Notice2024-19122
Notice of Availability of a Final Environmental Impact Statement for the Alcan Land Port of Entry Expansion and Modernization in Alcan, Alaska
Primary source
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Published
September 6, 2024
Issuing agencies
General Services Administration
Abstract
This notice announces the availability of a Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) that analyzes the potential environmental effects from the proposed expansion and modernization of the Alcan Land Port of Entry (LPOE) in Alcan, Alaska.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 89 Issue 173 (Friday, September 6, 2024)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 173 (Friday, September 6, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 72843-72844]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2024-19122]
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GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION
[Notice-P-2024-01; Docket No. 2024-0002; Sequence No. 37]
Notice of Availability of a Final Environmental Impact Statement
for the Alcan Land Port of Entry Expansion and Modernization in Alcan,
Alaska
AGENCY: Public Buildings Service, U.S. General Services Administration
(GSA).
ACTION: Notice of Availability (NOA).
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SUMMARY: This notice announces the availability of a Final
Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) that analyzes the potential
environmental effects from the proposed expansion and modernization of
the Alcan Land Port of Entry (LPOE) in Alcan, Alaska.
DATES: The FEIS Wait Period begins with publication of this NOA in the
Federal Register and will last for 30 days until October 7, 2024.
Comments related to the FEIS must be received by the last day of the
Wait Period (see ADDRESSES section of this NOA for how to submit
comments). After the Wait Period, GSA will select an alternative and
issue the Record of Decision (ROD).
ADDRESSES: Comments on the Alcan LPOE FEIS may be submitted by one of
the following methods:
<bullet> Mail: U.S. General Services Administration, Attention:
Aaron Evanson, Capital Project Manager, 1301 A Street, Suite 610,
Tacoma, WA 98402.
<bullet> Email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#0a4b66696b64465a454f4a6d796b246d657c"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="24654847454a68746b61644357450a434b52">[email protected]</span></a>. Include ``Alcan FEIS'' in the
subject line.
Comments sent by any other method or to any other address or
individual 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, <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#b0f1dcd3d1defce0fff5f0d7c3d19ed7dfc6"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="53123f30323d1f031c16133420327d343c25">[email protected]</span></a> or 206-445-5876.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Alcan LPOE is located at Milepost 1221.8
on the Alaska Highway, 0.43 miles from the U.S./Canada Border. The
existing Alcan 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 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 is the lead agency for this EIS and
the Native Village of Northway is a cooperating agency. Additional
information and an electronic copy of the FEIS may be found at
<a href="http://www.gsa.gov/alcan">www.gsa.gov/alcan</a>.
GSA proposes to build an expanded and modernized LPOE and new
housing units at Alcan, Alaska, to replace the existing facilities. The
FEIS 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.
GSA evaluated two alternatives in the FEIS: (1) Alternative 1,
which involves the construction of a new, expanded replacement LPOE at
the existing LPOE site, and (2) the No Action Alternative, which
assumes the existing LPOE would continue to operate under current
conditions and the construction of a new or expanded LPOE would not
occur. GSA's preferred alternative is Alternative 1, which is also the
environmentally preferred alternative.
The purpose of the project is to provide an updated LPOE to support
CBP's mission. Accomplishing this purpose would increase operational
efficiency, effectiveness, security, sustainability, safety, and
comfort for cross-border travelers and federal employees at the Alcan
LPOE. The project is needed to update the current facilities which are
over 50 years old and cannot effectively support CBP infrastructure,
enforcement operations, public and employee safety, and housing needs.
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 FEIS. Alternative 1 consists of expanding and modernizing the
existing Alcan LPOE and would include: site preparation and grading;
construction of a new Main LPOE Building, enclosed inspection vehicle
spaces, new housing units with improved security measures, an indoor
firing range, and a helicopter landing zone; and demolition of the
existing LPOE structures. GSA would need authorization for use of up to
6.5 acres extending into the Tetlin NWR for the proposed helicopter
landing zone.
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.
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
approximately 4 acres of impervious surfaces. Given the seasonal
constraints of construction work in Alaska, Alternative 1 would likely
follow a six-year implementation timeline, which would be phased to
avoid disruption to LPOE operations.
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.
The FEIS addresses the potential environmental impacts of the
alternatives on environmental resources including land use; geology,
topography, and soils; water resources; biological resources; cultural
and tribal resources; environmental justice; socioeconomics;
recreation; visual resources; noise and vibrations; solid and hazardous
waste and materials; and climate change. Based on the analysis
presented in the FEIS, which considered and incorporated input from the
public comments received on the Draft EIS, impacts for all resource
areas would be less-than-significant (i.e., negligible, minor, or
moderate). Measures to reduce potential adverse effects are presented
in the FEIS.
The FEIS 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 FEIS 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 EIS
effort began on January 10, 2023, and accordingly proceeds under the
2020 regulations as
[[Page 72844]]
modified by the Phase I revisions. In addition, the FEIS 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 Northwest/Arctic Region 10
U.S. General Services Administration.
[FR Doc. 2024-19122 Filed 9-5-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6820-DL-P
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</html>Indexed from Federal Register on September 6, 2024.
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