83 FR 5100 - Notice of Scoping Meeting and Intent To Prepare a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) for the Madawaska-Edmundston International Bridge and New Land Port of Entry (LPOE) Project
GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 24 (February 5, 2018)
Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 24 (February 5, 2018)
| Page Range | 5100-5100 | |
| FR Document | 2018-02164 |
[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 24 (Monday, February 5, 2018)] [Notices] [Page 5100] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2018-02164] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION [Notice-PBS-2018-02; Docket No. 2018-0002; Sequence No. 2] Notice of Scoping Meeting and Intent To Prepare a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) for the Madawaska-Edmundston International Bridge and New Land Port of Entry (LPOE) Project AGENCY: Public Building Service (PBS), General Services Administration (GSA). ACTION: Notice of intent; announcement of meeting. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: Pursuant to the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), the Council on Environmental Quality Regulations, and the GSA Public Buildings Service NEPA Desk Guide, GSA is issuing this notice to advise the public that a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) will be prepared for the proposed construction of the Madawaska-Edmundston International Bridge and New Land Port of Entry (the Project). DATES: Meeting Date: The Public Information and Scoping Session will be held on Wednesday, January 31, 2018, at 7:00 p.m., EST (Eastern Standard Time). Interested parties are encouraged to provide written comments on or before Monday, February 28, 2018. ADDRESSES: Madawaska High School Cafeteria, 135 7th Avenue, Madawaska, Maine 04756. The session format includes a 30-minute Open House, followed by formal presentation and Question & Answer session. Written comments can be submitted by either of the following methods:Regulations.gov: http://www.regulations.gov. Submit comments via the Federal eRulemaking portal by searching the Notice number. Select the link ``Comment Now'' that corresponds with ``PBS- 2018-02, Notice of Scoping Meeting and Intent to Prepare a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) for the Madawaska-Edmundston International Bridge and New Land Port of Entry (LPOE) Project.'' Follow the instructions provided on the screen. Please include your name, company name (if any), and ``PBS-2018-02, Notice of Scoping Meeting and Intent to Prepare a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) for the Madawaska-Edmundston International Bridge and New Land Port of Entry (LPOE) Project'' on your attached document. Postal Mail: Ms. Alexas Kelly, Project Manager, GSA, 10 Causeway Street, 11th Floor, Boston, MA 02222. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Alexas Kelly, Project Manager, GSA, New England Region, at email [email protected], or call 617-549- 8190. Please also call this number if special assistance is needed to attend and participate in the public scoping meeting. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background The purpose of the Project is to provide for the long-term safe and efficient flow of current and projected traffic volumes, including the movement of goods and people between Edmundston, New Brunswick and Madawaska, Maine. The Project is needed because (1) the existing International Bridge is nearing the end of its useful life, and (2) the existing Madawaska Land Port of Entry is substandard, inhibiting the agencies assigned to the Port from adequately fulfilling their respective missions. The existing Madawaska-Edmundston International Bridge, opened in 1921, and its design life has exceeded. Notable bridge deficiencies are (1) substandard geometry--roadway width & clearance, (2) foundation susceptible to undermining, (3) piers cracked and deteriorated, (4) significant steel corrosion, (5) bridge capacity is insufficient, and (6) deficiencies prompting the bridge posting on October 27, 2017, from 50 tons to 5 tons. A Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) and Record of Decision (ROD) were published in January 2007, which addressed the construction of a new Madawaska LPOE. Built in 1959, the current LPOE suffers from facility, operational and site deficiencies, and does not meet current Customs and Border Protection (CBP) mission & operational requirements for an LPOE. A few noted deficiencies: (1) Lack of office and inspection areas, (2) deficient inbound and outbound passenger and commercial processing areas, (3) inadequate queuing space for vehicles, and (4) inability to meet the Architectural Barriers Act. In furtherance of the LPOE Project, GSA previously acquired approximately nine acres of land, but did not commence construction. An SEIS is needed due to a change in circumstance, specifically the decision by MaineDOT and New Brunswick Department of Transportation and Infrastructure (NBTI), which requires the existing Edmundston/Madawaska International Bridge be replaced and removed. The SEIS will address changes to the Project, including an updated design in accordance with current GSA and CBP requirements, and a reconfigured International Bridge approach (the totality of which may require additional land acquisition). Scoping Process and Next Steps Scoping will be accomplished through this public meeting, and 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 primary purpose of the scoping process is for the public to assist GSA in developing the SEIS by identifying and determining the range and extent of relevant issues related to the Project. Alternatives will be developed with input from the local community through the scoping process. GSA will provide public notice of this and any subsequent public meetings in local newspapers, radio announcements, postings in prominent town locations, and other outreach actions. Dated: January 29, 2018. Drew Dilks, Project Management Branch Chief, Design and Construction, Public Buildings Service. [FR Doc. 2018-02164 Filed 2-2-18; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6820-23-P
![5100 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 24 / Monday, February 5, 2018 / Notices
If you plan to attend the ASC Meeting followed by formal presentation and which addressed the construction of a
in person, we ask that you send an Question & Answer session. new Madawaska LPOE.
email to meetings@asc.gov. You may Written comments can be submitted Built in 1959, the current LPOE
register until close of business four by either of the following methods: suffers from facility, operational and site
business days before the meeting date. • Regulations.gov: http://
deficiencies, and does not meet current
You will be contacted by the Federal www.regulations.gov. Submit comments
via the Federal eRulemaking portal by Customs and Border Protection (CBP)
Reserve Law Enforcement Unit on
searching the Notice number. Select the mission & operational requirements for
security requirements. You will also be
asked to provide a valid government- link ‘‘Comment Now’’ that corresponds an LPOE. A few noted deficiencies: (1)
issued ID before being admitted to the with ‘‘PBS–2018–02, Notice of Scoping Lack of office and inspection areas, (2)
Meeting. The meeting space is intended Meeting and Intent to Prepare a deficient inbound and outbound
to accommodate public attendees. Supplemental Environmental Impact passenger and commercial processing
However, if the space will not Statement (SEIS) for the Madawaska- areas, (3) inadequate queuing space for
accommodate all requests, the ASC may Edmundston International Bridge and vehicles, and (4) inability to meet the
refuse attendance on that reasonable New Land Port of Entry (LPOE) Project.’’ Architectural Barriers Act. In
basis. The use of any video or audio Follow the instructions provided on the furtherance of the LPOE Project, GSA
tape recording device, photographing screen. Please include your name, previously acquired approximately nine
device, or any other electronic or company name (if any), and ‘‘PBS– acres of land, but did not commence
mechanical device designed for similar 2018–02, Notice of Scoping Meeting and construction.
purposes is prohibited at ASC meetings. Intent to Prepare a Supplemental An SEIS is needed due to a change in
Dated: January 31, 2018. Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) circumstance, specifically the decision
for the Madawaska-Edmundston by MaineDOT and New Brunswick
James R. Park,
International Bridge and New Land Port
Executive Director. Department of Transportation and
of Entry (LPOE) Project’’ on your
[FR Doc. 2018–02247 Filed 2–2–18; 8:45 am] Infrastructure (NBTI), which requires
attached document.
BILLING CODE 6700–01–P • Postal Mail: Ms. Alexas Kelly, the existing Edmundston/Madawaska
Project Manager, GSA, 10 Causeway International Bridge be replaced and
Street, 11th Floor, Boston, MA 02222. removed. The SEIS will address changes
GENERAL SERVICES FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
to the Project, including an updated
ADMINISTRATION Alexas Kelly, Project Manager, GSA, design in accordance with current GSA
New England Region, at email and CBP requirements, and a
[Notice–PBS–2018–02; Docket No. 2018– reconfigured International Bridge
0002; Sequence No. 2]
alexandria.kelly@gsa.gov, or call 617–
549–8190. Please also call this number approach (the totality of which may
if special assistance is needed to attend require additional land acquisition).
Notice of Scoping Meeting and Intent
To Prepare a Supplemental and participate in the public scoping Scoping Process and Next Steps
Environmental Impact Statement meeting.
(SEIS) for the Madawaska-Edmundston SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Scoping will be accomplished
International Bridge and New Land through this public meeting, and direct
Port of Entry (LPOE) Project Background mail correspondence, to appropriate
The purpose of the Project is to Federal, state, and local agencies, and to
AGENCY: Public Building Service (PBS), provide for the long-term safe and private organizations and citizens who
General Services Administration (GSA). efficient flow of current and projected have previously expressed, or are
ACTION: Notice of intent; announcement traffic volumes, including the known to have, an interest in the
of meeting. movement of goods and people between Project.
Edmundston, New Brunswick and The primary purpose of the scoping
SUMMARY: Pursuant to the requirements
Madawaska, Maine. The Project is
of the National Environmental Policy process is for the public to assist GSA
needed because (1) the existing
Act of 1969 (NEPA), the Council on in developing the SEIS by identifying
International Bridge is nearing the end
Environmental Quality Regulations, and and determining the range and extent of
of its useful life, and (2) the existing
the GSA Public Buildings Service NEPA relevant issues related to the Project.
Madawaska Land Port of Entry is
Desk Guide, GSA is issuing this notice Alternatives will be developed with
substandard, inhibiting the agencies
to advise the public that a Supplemental input from the local community through
assigned to the Port from adequately
Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) the scoping process. GSA will provide
fulfilling their respective missions.
will be prepared for the proposed The existing Madawaska-Edmundston public notice of this and any subsequent
construction of the Madawaska- International Bridge, opened in 1921, public meetings in local newspapers,
Edmundston International Bridge and and its design life has exceeded. Notable radio announcements, postings in
New Land Port of Entry (the Project). bridge deficiencies are (1) substandard prominent town locations, and other
DATES: Meeting Date: The Public geometry—roadway width & clearance, outreach actions.
Information and Scoping Session will be (2) foundation susceptible to Dated: January 29, 2018.
held on Wednesday, January 31, 2018, undermining, (3) piers cracked and
at 7:00 p.m., EST (Eastern Standard Drew Dilks,
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES
deteriorated, (4) significant steel
Time). Interested parties are encouraged corrosion, (5) bridge capacity is Project Management Branch Chief, Design
to provide written comments on or insufficient, and (6) deficiencies and Construction, Public Buildings Service.
before Monday, February 28, 2018. prompting the bridge posting on [FR Doc. 2018–02164 Filed 2–2–18; 8:45 am]
ADDRESSES: Madawaska High School October 27, 2017, from 50 tons to 5 tons. BILLING CODE 6820–23–P
Cafeteria, 135 7th Avenue, Madawaska, A Final Environmental Impact
Maine 04756. The session format Statement (FEIS) and Record of Decision
includes a 30-minute Open House, (ROD) were published in January 2007,
VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:08 Feb 02, 2018 Jkt 244001 PO 00000 Frm 00043 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 9990 E:\FR\FM\05FEN1.SGM 05FEN1](https://thefederalregister.org/doc/83_FR_5124/page/1.svg)
Document Created: 2018-02-03 01:24:46
Document Modified: 2018-02-03 01:24:46
| Category | Regulatory Information | |
| Collection | Federal Register | |
| sudoc Class | AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106: | |
| Publisher | Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration | |
| Section | Notices | |
| Action | Notice of intent; announcement of meeting. | |
| Dates | Meeting Date: The Public Information and Scoping Session will be held on Wednesday, January 31, 2018, at 7:00 p.m., EST (Eastern Standard Time). Interested parties are encouraged to provide written comments on or before Monday, February 28, 2018. | |
| Contact | Alexas Kelly, Project Manager, GSA, New England Region, at email [email protected], or call 617-549- 8190. Please also call this number if special assistance is needed to attend and participate in the public scoping meeting. | |
| FR Citation | 83 FR 5100 |
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