NOTICE OF AVAILABILITY

ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT FOR PUBLIC COMMENT
Paint Branch Stream Valley Park Unit No. 2 Land Exchange and Modification to the General Development Plan
College Park at U.S. Route 1 and Lakeland Road, Prince George’s County, Maryland

The National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC) announces the availability of an Environmental Assessment (EA) for public comment. This EA evaluates the potential environmental impacts associated with a land exchange in Prince George’s County, Maryland within the Paint Branch Stream Valley Park Unit No. 2, and a modification to the General Development Plan of the Stream Valley Park Plan.

The proposed action would transfer 1.03 acres of land currently owned by the Maryland National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC) for 1.03 acres currently owned by the University of Maryland (this land abuts the M-NCPPC land to the south). The M-NCPPC land would then be consolidated with two other pieces of land, and a new College Park Student Housing Facility built on it. The current University of Maryland land would become a new park known as Northgate Park.

The property currently owned by M-NCPPC is a Capper-Cramton Act land parcel that was initially established by NCPC when the agency was responsible for acquiring stream valley and other parks in the National Capital Region. The Capper-Cramton Act requires that the development of this land conform to NCPC-approved plans. Therefore, the parcel’s General Development Plan modification is subject to NCPC review and approval.

The EA reviews two alternatives: a No Build Alternative and the land exchange alternative. The EA is consistent with the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), the Council on Environmental Quality Regulations, and NCPC’s Environmental and Historic Preservation Policies and Procedures. NCPC is the lead federal agency for this EA. The EA also meets NCPC’s obligations under Executive Order 11988 related to development of floodplains.

This EA is now available for review to the general public and organizations for comment on the potential federal decision to approve the land exchange and modify the Paint Branch Stream Valley Park General Development Plan.

NCPC invites members of the public and representatives of civic groups, organizations, federal agencies, and Prince George’s County agencies to submit written comments concerning the analyses and alternatives addressed in the EA. Comments on the EA will be accepted until July 11, 2008. All comments received during this period will be considered by NCPC. Please provide comments on the EA via e-mail to gene.keller@ncpc.gov or by regular mail to Mr. Eugene Keller, National Capital Planning Commission, 401 9th Street, NW, North Lobby, Suite 500, Washington, D.C. 20004. A printed copy of the EA is available for onsite review at the National Capital Planning Commission, 401 9th Street, NW, North Lobby, Suite 500, Washington, DC (Monday - Friday from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm. Please call 202-482-7200).