Notice2024-03780
Notice of Availability of a Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Alcan Land Port of Entry Expansion and Modernization in Alcan, Alaska
Primary source
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Published
February 26, 2024
Issuing agencies
General Services Administration
Abstract
Pursuant to the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), GSA has prepared a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) to analyze the potential environmental effects of the proposed expansion and modernization of the existing Alcan LPOE. The Alcan LPOE is located at Milepost 1221.8 on the Alaska Highway, 0.43 miles from the U.S./Canada Border. U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) operates this facility year-round in sub-arctic weather conditions. The Alcan LPOE is the only 24-hour port serving privately-owned vehicles (POVs) and commercial traffic between the Yukon Territory, Canada, and mainland Alaska. GSA proposes to build an expanded and modernized LPOE and new housing units at Alcan, Alaska, to replace the existing facilities. The DEIS describes the purpose and need for the proposed project, the alternatives considered, the existing environment that could be affected, the potential impacts resulting from each of the alternatives, and proposed best management practices and mitigation measures.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 89 Issue 38 (Monday, February 26, 2024)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 38 (Monday, February 26, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14070-14071]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2024-03780]
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GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION
[Notice-PBS-2024-02; Docket No. 2024-0002; Sequence No. 3]
Notice of Availability of a Draft Environmental Impact Statement
for the Alcan Land Port of Entry Expansion and Modernization in Alcan,
Alaska
AGENCY: Public Buildings Service, General Services Administration
(GSA).
ACTION: Notice of availability; announcement of public hearing.
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SUMMARY: Pursuant to the requirements of the National Environmental
Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), GSA has prepared a Draft Environmental
Impact Statement (DEIS) to analyze the potential environmental effects
of the proposed expansion and modernization of the existing Alcan LPOE.
The Alcan LPOE is located at Milepost 1221.8 on the Alaska Highway,
0.43 miles from the U.S./Canada Border. U.S. Customs and Border
Protection (CBP) operates this facility year-round in sub-arctic
weather conditions. The Alcan LPOE is the only 24-hour port serving
privately-owned vehicles (POVs) and commercial traffic between the
Yukon Territory, Canada, and mainland Alaska. GSA proposes to build an
expanded and modernized LPOE and new housing units at Alcan, Alaska, to
replace the existing facilities. The DEIS describes the purpose and
need for the proposed project, the alternatives considered, the
existing environment that could be affected, the potential impacts
resulting from each of the alternatives, and proposed best management
practices and mitigation measures.
DATES: Public Comment Period--Interested parties are invited to provide
comments on the DEIS. The public comment period begins with the
publication of this NOA in the Federal Register and will end on April
11, 2024. Comments must be postmarked or received by the last day of
the public comment period (see ADDRESSES section of this NOA for how to
submit comments).
Hearing Date--GSA will host a hybrid public hearing for the DEIS on
Tuesday, March 12, 2024, starting at 6 p.m. Alaska Daylight Saving Time
(AKDT). Interested parties are invited to attend the hearing in person
at the Northway Community Center, Main Hall at 183 Circle Drive,
Northway, AK 99764 or participate online via the Zoom platform. Refer
to the ADDRESSES section of this NOA for additional details on the
public hearing location and registration.
ADDRESSES: The DEIS can be viewed or downloaded from the GSA website at
<a href="http://www.gsa.gov/Alcan">www.gsa.gov/Alcan</a>. Comments on the Alcan LPOE DEIS will be accepted
until April 11,2024, and may be submitted by one of the following
methods:
<bullet> Mail: Written comments must be postmarked by April 11,
2024. Address all physical mail to: U.S. General Services
Administration, Attention: Aaron Evanson, Capital Project Manager, 1301
A Street, Suite 610, Tacoma, WA 98402
<bullet> Email: Submit your comments via email to
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#bafbd6d9dbd4f6eaf5fffaddc9db94ddd5cc"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="d998b5bab8b79589969c99beaab8f7beb6af">[email protected]</span></a>. Include ``Alcan DEIS'' in the subject line of the
message.
<bullet> Public Hearing: Verbal and written comments will be
accepted during the hybrid public hearing on Tuesday, March 12, 2024,
starting at 6 p.m. AKDT. The public hearing will begin with a
presentation including an overview of the NEPA process and the proposed
project as well as the findings of the DEIS. Following the
presentation, there will be a moderated session during which members of
the public
[[Page 14071]]
participating either virtually or in person will be able to provide
comments verbally or in writing. A link to register to attend the
public meeting virtually, via Zoom, is available at <a href="http://www.gsa.gov/Alcan">www.gsa.gov/Alcan</a>.
Members of the public may attend the meeting in person at Northway
Community Center, Main Hall, 183 Circle Drive, Northway, AK 99764.
Comments sent by any other method, to any other address or
individual, or received after the end of the comment period may not be
considered by GSA. All comments received are part of the public record.
All personal identifying information (e.g., name, address, etc.),
confidential business information, or otherwise sensitive information
submitted voluntarily by the sender will be publicly accessible. GSA
will accept anonymous comments.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Aaron Evanson, Capital Project
Manager, (206) 445-5876, <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#10517c73717e5c405f55507763713e777f66"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="f7b69b949699bba7b8b2b7908496d9909881">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: GSA identified one action alternative that
meets the stated purpose and need of the proposed project and thus has
been analyzed in detail in the DEIS. GSA also analyzed a ``No Action''
alternative, which evaluates the effects that would occur if GSA
continued to operate the LPOE under current conditions (i.e., the
status quo).
Alternative 1 consists of expanding and modernizing the existing
Alcan LPOE. Alternative 1 would include: land acquisition; site
preparation and grading; construction of a new Main LPOE Building,
enclosed inspection vehicle spaces, new housing units with improved
security measures, a firing range, and a helipad; and demolition of the
existing LPOE structures. Land acquisition under Alternative 1 would
expand the port to include up to 2.5 acres of land south of and across
the Alaska Highway from the existing LPOE.
All facility and infrastructure improvements proposed under
Alternative 1 would incorporate a sustainable, climate-resilient,
cyber-secure, and operationally efficient design. GSA would seek to
meet or exceed energy and sustainability goals established by federal
guidelines and policies, along with industry standard building codes
and best practices.
Based on CBP and GSA design standards, the total enclosed building
area required for the modernized Alcan LPOE and housing would be
129,145 square feet (sf) with an additional 3,820 sf of booths and
canopies and 3,600 sf of outdoor parking and hard surfaces. Alternative
1 would provide dual-purpose inspection lanes to allow for flexibility
of inspection operations as well as enclosed spaces for secondary
inspection of POVs and commercial vehicles. A modernized Main LPOE
Building would also enhance the holding and interview capabilities of
the Alcan LPOE to meet current CBP security standards.
There would be approximately 15 acres of temporary ground
disturbance and 5 acres of permanent ground disturbance under
Alternative 1. Approximately 5 acres would be used as a staging area
during construction. There are currently 8 acres of impermeable
surfaces at the LPOE; expansion and modernization would add an
estimated 4 additional acres of impervious surfaces.
GSA and CBP are considering an option under Alternative 1 to pursue
joint operation of the Alcan LPOE with the Canada Border Services
Agency (CBSA). CBSA and CBP officers would jointly operate the facility
to conduct inspections of U.S. commercial vehicles and POVs entering
Canada; however, no housing would be provided for CBSA officers at
Alcan. This option would not affect the design or CBP staffing of the
expanded and modernized Alcan LPOE, nor contribute additional
environmental impacts under the action alternative, and hence is not
analyzed further in the DEIS.
GSA also evaluated a No Action alternative, which assumes that
expansion or modernization of the LPOE would not occur and that port
operations would continue under current conditions. The No Action
alternative does not meet the stated purpose and need of the proposed
project.
Classification: The DEIS was prepared in compliance with the NEPA,
as amended (42 United States Code [U.S.C.] et seq.), which requires
federal agencies to examine the impacts of their proposed projects or
actions on the human and natural environment and consider alternatives
to the proposal before deciding on taking an action. The DEIS complies
with the 2020 Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) NEPA regulations
(40 Code of Federal Regulations [CFR] Sec. 1500-1508), as modified by
the Phase I 2022 revisions. The effective date of the 2022 revisions
was May 20, 2022, and reviews that began after this date are required
to apply the 2020 regulations as modified by the Phase I revisions
unless there is a clear and fundamental conflict with an applicable
statute. The DEIS effort began on January 10, 2023, and accordingly
proceeds under the 2020 regulations as modified by the Phase I
revisions. In addition, the DEIS also complies with the GSA Public
Buildings Service NEPA Desk Guide and other relevant federal and state
laws and regulations and executive orders and integrates the
consultation processes required under Section 106 of the National
Historic Preservation Act and Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act
with the NEPA process.
Anamarie Crawley,
Director, R10 Facilities Management Division, 10PM.
[FR Doc. 2024-03780 Filed 2-23-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6820-DL-P
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