[Federal Register: April 7, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 67)]
[Notices]
[Page 17916-17917]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr07ap06-98]
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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Office of the Secretary
Job Corps: Preliminary Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI)
for the Proposed Job Corps Center To Be Located at the Dome Industrial
Park on 5th Avenue and 22nd Street in St. Petersburg, FL
AGENCY: Office of the Secretary (OSEC), Department of Labor.
ACTION: Preliminary Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for the
proposed Job Corps Center to be located at the Dome Industrial Park on
5th Avenue and 22nd Street in St. Petersburg, Florida.
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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,
Office of the Secretary (OSEC), in accordance with 29 CFR 11.11(d),
gives notice that an Environmental Assessment (EA) has been prepared
for a proposed new Job Corps Center to be located in St. Petersburg,
Florida, and that the proposed plan for a new Job Corps Center will
have no significant environmental impact. This Preliminary Finding of
No Significant Impact (FONSI) will be made available for public review
and comment for a period of 30 days.
DATES: Comments must be submitted by May 8, 2006.
ADDRESSES: Any comment(s) are to be submitted to Michael F. O'Malley,
Office of the Secretary (OSEC), Department of Labor, 200 Constitution
Avenue, NW, Room N-4460, Washington, DC 20210, (202) 693-3108 (this is
not a toll-free number).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Copies of the EA are available to
interested parties by contacting Michael F. O'Malley, Architect, Unit
Chief of Facilities, U.S. Department of Labor, Office of the Secretary
(OSEC), 200 Constitution Avenue, NW, Room N-4460, Washington, DC 20210,
(202) 693-3108 (this is not a toll-free number).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This Environmental Assessment (EA) summary
addresses the proposed construction of a new Job Corps Center in St.
Petersburg, Florida. The subject property for the proposed Job Corps
Center is an approximately 16-acre vacant parcel of land owned by the
City of St. Petersburg, Florida.
The new center will require construction of approximately seven (7)
to ten (10) new buildings, a retention pond, and a recreation field.
The proposed Job Corps center will provide housing, training, and
support services for 272 resident students and approximately 28 non-
residential students for a total of 300 students. The current facility
utilization plan includes new dormitories, a cafeteria building,
administration offices, a Physical Fitness facility, vocational and
educational classroom facilities, and a maintenance and storage
facility.
The construction of the Job Corps Center on this proposed site
would be a positive asset to the area in terms of environmental and
socioeconomic improvements, and long-term productivity. The proposed
Job Corps Center will be a new source of employment opportunity for
people in the west-central Florida area. The Job Corps program provides
basic education, vocational skills training, work experience,
counseling, health care and related support services. The program is
designed to graduate students who are ready to participate in the local
economy.
The proposed project will not have any significant adverse impact
on any natural systems or resources. No state or federal threatened or
endangered species (proposed or listed) have been identified on the
subject property.
Although the project is located in the Dome Industrial Park which
contained the historical and significantly cultural landmark, the
Manhattan Casino building, this landmark has experienced a major
exterior renovation. Thus, the design and construction of a Job Corps
center will not adversely affect any existing historic structures or
neighborhoods, either adjacent or actually in the historically
designated section of the Midtown neighborhood. More importantly, the
design and construction of the center will take into account the
historic fabric of this neighborhood in terms of construction
materials, the physical setting of buildings and the proper use of
color so that the center will blend into the existing neighborhood.
Air quality and noise levels should not be affected by the proposed
development project. Due to the nature of the proposed project, it
would not be a significant source of air pollutants or additional
noise, except possibly during construction of the facility. All
construction activities will be conducted in accordance with applicable
noise and air pollution regulations, and all pollution sources will be
permitted in accordance with applicable pollution control regulations.
The proposed Job Corps Center is not expected to significantly
increase the vehicle traffic in the vicinity, since many of the Job
Corps Center residents will either live at the Job Corps Center or use
public transportation. While some Job Corps Center students and staff
may use personal vehicles, their number would not result in a
significant increase in vehicular traffic in the area. Access is
planned from 5th Avenue and 22nd Street. Road improvements and/or
installation of signals to facilitate site ingress/egress do not appear
necessary.
The proposed project will not have any significant adverse impact
on the surrounding water, sewer, and storm water management
infrastructure. The new building to be constructed for the proposed Job
Corps center will be tied into the existing City of St. Petersburg
water distribution system. The new buildings to be constructed for the
proposed center will also be tied into the City's existing wastewater
utility system.
TECO would provide the electricity for the site. This is not
expected to create any significant impact to the regional utility
infrastructure.
No significant adverse affects to local medical, emergency, fire,
and police services are anticipated. The primary medical provider
located closest to the proposed Job Corps parcel is Bayfront Medical
Center, approximately 1 mile from the proposed Job Corps Center. Never
the less, the Job Corps center will have a small medical and dental
facility as part of the campus for use by the residents, as necessary
for providing a ward for sick students with the flu or small non-
emergency incapacities. Security services at the Job Corps will be
provided by the center's security staff. Law enforcement services are
provided by the St. Petersburg Police Department, located approximately
1 mile from the proposed project site. The local fire station is the
St. Petersburg Fire & Rescue. The fire department has two stations
which operate 24 hours a day near the proposed site. One of the
stations is less than 5 minutes away and will provide all of the
necessary fire protection for the center in the near future.
The proposed project will not have a significant adverse
sociological affect on the surrounding community. Similarly, the
proposed project will not have a significant adverse affect on
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demographic and socioeconomic characteristics of the area.
The alternatives considered in the preparation of this FONSI were
as follows: (1) No Action; and (2) Continue Project as Proposed. The No
Action alternative was not selected. The U.S. Department of Labor's
goal of improving the Job Corps Program by improving the learning
environment at Job Corps Centers would not be met under this
alternative. Due to the suitability of the proposed site for
establishment of a new Job Corps Center, and the absence of any
identified significant adverse environmental impacts from locating a
Job Corps Center on the subject property, the ``Continue Project as
Proposed'' alternative was selected.
Based on the information gathered during the preparation of the EA,
no environmental liabilities, current or historical, were found to
exist on the proposed Job Corps Center site. The construction of the
Job Corps Center at the Dome Industrial Park on 5th Avenue and 22nd
Street in St. Petersburg, Florida will not create any significant
adverse impacts on the environment.
Dated: April 3, 2006.
Esther R. Johnson,
National Director of Job Corps.
[FR Doc. E6-5107 Filed 4-6-06; 8:45 am]
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