[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 19 (Friday, January 28, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page ]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-1913]
[Federal Register: January 28, 1994]
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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Employment and Training Administration
Job Corps: Finding of No Significant Impact for the Relocation of
the Detroit Job Corps Center in Detroit, MI
Pursuant to the Council on Environmental Quality Regulations (40
CFR part 1500 to 1508) 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
relocation of the Detroit Job Corps Center in Detroit, Michigan, will
have no significant environmental impact.
The proposed site, located in the area of 1800 Tuxedo Street,
Detroit, Michigan, is comprised of 13.9 acres, and is made up of three
parcels, which are designated A, B, and C for reference purposes.
Parcel A is comprised of 6 vacant lots (totaling 0.87 acre), located on
Webb Street between 12th Street and Woodrow Wilson Boulevard; Parcel B
is a 3.2 acre vacant lot located between the John C. Lodge Freeway and
Woodrow Wilson Boulevard, just south of Elmhurst. Parcel C, comprised
of 9.83 acres (currently utilized as a community-oriented outpatient
health-care facility) has several structures: a main building
constructed in 1935; three additions built between 1960 and 1972, and
two auxiliary buildings built in 1966. The campus includes paved
asphalt parking lots, concrete sidewalks, and a well maintained lawn
with trees and vegetation. A 6-foot chain link fence, topped with
barbed wire, surrounds the perimeter of Parcel C. Within the buildings
there are operating and treatment rooms, a dining hall served by
vending machines, a library, conference rooms, an optical laboratory,
an emergency room suite, a gift shop, a pharmacy, auxiliary spaces, and
administrative space converted from patient rooms.
The purpose of the proposed action is to convert the Metropolitan
Hospital into the Detroit Job Corps Center for 320 resident and 50 non-
resident students. The original patient hospital is adaptable to
dormitory accommodations and offers the necessary facilities for the
Job Corps program to provide basic education, vocational skills
training, work experience, counseling, health care, and related support
services.
This new center will provide dormitories, recreational, medical/
dental, administrative services, educational and vocational training,
and storage space that is consistent with Job Corps guidelines and
center needs. Establishing a Job Corps Center at this location will
require some constructive change to existing buildings. To meet
recreational needs, based on the Job Corps prototype for recreational
activities, some construction is needed; e.g., a recreational building,
a new ball field to be constructed on Parcel B, outdoor basketball
courts on existing parking areas, and modification of the existing
fencing to extend completely around all three parcels. The proposed
project will be constructed in accordance with local fire, building,
and zoning code requirements and will not adversely impact the City of
Detroit police, fire or emergency services.
The site is located in an urban setting and is currently zoned R6
(high-density multiple-family residential); however, over the years
residential occupancy has declined substantially. Prior to proceeding
with the acquisition of the Metropolitan Hospital, the Department of
Labor secured a letter from the City Planning Office and Community &
Economic Development Department that states that the proposed Job Corps
Center is an allowable use under the existing zoning, thus, no zoning
conflict will result from the proposed change in occupancy and
rehabilitation of the former Metropolitan Hospital. The site is
bordered on the east by an expressway. The northern boundary is
occupied by some multi-dwelling structures, commercial business, and a
store-front type church facility. The western boundary is comprised of
a soup kitchen, a bible missionary center, vacant lots, vacant store
fronts, and a large medical supply company. The southern border
includes minimal residential dwellings, a nursing home, a foster-care
center for children, and an apartment building for teenage mothers.
The portion of the site identified as Parcel B (which is presently
owned by the State of Michigan but will be transferred to the City of
Detroit in the first quarter of 1994) is vacant land and is presently
used for illegal dumping of waste, vehicle tires, roofing and building
materials, concrete, and miscellaneous rubbish. It is unknown whether
an abandoned underground storage tank, identified as present on this
parcel, has been properly closed. In addition, an underground tunnel is
known to exist at the site but its closure status is not known. Based
on the Environmental Assessment, it has been determined that neither of
these site conditions will adversely impact the proposed activities.
Conversion of this part of the site to the Detroit Job Corps Center
through environmental restoration would be a positive asset to the area
and would alleviate the State or City of Detroit of a substantial
burden and liability.
The alternatives considered in the preparation of the EA were (1)
the ``No Purchase'' alternative and (2) to continue as proposed.
Choosing the ``No Purchase'' alternative would require the continued
operation of the Detroit Job Corps Center under the present inadequate
poor conditions. The potential for an enhanced facility and improved
operational efficiency afforded by the proposed action indicates that
the proposed purchase and improvement of the center is the preferred
alternative.
The proposed use has no significant impact on any natural systems
or resources. The existing site and buildings at the proposed Job Corps
Center location are not designated as ``historically significant'' and
no areas of archaeological significance are present. The activities of
the proposed Job Corps Center are not of a contaminant generating
nature. The geologic, water, and climatic characteristics of the
general vicinity of the site, coupled with the historically known land
use, minimizes the site's potential to be contaminated from possible
off-site sources and further minimizes the impact of contamination. The
migration of any contamination that may have occurred through past
activities at the site is likewise minimized, due to impervious soils
and deeply located ground water.
No significant levels of radon exist on the site. Water samples,
taken from drinking fountains within the buildings on the site have
been analyzed for lead content and were found to be well below EPA
recommended limits. An asbestos assessment was performed on the
existing facility with subsequent containment and removal of asbestos-
containing materials. Some on-going repairs of past containment efforts
are required. Analysis of composite paint chip samples made during the
investigation for the EA indicated the presence of lead at levels that
would require removal of the lead-based paint, if construction
activities would disturb this material. This is common for structures
constructed prior to 1980. Procedures for the containment and removal
of lead, if deemed necessary, will be prepared by a qualified lead-
abatement contractor and will be properly managed during any future
construction activities. The abandoned on-site underground storage tank
and underground tunnel on Parcel B may require additional
investigation. These items are addressed in the EA.
Existing environmental concerns (e.g., air quality issues resulting
from the improperly controlled and monitored medical waste incinerator,
lens-process waste effluent discharge into sanitary sewer by the
optical laboratory, management of hazardous materials, etc.) created by
the operations of the current facilities on parcel C, although not a
significant impact on the proposed activities, would become moot
through a change of operations and activities at the proposed Job Corps
Center.
Noise levels generated from air conditioning and other equipment at
the existing facilities are consistent with City of Detroit
regulations. Short-term impact from additional noise will occur during
the construction activities; however, construction activities will be
limited to the hours of 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The use of sound control
devices and muffled exhausts on all noise-generating construction
equipment will be required. The use of appropriate techniques to
minimize construction dust emissions will mitigate construction-related
air pollution concerns. Any noise generated by the completed facility
is expected to remain within allowable noise limits and will not
adversely impact neighboring properties.
The existing site and security lighting consists of facility-owned
and maintained building-mounted, photocell-controlled, high-intensity
discharge (HID) luminaries and utility company-owned and maintained
pole-mounted, photocell-controlled HID luminaries located along the
streets and in the parking areas. This proposed project will bring the
exterior lighting conditions into compliance with City lighting
ordinances.
Water is available to the site through municipal lines. Storm water
run-off and sanitary wastes are accommodated by discharge to municipal
sewers. Based on the nature of the proposed construction activities at
the site, storm water quality will not be degraded.
Detroit has an abundance of water, electrical power, and natural
gas to easily serve facilities of this size and substantially larger.
Although the proposed project will cause an increase in traffic in the
community, the increase in traffic value is not expected to adversely
affect traffic flow on neighborhood streets. A neighborhood city hall
and post office are located in close proximity to the site. Several
emergency response companies service the area. Police and fire stations
are closely located near the subject property. Several major and world
known hospitals are within a five-mile radius of the subject site.
Several bus routes offer readily available transportation to and
through the subject area at a reasonable cost. Four of Detroit's six
Interstate Highways are within a five-mile radius of the subject site
and allow fast and easy access throughout the Detroit area. The
surrounding community, with its markedly diverse ethnicity, offers
adequate recreational, educational and cultural opportunities for the
students. The implementation of the Job Corps on the proposed site will
provide jobs for vicinity residents and could add stability to the
area.
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 relocation of the Detroit Job
Corps Center to the 1800 Tuxedo area location in Detroit, 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. Copies of the EA and
additional information are available to interested parties by
contacting Mr. Gordon Carlson, Director, Region V, Office of Job Corps,
at (312) 353-1311 (this is not a toll free number).
Dated at Washington, DC, this 24th day of January, 1994.
Peter E. Rell,
Director of Job Corps.
[FR Doc. 94-1913 Filed 1-27-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-30-M
