education, vocational skills training, work experience,
counseling, health care and related support services. The program is
designed to graduate students who are ready to participate in the local
economy.
The proposed project will not have any significant adverse impact
on any natural systems or resources. No State or Federal threatened or
endangered species (proposed or listed) have been identified on the
subject property.
The Job Corps Center construction will not affect any existing
historic structures, as there are no known historic or archeologically
sensitive areas on the proposed property parcel.
Air quality and noise levels should not be affected by the proposed
development project. Due to the nature of the proposed project, it
would not be a significant source of air pollutants or additional
noise, except possibly during construction of the facility. All
construction activities will be conducted in accordance with applicable
noise and air pollution regulations, and all pollution sources will be
permitted in accordance with applicable pollution control regulations.
The proposed Job Corps Center is not expected to significantly
increase the vehicle traffic in the vicinity.
The proposed project will not have any significant adverse impact
on the surrounding water, sewer, and storm water management
infrastructure. The new buildings to be constructed for the proposed
Job Corps Center will be tied in to the existing Central Arkansas Water
distribution system. The new buildings to be constructed for the
proposed Job Corps Center will also be tied in to the existing Little
Rock Wastewater Utility system.
Entergy would provide the electricity for the site. This is not
expected to create any significant impact to the regional utility
infrastructure.
The relocation of the Job Corps Center is not expected to result in
a significant
[[Page 7262]]
increase in vehicular traffic, since many of the Job Corps Center
residents will either live at the Job Corps Center or use public
transportation. While some Job Corps Center students and staff may use
personal vehicles, their number would not result in a significant
increase in vehicular traffic in the area. However, the proposed Job
Corps Center entrance would be from Scott Hamilton Road. Scott Hamilton
Road is a well used, two-lane thoroughfare. It may be necessary to
install a traffic signal or widen Scott Hamilton Road in the area of
the property.
No significant adverse affects to local medical, emergency, fire
and police services are anticipated. The primary medical provider
located closest to the proposed Job Corps parcel is the Southwest
Hospital, approximately 5 miles from the proposed Job Corps Center. The
Job Corps Center will have a small medical and dental facility on-site
for use by the residents as necessary. Security services at the Job
Corps will be provided by the center's security staff. Law enforcement
services are provided by the Little Rock Police Department's Southwest
Little Rock Patrol Division, located approximately 5 miles from the
proposed project site. The local fire station is the Little Rock Fire
Department. The fire department has two stations which operate 24 hours
a day near the proposed site.
The proposed project will not have a significant adverse
sociological affect on the surrounding community. Similarly, the
proposed project will not have a significant adverse affect on
demographic and socioeconomic characteristics of the area.
The alternatives considered in the preparation of this FONSI were
as follows: (1) No action; and (2) continue project as proposed. The no
action alternative was not selected. The U.S. Department of Labor's
goal of improving the Job Corps Program by improving the learning
environment at Job Corps Centers would not be met under this
alternative. Due to the suitability of the proposed site for
establishment of a new Job Corps Center, and the absence of any
identified significant adverse environmental impacts from locating a
Job Corps Center on the subject property, the ``continue project as
proposed'' alternative was selected.
Based on the information gathered during the preparation of the EA,
no environmental liabilities, current or historical, were found to
exist on the proposed Job Corps Center site. The construction of the
Job Corps Center on Scott Hamilton Road in Little Rock, Arkansas will
not create any significant adverse impacts on the environment.
Dated this 9th day of February, 2004.
Richard C. Trigg,
Administrator, Office of Job Corps.
[FR Doc. 04-3182 Filed 2-12-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-30-P