[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 217 (Thursday, November 10, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 68456-68457]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-22428]


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GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION


Notice of Availability of the Draft Environmental Impact 
Statement for Improvements to the Andrade Port of Entry, Andrade, 
California

AGENCY: Public Buildings Service, GSA.

ACTION: Notice of Availability and Public Hearing.

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SUMMARY: The General Services Administration (GSA) announces the 
availability of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for 
Improvements to the Andrade Port of Entry, Andrade, California, for 
public review and comment. The EIS provides GSA and its stakeholders an 
analysis of the environmental impacts resulting from ongoing operations 
as well as reasonable alternatives for new operations and facilities at 
the Andrade Port of Entry, located in southeastern California, and a 
potential new Port of Entry west of Yuma, Arizona.

DATES: Written comments on the Draft EIS are invited from the public 
and may be submitted through the end of the comment period, which ends 
January 9, 2006 (see ADDRESSES section for more details). Comments must 
be postmarked by January 9, 2006, to ensure consideration; late 
comments will be considered to the extent practicable. The GSA will use 
the comments received to help prepare the final version of the Andrade 
Port of Entry EIS. A public hearing on the Draft EIS will be held on 
Wednesday, November 16, 2005, from 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm, at the Shilo 
Inn, Yuma Conference Room, 1550 South Castle Dome Road, Yuma, AZ.

[[Page 68457]]

    The hearing will provide opportunities for information exchange and 
discussion between GSA and the public, as well as for submitting 
prepared statements. For more information call (415) 522-3473.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Morris Angell, Regional Environmental 
Quality Advisor, GSA, 450 Golden Gate Ave., 3\rd\ Floor E, San 
Francisco, CA 94102, (415)522-3473, or via e-mail to 
[email protected]. Oral and written comments may also be submitted 
at the public hearing described in the DATES section. Requests for 
copies of the Draft Andrade Port of Entry EIS or other matters 
regarding this environmental review should be referred to Morris Angell 
at the address above.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A notice of availability will be mailed to 
all agencies, organizations, and individuals who participated in the 
scoping process or were identified during the EIS process. GSA has 
distributed copies of the Draft Andrade Port of Entry EIS to 
appropriate Congressional members and committees, the states of 
California and Arizona, American Indian tribal governments, local 
county governments, other federal agencies, and other interested 
parties who have already requested copies.
    The Draft EIS was prepared pursuant to the National Environmental 
Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) [42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.] and the Council on 
Environmental Quality NEPA regulations [40 CFR part 1500]. GSA proposes 
to continue operating the Andrade Port of Entry, which is located in 
the extreme southeastern corner of California. GSA has identified and 
assessed five action alternatives for the operation of the Andrade Port 
of Entry: (1) New Facility on Current Site and Adjacent Land to West 
(Variants A and B), (2) New Facility on Current Site and Adjacent Land 
to East, (3) New Pedestrian and Vehicle Facility on the Peninsula 
between the Alamo Canal and the Colorado River, (4) New Facility on the 
Peninsula for Vehicles Only, and (5) New Facility in Arizona for 
Vehicles Only. In addition, GSA analyzed the No Action Alternative in 
which GSA would continue the status quo, that is, operate the port of 
entry in its current configuration, with only minor planned upgrades.
    The Draft Andrade Port of Entry EIS identifies the expected 
environmental impacts from facility operations for each alternative, 
and presents comparisons of these impacts among the six alternatives. 
For each alternative, impact discussions are presented by resource area 
(e.g., land use, geology and soils) or topic area (e.g., traffic, 
environmental justice).
    After the public comment period, which ends January 9, 2006, GSA 
will consider the comments received, revise the Draft EIS, select a 
preferred alternative, and issue a Final EIS. GSA will consider the 
Final EIS, along with other economic and technical considerations, to 
make a decision on the appropriate course for improvements at the 
Andrade Port of Entry.
    Addresses: Comments may be submitted in writing to: Morris Angell, 
Regional Environmental Quality Advisor, GSA, 450 Golden Gate Ave., 
3\rd\ Floor E, San Francisco, CA 94102, or via e-mail to 
[email protected]. Oral and written comments may also be submitted 
at the public hearing described in the DATES section. Requests for 
copies of the Draft Andrade Port of Entry EIS or other matters 
regarding this environmental review should be referred to Morris Angell 
at the address above.

    Dated: October 27, 2005.
Peter G. Stamison,
Regional Administrator,Public Building Service,Pacific Rim Region.

    Dated: October 27, 2005.
Jeffrey Neely,
Assistant Regional Administrator,Public Building Service,Pacific Rim 
Region.
[FR Doc. 05-22428 Filed 11-9-05; 8:45 am]
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