[Federal Register: January 8, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 5)]
[Notices]
[Page 1291]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr08ja04-22]
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GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION
[2003-N01]
Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for
the Andrade Port of Entry Expansion/Renovation
AGENCY: General Services Administration (GSA).
ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement
(EIS) for the expansion/renovation of the Andrade Port of Entry (POE).
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SUMMARY: The action to be evaluated by this EIS is the expansion/
renovation of the existing Andrade POE, located in Andrade, California,
to improve the safety, security, and operations of the POE, and to
maintain control over ever-present illegal activities at the border.
The facility serves vehicular and pedestrian traffic into and out of
the Mexican town of Algodones. Expansion/renovation of this facility is
proposed to respond to the substantial increase in the flow of both
vehicles and pedestrians. The existing POE facility is not equipped to
process the number of vehicles and pedestrians anticipated at a level
of service consistent with the Federal Inspection Service minimum
standards for processing time and overall operational efficiency. The
current facility layout requires northbound pedestrians to cross both
lanes of SR-186 upon exiting the pedestrian inspection facility, which
impedes vehicle circulation, hinders vehicle inspection efficiency, and
presents a hazard to those pedestrians.
Alternatives: Four build alternatives for the proposed project are
currently under consideration and will be analyzed in the EIS for
potential environmental impacts. In addition, the ``no build''
alternative will be analyzed. Alternatives 1 and 2, located on Fort
Yuma (Quechan) Indian Reservation land, would expand the existing
facility on additional property immediately north and west of the
existing site. These two alternatives differ in how traffic would flow
through the facility. Alternative 3, also located on Fort Yuma
(Quechan) Indian Reservation land, would construct a new facility
immediately across the Alamo Canal, east of the existing facility. A
bridge over the canal would connect the new facility to the existing
roadway. Alternative 4 would leave the existing facility in place, and
construct a new facility east of Algodones on the Arizona side of the
Colorado River, connecting with Algodones via a bridge. Land in this
area is privately owned. Under Alternative 4, both POE's would remain
open, but the majority of vehicular traffic would be expected to pass
through the new facility.
The EIS will address the potential environmental impacts of the
alternatives for the proposed project, including: land use, visual and
aesthetic resources, cultural and historic resources, traffic and
public safety, air quality during construction and operation, noise,
biological resources, geology and soils, water resources, and
infrastructure and utilities. The EIS will also address the
socioeconomic and environmental justice effects of the potential
expansion/renovation of the Andrade POE.
Public Involvement: The views and comments of the public are
necessary in determining the scope and content of the environmental
analysis in connection with the proposed project. A public scoping
meeting for the proposed project will be held on January 7, 2004, from
3 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the Shilo Inn, Yuma Room, 1550 South Castle Dome
Road, Yuma, AZ, 85365 (near 16th Street exit from Interstate 8).
Interested parties may attend to present questions and concerns that
they believe should be addressed in the EIS. Comments and questions can
also be submitted to the Point of Contact listed below. Due to time
limits mandated by federal law, responses to scoping are requested no
later than 30 days after publication of this notice. It is anticipated
that the Draft EIS will be available for public review and comment in
September 2004.
If you require additional information regarding the public scoping
meeting or proposed project, or require special assistance to attend
the meeting, please contact the GSA or visit our Web site: http://hydra.gsa.gov/regions/r9/Andrade
.
Point of Contact: Ramon D. Riesgo, Border Station Program, GSA,
Desert Service Center, 401 West ``A'' Street, Suite 2075, San Diego, CA
92101-8843, (619) 557-5092 voice, (619) 557-2928 facsimile.
Peter G. Stamison,
Regional Administrator, Pacific Rim Region, General Services
Administration.
[FR Doc. 04-377 Filed 1-7-04; 8:45 am]