Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the San Ysidro Border Station Expansion
Note: EPA no longer updates this information, but it may be useful as a reference or resource.
[Federal Register: July 2, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 127)]
[Notices]
[Page 39568]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr02jy03-82]
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GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION
Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for
the San Ysidro Border Station Expansion
AGENCIES: General Services Administration (GSA), California Department
of Transportation (CalTrans), and Federal Highway Administration
(FHWA).
ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement
(EIS) for the upgrade and expansion of the existing San Ysidro Border
Station.
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SUMMARY: The action to be evaluated by this EIS is the upgrade and
expansion of the existing San Ysidro Border Station, located in San
Ysidro, California, to relieve the substantial increase of traffic
congestion at the southern terminus of I-5; to implement new mandated
border entry/exit programs, in accordance with the legislative
requirements of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant
Responsibility Act of 1996; to further the reorganization of the
Federal Inspection Services into an agency of Homeland Security; and,
to maintain control over ever present illegal activities at the border.
Alternatives
Four build alternatives for the proposed project are currently
under consideration and will be analyzed in the EIS for potential
environmental impacts. In addition, as required be NEPA, the ``No
Build'' alternative will be analyzed. In an effort to provide effective
border control services to both Mexico and the United States (U.S.),
and to streamline traffic along I-5 between Mexico and the U.S.,
several potential developments outside of the scope of this project are
being taken into consideration during the planning stages of the
proposed project. One of these potential developments involves the
Mexican Federal Government's plan to develop a new non-commercial port
of entry at El Chaparral, located directly south of the decommissioned
U.S. Virginia Avenue Commercial Vehicle Inspection facility. The San
Ysidro Border Station would need to align with, or connect to, the El
Chaparral facility. A second local area project which would affect the
development of the proposed project is the San Ysidro Intermodal
Transportation Center, which will improve the trolley terminus to the
east of the existing San Ysidro Border Station. The proposed
transportation center also includes general hardscape and landscape
improvements, as well as upgrades to existing parking lots and
roadways. This development would establish the area east of the
existing San Ysidro Border Station as the main hub for the local
population and any individuals wishing to cross the U.S./Mexico border.
Public Involvement
The views and comments of the public are necessary in determining
the scope and content of the environmental analysis in connection with
the proposed project. A scoping meeting for the proposed project will
be held on Wednesday, July 23, 2003 from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the San
Ysidro Multi-Cultural Center, located at 4345 Otay Mesa Road in San
Ysidro, CA. Interested parties may attend to present questions and
concerns that they believe should be addressed in the EIS. Release of
the Draft EIS for public comment and the public meeting will be
announced in the local news media as these dates are established.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: General Services Administration,
Pacific Rim Region, Ramon D. Riesgo, Border Station Program, Desert
Service Center, 401 West ``A'' Street, Suite 2075, San Diego, CA 92101-
8843, (619) 557-5092.
Steve J. Scavo,
Acting Director, Desert Service Center.
[FR Doc. 03-16784 Filed 7-1-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6620-27-M
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