Notice2023-20381
Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Grand Portage Land Port of Entry Modernization and Expansion Project in Grand Portage, Minnesota
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
September 22, 2023
Issuing agencies
General Services Administration
Abstract
GSA intends to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and conduct the section 106 process of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) to address proposed improvements at the Grand Portage Land Port of Entry (LPOE), including site expansion, demolition, and new construction. This NOI also announces the public scoping process for the EIS.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 88 Issue 183 (Friday, September 22, 2023)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 183 (Friday, September 22, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 65392-65393]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2023-20381]
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GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION
[Notice-PBS-2023-08; Docket No. 2023-0002; Sequence No. 28]
Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement
(EIS) for the Grand Portage Land Port of Entry Modernization and
Expansion Project in Grand Portage, Minnesota
AGENCY: Public Buildings Service (PBS), General Services Administration
(GSA).
ACTION: Notice of intent (NOI); announcement of meeting.
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SUMMARY: GSA intends to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)
and conduct the section 106 process of the National Historic
Preservation Act (NHPA) to address proposed improvements at the Grand
Portage Land Port of Entry (LPOE), including site expansion,
demolition, and new construction. This NOI also announces the public
scoping process for the EIS.
DATES:
Public Scoping Period--Interested parties are invited to provide
comments regarding the scope of the EIS. The public scoping period
begins with the publication of this NOI in the Federal Register and
continues until Sunday, October 22, 2023. Written comments must be
received by the last day of the scoping period (see ADDRESSES section
of this NOI on how to submit comments).
Meeting Date--GSA will host a hybrid (virtual and in-person) public
and stakeholder meeting on Thursday, October 5, 2023, from 5:00 p.m. to
7:00 p.m., Central Daylight Time (CDT). The purpose of the meeting is
to provide information on the project and to encourage public feedback
on the scope of the EIS. The meeting will be conducted in-person at the
Grand Portage Welcome Center, but members of the public may participate
via video-conference on Zoom to view an online broadcast of the meeting
(see ADDRESSES section for location address). Refer to the Public
Meeting Information section of this NOI on how to access the online
portion of the public meeting.
ADDRESSES: Meeting Location--The public may attend the meeting at the
Grand Portage Welcome Center, 9393 E MN-61, Grand Portage, MN to view
the presentation in-person. GSA staff members will be available (in-
person and virtually) to assist the public as they offer comments
whether they are participating virtually or in person.
Public Scoping Comments
In addition to oral comments and written comments provided at the
public meeting, 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.
<bullet> Email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#b7daded4dfd6d2db99d0d8d9d4cdd6c5f7d0c4d699d0d8c1"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="412c28222920242d6f262e2f223b2033012632206f262e37">[email protected]</span></a>. Please include `Grand
Portage LPOE EIS Scoping Comment' in the subject line of the message.
<bullet> Mail: ATTN: Michael Gonczar, GSA Grand Portage LPOE EIS;
U.S. General Services Administration, Region 5; 230 S Dearborn Street,
Suite 3600, Chicago, IL 60604.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael Gonczar, NEPA Program Manager,
GSA, 312-810-2326, <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#1c71757f747d7970327b73727f667d6e5c7b6f7d327b736a"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="563b3f353e37333a78313938352c37241631253778313920">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Public Meeting Information
The in-person meeting will begin with an open house format from
5:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. CDT. This portion of the meeting will not be
broadcasted. The hybrid public meeting will begin at 5:30 p.m. with
presentations on the NEPA and NHPA processes and the proposed project.
A copy of the presentation slideshow will be made available prior to
the meeting at: <a href="https://www.gsa.gov/real-estate/gsa-properties/land-ports-of-entry-and-the-bil/bipartisan-infrastructure-law-construction-project/minnesota">https://www.gsa.gov/real-estate/gsa-properties/land-ports-of-entry-and-the-bil/bipartisan-infrastructure-law-construction-project/minnesota</a>. Following the presentation, there will be a
moderated session during which members of the public can provide
scoping 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 meeting should they not wish to speak.
In addition, a court reporter will be available after the presentation,
should attendees wish to provide a verbal comment in private. All
written or verbal comments will be treated with equal importance.
Following the presentation and public comment session, the meeting will
continue with an open house format until 7:00 p.m. CDT, which will not
be broadcasted.
Members of the public may join the EIS virtual public meeting by
entering the Meeting ID: 889 5436 6939, using any of the below methods,
or by using the following link <a href="https://us06web.zoom.us/j/88954366939?pwd=WDZXQTc2dDM3UUtYc3pyN0FVS1lNUT09">https://us06web.zoom.us/j/88954366939?pwd=WDZXQTc2dDM3UUtYc3pyN0FVS1lNUT09</a>. Note that the meeting
is best viewed through the Zoom app. Attendees are encouraged to
download the Zoom app at the Zoom website (<a href="https://zoom.us">https://zoom.us</a>) on their
personal computer or on their mobile device and test their connection
prior to the meeting to ensure best results.
<bullet> By personal computer (via the Zoom app)--Install the Zoom
app at the Zoom website (<a href="https://zoom.us">https://zoom.us</a>) 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 meeting; or
<bullet> By personal computer (via the Zoom website)--Using your
computer's browser, go to the Zoom website at <a href="http://zoom.us/join">http://zoom.us/join</a> and
enter the above Meeting ID. Click `Join from your browser' and follow
the prompts to enter your name; or
<bullet> 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 meeting 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 meeting audio by dialing the following
number: 507-473-4847. When prompted, enter the following information:
Meeting ID--889 5436 6939, followed by the pound (#) key; then press
pound (#) again when prompted for a participant ID. Note, dialing in to
the meeting is only necessary if you are not accessing the meeting
through a personal computer or mobile app, or if you would like to
provide oral comments during the meeting but do not have a computer
microphone.
The public meeting will be recorded and available for viewing on
the GSA website in the days following the
[[Page 65393]]
meeting. All comments provided will become part of the formal record.
Scoping Process
The purpose of the public scoping process is to identify relevant
issues that will influence the scope of analysis of the human and
natural environment including cultural resources. The scoping process
will be accomplished through a hybrid in-person and virtual public
scoping meeting, 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 EIS will include public input on alternatives and impacts.
The public scoping meeting will also initiate GSA's public
consultation required by NHPA. GSA seeks input at this meeting that
will assist the agency in planning for the Section 106 consultation
process. This includes identifying consulting parties, determining the
area of the undertaking's potential effects on cultural resources (Area
of Potential Effects), and seeking agreement regarding ways to avoid,
minimize, or mitigate adverse effects. Federal, state, and local
agencies, along with members of the public, are invited to participate
in the NEPA scoping and section 106 consultation process.
The NHPA and NEPA are two separate laws which require federal
agencies to consider the impacts to historic properties and the human
environment before making decisions. NHPA and NEPA are independent
statutes, yet may be executed concurrently to optimize efficiencies,
transparency, and accountability to better understand the effects to
the human, natural, and cultural environment. The EIS will be prepared
pursuant to the requirements of the NEPA of 1969, the Council on
Environmental Quality NEPA regulations, and the GSA Public Buildings
Service NEPA Desk Guide. GSA will also consult with appropriate parties
in accordance with Section 106 of the NHPA of 1966.
Opportunities for members of the public to become a consulting
party during the NHPA Section 106 process will be presented during the
public scoping meeting. You may submit a comment to express your
interest in being a consulting party if you cannot attend the meeting.
Background
The existing 5.7-acre LPOE is located on the far northeast tip of
Minnesota where the Pigeon River meets Lake Superior and serves as the
port of entry to people and vehicles that connects Grand Portage,
Minnesota to the town of Neebing, Ontario, Canada. The LPOE is located
within the Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Reservation.
The Grand Portage Band of the Lake Superior Chippewa will serve as a
Cooperating Agency (CA) for this EIS. The purpose of the Proposed
Action is for GSA to support CBP's mission by bringing the Grand
Portage LPOE in line with current land port design standards and
operational requirements of CBP, while addressing existing deficiencies
identified with the ongoing port operations. Current LPOE facilities
and configurations do not meet CBP's needs and do not allow for
expeditious and safe inspection of the traveling public. The LPOE
facilities were constructed in 1965, are too small for CBP's needs, and
are served by an inefficient road design. Currently, the LPOE contains
a main building with primary and secondary inspection canopies,
secondary inspection garage, and public restroom facilities located
between the northbound and southbound lanes of Highway 61. There are
two inbound primary inspection lanes; one for non-commercial vehicles
and one for buses and commercial traffic. A commercial inspection dock
and GSA garage are located north of the inbound lanes of Highway 61.
There are currently no outbound inspection capabilities at the LPOE.
A feasibility study for this project was completed in 2019. A total
of three build alternatives were considered, and a preferred build
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.
Following the feasibility study, a Program Development Study (PDS)
is the next formal step to further refine the build alternatives, so as
to develop a facility plan that is respectful of the Grand Portage Band
of Lake Superior Chippewa Reservation property and including the Grand
Portage State Park. To date, GSA has issued a 35 percent PDS report in
December 2022 and 50 percent PDS report in May 2023; the final
alternative design that would support construction will be identified
in the 100 percent PDS. As of the 50 percent PDS, the identified build
alternative is located on an approximately 8.13-acre site on and around
the existing Grand Portage LPOE and is located entirely within the
Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) easement along Highway
61.
Alternatives Under Consideration
GSA has preliminarily identified one action alternative that may be
assessed in the EIS:
<bullet> Alternative 1: Construct the facilities as described in
the 50 percent PDS on an 8.13-acre site on and around the existing
Grand Portage LPOE and located entirely within the MnDOT easement.
The No Action Alternative will also be considered to satisfy
federal requirements for analyzing ``no action'' under NEPA. Analysis
of this alternative will provide a baseline for comparison with impacts
from Alternative 1.
The EIS will address the potential environmental impacts of the
proposed alternatives on environmental resources including cultural
resources, geology and soils, water resources, biological resources,
air quality and climate change, noise, traffic and transportation, land
use and visual resources, utilities, and human health and safety. The
EIS will also address the socioeconomic effects of the project, as well
as impacts on environmental justice (EJ) populations. Impacts may occur
from air emissions, noise, and traffic delays associated with
construction; as well as soil disturbance from earth moving activities
and resultant sedimentation of nearby waterways. Close consideration
will be given to potential impacts to cultural resources, and GSA will
work closely with the Grand Portage Band of the Lake Superior Chippewa
to determine if there are any potential impacts to sensitive tribal
resources. Wetlands may be present near the project site; and a wetland
delineation will be conducted to further investigate potential impacts.
Long term benefits to traffic and transportation, air quality, and the
local economy are expected from operations of the expanded and
modernized LPOE and associated improved traffic flows.
William Renner,
Director, Facilities Management and Services Programs Division, Great
Lakes Region 5, U.S. General Services Administration.
[FR Doc. 2023-20381 Filed 9-21-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6820-CF-P
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</html>Indexed from Federal Register on September 22, 2023.
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