Notice2023-23490
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
Primary source
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Published
October 27, 2023
Issuing agencies
General Services Administration
Abstract
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.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 88 Issue 207 (Friday, October 27, 2023)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 207 (Friday, October 27, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 73853-73855]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2023-23490]
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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
AGENCY: Public Buildings Service (PBS), General Services Administration
(GSA).
ACTION: Notice of Availability (NOA); Announcement of public hearing.
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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.
<bullet> Email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#fa979399929b9f96d49d959499809b88ba9d899bd49d958c"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="4b262228232a2e27652c242528312a390b2c382a652c243d">[email protected]</span></a>. Please include
`International Falls LPOE SEIS' in the subject line of the message.
<bullet> 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: <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 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 <a href="https://us06web.zoom.us/j/84727622357">https://us06web.zoom.us/j/84727622357</a>. Note that the hearing 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 hearing 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 hearing; 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 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, <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#204d49434841454c0e474f4e435a4152604753410e474f56"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="dcb1b5bfb4bdb9b0f2bbb3b2bfa6bdae9cbbafbdf2bbb3aa">[email protected]</span></a>.
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
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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:
<bullet> 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.
<bullet> 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.
<bullet> 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.
<bullet> 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.
<bullet> Stormwater management would be redesigned in the 300-foot
section of First Creek due to two new areas of pavement crossing the
creek.
<bullet> The Resolute Paper Mill in Fort Frances, Ontario has since
closed and has decreased rail traffic.
<bullet> 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
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