Final Environmental Assessment (EA) and Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) [PDF - 32 MB]
Notice of Availability [PDF - 90 KB]
Notice of Availability for the Final Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact for the Proposed New Land Port of Entry in Rouses Point, New York.
The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) gives notice that it is publishing the Final Environmental Assessment and the Finding of No Significant Impact for the proposed construction of a new Land Port of Entry immediately adjacent to the U.S.-Canada border on U.S. Route 11 north of Rouses Point, New York.
Pursuant to the provision of GSA Order ADM 1095.1f, implementing the regulations of the Council of Environmental Quality (40 CFR parts 1500 to 1508), this notice advises the public of GSA’s findings that the action described above will not significantly affect the quality of the human environment.
This notice is being issued in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act. The Final Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact is available to the public at the GSA website: http:gsa.gov/rousespointea; at the Rouses Point Dodge Memorial Library located at 144 Lake Street in Rouses Point, NY (12979); and at the Plattsburgh Public Library located at 19 Oak Street in Plattsburgh, NY (12901).
For further information please contact: Thomas Burke, GSA NEPA Program Manager, One World Trade Center, 55th Floor, New York, NY 10007; or by email at thomas.w.burke@gsa.gov.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) proposes to design and construct a new Land Port of Entry (LPOE) located north of the town of Rouses Point, New York. This Environmental Assessment (EA) has been prepared as required in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 ([NEPA]; 42 United States Code 4321 et seq.), the President’s Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) Regulations Implementing the Procedural Provisions of NEPA (40 Code of Federal Regulations 1500–1508) (CEQ 1978), and GSA Public Building Services NEPA Desk Guide (GSA 1999). This EA is required to determine whether the Proposed Action would have significant environmental impacts.
Purpose and Need for the Proposed Action
The purpose of the project is to construct a modernized and expanded LPOE at Rouses Point to house additional support staff, provide functional program areas, expand parking, and increase efficiency. The new facility would co-locate program areas (U.S. Department of Homeland Security - Customs and Border Protection [CBP] vehicle processing, Trusted Traveler Programs, and rail inspection program) to allow all program areas to be served by the same CBP personnel in one location, close to the U.S.–Canadian border.
The Proposed Action would improve efficiency and security for travelers and for Federal agencies, and ensure that the CBP has the facilities necessary to carry out its mission successfully. The Proposed Action is needed to bring the LPOE into compliance with Federal infrastructure and security requirements and support the Government’s mission. The proposed project would bring the building up to current GSA Facility Standards for the Public Buildings Service (P100). The existing facility does not meet the Government’s needs because of to its space constraints, its distance from the U.S.–Canadian border, and limitations associated with its aging infrastructure.
Description of the Proposed Action and Alternatives
Under the Proposed Action, GSA would award a contract to construct a new LPOE in immediate proximity to the U.S.–Canadian border. The new facility would house the Government’s processing of vehicles, pedestrians, bicyclists and train passengers, as well as Trusted Traveler Programs. Under the Proposed Action, the newly constructed facility would bring the LPOE into compliance with current Federal infrastructure and security requirements and support additional staff offices and space.
The EA analyzes two alternatives—the Proposed Action Alternative and the No-Action Alternative. Under the No-Action Alternative, GSA would not construct a new Rouses Point LPOE facility. The existing facility would continue to operate in its current condition.
Environmental Impacts
The affected environment of the Proposed Action Alternative site and its immediate surroundings is discussed in Section 3 of this EA. The potential direct and indirect effects of implementing the Proposed Action and the No-Action Alternative are also identified in Section 3. Resource areas evaluated in this EA are geology and soils; water resources; wildlife and habitat; cultural resources; socioeconomics and environmental justice; land use; and traffic, transportation and parking. No significant impacts on these resources were identified.
U.S. General Services Administration