GSA to Host Public Meeting for the Expanded Porthill Land Port of Entry

May 10, 2023

Public scoping meeting begins conversation with local community

TACOMA, Wash. ㅡ In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the U.S. General Services Administration will host a public meeting in support of an Environmental Assessment (EA) for the expansion and modernization of the Porthill Land Port of Entry (LPOE) in Porthill, Idaho. The public is invited to attend the virtual meeting on May 17 from 5–7pm Pacific Daylight Time

The meeting will be conducted in an open house format. GSA will offer the public an opportunity to hear about the project and learn how they can provide input on the issues that are important to the community. This input is a valuable step in the process and will be used by GSA to determine the scope and content of the EA.

The Porthill LPOE processes personal vehicles, buses, pedestrians, and limited commercial traffic at the U.S.-Canada border in Porthill. After 55 years of continuous operation, the Porthill LPOE is no longer able to meet the operational needs of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). Additionally, traffic flow through the port is inefficient and susceptible to congestion and delays. The port expansion project, funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, will enhance Porthill LPOE’s operational efficiency and capability. The new, modern and energy-efficient facilities will meet CBP’s current mission requirements and improve customer service to travelers. The EA will evaluate alternatives that would improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the Porthill LPOE.

The public is encouraged to provide written comments regarding the scope of the EA at the meeting and throughout the comment period. The views and comments of the public are necessary to help determine the scope and content of the environmental analysis. Comments must be postmarked & submitted by Monday, June 5 via the following methods:

• Virtual Meeting: Comment forms will be distributed & collected during the virtual public meeting.
• Email: Send comments to PorthillLPOE@gsa.gov and include “Porthill LPOE EA” in the subject line of the message.
• Mail: Send written comments referencing the “Porthill LPOE EA” to:
  U.S. General Services Administration
  Attention: Emily Grimes, Environmental Program Manager
  1301 A Street, Suite 610
  Tacoma, WA 98402

Project information, including a video recording of this public meeting, will be available at: gsa.gov/Porthill.