95-671. Job Corps: Preliminary Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for the new Job Corps Center in Flint, MI  

  • [Federal Register Volume 60, Number 7 (Wednesday, January 11, 1995)]
    [Notices]
    [Pages 2785-2786]
    From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
    [FR Doc No: 95-671]
    
    
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    DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
    
    Employment and Training Administration
    
    
    Job Corps: Preliminary Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) 
    for the new Job Corps Center in Flint, MI
    
    AGENCY: Employment and Training Administration.
    
    ACTION: Preliminary Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for the 
    new Job Corps Center in Flint, Michigan.
    
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    SUMMARY: Pursuant to the Council on Environmental Quality Regulations 
    (40 CFR Part 1500-08) implementing procedural provisions of the 
    National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the Department of Labor, 
    Employment and Training Administration, Office of Job Corps, in 
    accordance with 29 CFR 11.11(d), gives notice that an Environmental 
    Assessment (EA) has been prepared and the proposed plans for the 
    establishment of a Job Corps Center in Flint, Michigan, will have no 
    significant environmental impact. Pursuant to 29 CFR 11.11(d)(1), this 
    Preliminary Finding of No Significant Impact will be made available for 
    public review and comments for thirty (30) days.
    
    DATES: Comments must be submitted by February 10, 1995.
    
    ADDRESSES: Any comment(s) are to be submitted to Lynn Kotecki, 
    Employment and Training Administration, Department of Labor, 200 
    Constitution Ave., NW., Washington, DC, 20210, (202) 219-5468.
    
    FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Copies of the EA and additional 
    information are available to interested parties by contacting Gordon 
    Carlson, Director, Region V (Five), Office of Job Corps, 230 South 
    Dearborn Street, Room 676, Chicago, Illinois, 60604, (312) 353-1311.
    
    SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The purpose of this proposed action is to 
    construct a new facility with a campus-like setting. The new center is 
    proposed as a 400-student program, with 328 residential and 72 non-
    residential students. With a total of 36 single- parent students, a 
    comprehensive on-site child care services component for 50 children is 
    prescribed by the Military Department of Social Services (DSS) and 
    Greater Flint/Thumb Area 4C Association (Community Coordinated Child 
    Care) to serve infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and school-aged 
    children.
        The proposed site location for the Flint Job Corps Center is a 
    property identified as a portion of Oak Technology Park, located at 
    2400 North Saginaw Street, Flint, Genesee County, Michigan. The site 
    comprises two parcels of vacant land with a total of 20.78 acres, which 
    are identified as Parcel A with 12.9 acres and Parcel B with 7.88 
    acres. The site is bordered by North Saginaw Street on the west side of 
    the property, Taylor Street on the north side, North Boulevard on the 
    east side, and Newall Street on the south side. An east-west street, 
    Baker Street, divides the two parcels. Parcel A is the portion located 
    north of Newall Street and south of Baker Street; Parcel B is the 
    portion located north of Baker Street and south of Taylor Street. 
    Access to the site can be made from any of the streets.
        The proposed Flint Job Corps Center will be a totally new facility 
    and will consist of a number of buildings to sufficiently accommodate 
    student capacity. The buildings will include dormitories, classrooms, 
    administrative and support facilities. The dormitories will consist of 
    one building for females, one for males, and one single-parent 
    dormitory. A child development center is included in the project. 
    Classroom spaces will be provided in the education building. There will 
    also be a vocational-educational building, a cafeteria/culinary arts 
    building, a recreation building, an administration building, a medical/
    dental building, a maintenance/warehouse building and a building that 
    houses reception/security functions. The building areas are projected 
    to total 179,700 gross square feet (GSF). The proposed project will be 
    constructed in accordance with local fire, building an zoning code 
    requirements and will not adversely impact the City of Flint police, 
    fire or emergency services.
        The site is in an area of the city that is currently zoned heavy 
    commercial and limited manufacturing. Establishment of a Job Corps 
    Center is not prohibited by current zoning.
        An investigation of previous and historical activities on or near 
    the site identified some potential environmental concerns. A gasoline 
    fuel service station existed for some 40 years on North Boulevard at 
    the corner of Baker Street. Along North Saginaw Street, fifteen 
    commercial locations were identified: a photography shop, printing 
    company, auto repair, new and used car dealerships and several other 
    businesses that could warrant concern upon excavation of the site. Most 
    specifically, an obsolete underground storage tank may exist at the 
    location of 2510-18 North Saginaw Street. These concerns could be 
    easily remedied through soil testing and, if found necessary, soil 
    remediation prior to excavation and building. DOL does not believe that 
    the construction of the Center will have a cummulative adverse impact 
    on these concerns.
        The City water distribution system serves the site and is comprised 
    of underground water lines that run parallel to the project site on 
    both North Saginaw and North Streets. Water supply could be brought on 
    to the site from either of these lines. Each building could have its 
    own individual water meter or a single meter could be installed to 
    serve all buildings. The City sewage system serves the site and is 
    comprised of underground sanitary sewer lines that run parallel to the 
    project site on North Saginaw and North Streets.
        Storm water run-off from the proposed buildings can be discharged 
    either to grade or can be piped directly to the storm sewer pipe. There 
    are underground storm sewer lines that run parallel to the project 
    sites on the east and west boundaries. The Center will not adversely 
    impact upon any of the existing services.
        A natural gas distribution station to the south of the project site 
    provides gas to the site via an underground gas pipe that runs along 
    North Street. An 8,320 volts, three-phase overhead distribution line, 
    located along North Street, provides adequate electricity to the site. 
    The distribution system is in good condition and would adequately 
    accommodate a required secondary service to the proposed buildings. The 
    options of individual metering or multi-metering are available. The 
    proposed Flint Job Corps Center will not
    
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    adversely impact upon existing facilities.
        Telephone pedestals, where telephone connections can be made and 
    brought onto the proposed site, are located along the bordering 
    streets. The proposed Center will not adversely impact existing 
    telephone services because the location was a residential area and the 
    lines already in use and presently underutilized the demolition of the 
    private residences.
        The Flint River lies approximately 3500 feet east of the subject 
    site. A ``basin'', located in the south central section of Parcel A, 
    appears to be lowest in the terminal area of the cul-de-sac. Run-off in 
    this area is expected to collect in the basin and eventually infiltrate 
    into the ground. The man-made earthen berm that parallels North Saginaw 
    Street on the western side of the property and extends the entire 
    length of the property blocks run-off from the property to North 
    Saginaw Street. Groundwater in water table aquifers, which may underlie 
    the site, may conform with the topographic relief and flow east towards 
    the Flint River. The proposed Center will have no adverse impact on 
    ground water flow.
        The proposed use of the site has no significant impact on any 
    natural systems, resources, or any endangered flora or fauna.
        There are no buildings on or near the site that are designated as 
    ``historically significant'' and no areas of archaeological 
    significance are present.
        The City of Flint is regulated under the Federal Clean Air Act, as 
    amended in 1990. The proposed action will have no adverse effect on air 
    quality.
        Noise levels that may be generated from air conditioning and other 
    equipment that may be installed in the new facility are expected to be 
    consistent with the City of Flint regulations. Although there may be 
    some short-term impact from additional noise during the construction 
    activities, the completed facility is expected to remain within 
    allowable noise limits and will not adversely impact neighboring 
    properties.
        Pole-mounted street lights presently provide general site lighting. 
    On-site lighting will be installed as part of the new construction. The 
    additional lighting should have a positive impact on the surrounding 
    area. Lighting can improve security by reducing crime and vandalism, 
    and also aesthetically enhance the site.
        Although the proposed project will cause an increase in the traffic 
    in the community, the increase is not expected to adversely impact 
    traffic flow. The proposed action is not expected to adversely affect 
    emergency response companies, police and fire services, hospital 
    service or the City's public transportation system.
        A public forum was held on January 22, 1994 concerning the 
    establishment and location of the Job Corps Center. Approximately 200 
    people were in attendance at the meeting representing over 30 agencies, 
    members of the clergy, community members, neighborhood organizations, 
    businesses and elected officials. The proposal to site a new Job Corps 
    Center in the City of Flint was strongly supported by the people in 
    attendance at the forum.
        Analysis of the following three alternatives were made: (1) The 
    ``No Build'' alternative; (2) the ``Alternative Sites'' alternative; 
    and (3) the ``Continue as Proposed'' alternative. The ``No Build'' 
    alternative implies that the Department of Labor would not proceed with 
    the proposed Center in the Flint Area. Although this would result in no 
    environmental impact upon the area, the socioeconomic loss to the City 
    of Flint would be significant. Alternative sites in Saginaw and Ann 
    Arbor, Michigan were considered by the Department of Labor for the new 
    Job Corps Center site, but did not meet the minimum selection criteria 
    for locating a new Job Corps Center. The ``Continue as Proposed'' 
    alternative (preferred alternative) means that the site will be 
    developed to provide facilities and a setting for the Flint Job Corps 
    Center in Flint, Michigan.
        Based on the information gathered during the preparation of the EA 
    for the Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, 
    the Office of Job Corps finds that the location of the Flint Job Corps 
    Center at the proposed site will not cause any significant impact on 
    the environment and, therefore, recommends that the project continue as 
    proposed. This proposed action is not considered to be highly 
    controversial.
    
        Dated at Washington, DC, this 23rd day of December 1994.
    Peter E. Rell,
    Director of Job Corps.
    [FR Doc. 95-671 Filed 1-10-95; 8:45 am]
    BILLING CODE 4510-30-M
    
    
    

Document Information

Published:
01/11/1995
Department:
Employment and Training Administration
Entry Type:
Notice
Action:
Preliminary Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for the new Job Corps Center in Flint, Michigan.
Document Number:
95-671
Dates:
Comments must be submitted by February 10, 1995.
Pages:
2785-2786 (2 pages)
PDF File:
95-671.pdf