U.S. General Services Administration
GSA to Host Public Meeting for the Expansion of the Kenneth G. Ward and Sumas Land Ports of Entry
Public scoping meeting begins conversation with local community
TACOMA, Wash. ㅡ In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act, the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) will host a public meeting in support of an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the expansion and modernization of the Kenneth G. Ward (Lynden) and Sumas Land Ports of Entry (LPOE) in Washington.
The public is invited to attend the virtual meeting on Wednesday, August 23, 5 – 7 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time.
The meeting will be conducted in an open house format. GSA will offer the public an opportunity to hear about both projects 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 EIS.
The online meeting will be hosted via Zoom.
The Kenneth G. Ward LPOE is located in Lynden, approximately 10 miles west of the Sumas LPOE at the U.S. - Canada border. Both LPOEs require construction to better serve the government and traveling public’s needs. At the Kenneth G. Ward LPOE space limitations cause frequent congestion in the commercial lane and commercial vehicles often travel farther distances to other ports that offer more efficient processing. The Sumas LPOE does not have enough space for efficient traffic flow or safe and secure inspection areas, which impede the port’s operations and cause traffic and safety concerns in the surrounding urban area. These two projects, funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, will improve port operations and capability. The new, modern and energy-efficient facilities will meet the government’s mission requirements and improve the travelers crossing experience.
The public is encouraged to provide written comments regarding the scope of the EIS at the August 23 meeting and throughout the comment period which will end on September 12, 2023. The views and comments of the public will assist in determining the scope and content of the environmental analysis.
Comments must be submitted by Monday, September 12, 2023, via the following methods:
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Virtual Meeting: Comment forms will be distributed and collected during the virtual public meeting. Register for the public scoping meeting at https://us06web.zoom.us/
meeting/register/ tZAkdu2vpjsiGNIB0txNR3jum9rCrt dVSaPJ. -
Email: Send comments to SumasLPOE@gsa.gov or LyndenLPOE@gsa.gov and include “Lynden/Sumas LPOEs EIS” in the subject line of the message. Comments will be accepted until 11:59 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time on September 12.
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Mail: Send written comments (must be postmarked September 12) referencing the “Lynden/Sumas LPOEs EIS” 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/Lynden and gsa.gov/Sumas.
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About GSA: GSA provides centralized procurement and shared services for the federal government, managing a nationwide real estate portfolio of nearly 370 million rentable square feet, overseeing about $85 billion in products and services via federal contracts, and delivering technology services that serve millions of people across dozens of federal agencies. GSA’s mission is to deliver the best customer experience and value in real estate, acquisition, and technology services to the government and the American people. For more information, visit GSA.gov and follow us at @USGSA.