[Federal Register: September 21, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 183)]
[Notices]
[Page 54013-54014]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr21se07-54]
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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Army
Notice of Availability of the Final Environmental Impact
Statement (FEIS) for Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) and Enhanced
Use Lease (EUL) Actions at Fort Meade, MD
AGENCY: Department of the Army, DoD.
ACTION: Notice of Availability (NOA).
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SUMMARY: The Department of the Army announces the availability of the
FEIS which evaluates the potential environmental impacts associated
with realignment actions directed by the Base Realignment and Closure
(BRAC) Commission and Army Enhanced Use Lease (EUL) Actions at Fort
Meade, Maryland.
DATES: The waiting period for the FEIS will end 30 days after
publication of an NOA in the Federal Register by the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency.
ADDRESSES: To obtain a copy of the FEIS contact the Public Affairs
Office, Fort George G. Meade, 4550 Pershing Hall, Room 120, Fort Meade,
MD 20755-5025. Send e-mails to meade.pao@conus.army.mil.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Melanie Moore at (301) 677-1361
during normal business hours Monday through Friday.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Proposed Action, and subject of the
FEIS, covers the movement of personnel associated with the BRAC
realignment activities and associated construction activities. The FEIS
also covers the impacts from the proposed federal real estate lease
which would result in development to Army lands at Fort Meade under the
Army's EUL program.
To implement the BRAC Commission recommended initiatives, Fort
Meade will be receiving personnel, equipment, and missions from various
realignment and closure actions within the U.S. Department of Defense.
The Army will provide the necessary facilities/buildings and
infrastructure to support the changes as recommended. Permanent
facilities will be constructed to house the Defense Information
[[Page 54014]]
Systems Agency (DISA), the DoD Media Activities (DMA), and the
Adjudication and Office of Hearing and Appeals Offices, which are
currently located in a mix of leased facilities and at government
installations.
Additionally, Fort Meade plans to issue a real estate lease that
allows the development of certain parcels through the Army's EUL
program to help support mission-oriented uses on post, to derive value
from underutilized property, to build future land value, and to enhance
the installation's ability to implement its comprehensive master plan.
Fort Meade proposes to lease to a private developer about 173 acres in
two parcels for a term of 50 years and receive in-kind development of a
367-acre parcel. Because the development of these three parcels would
have potential impacts in the same region as the BRAC realignment
actions, it is considered in this FEIS. The two parcels that will be
leased are located on installation property outside the fence line. The
third parcel proposed for in-kind development is located within the
fence line along the perimeter of the installation.
The FEIS addresses alternatives that include: (1) a No Action
Alternative, (2) BRAC-Directed Realignment and EUL Actions, and (3)
BRAC-Directed Actions. The Preferred Alternative is Alternative 2 which
includes construction and operation of proposed facilities to
accommodate incoming military missions at Fort Meade as mandated by the
2005 BRAC Commission recommendations and Army's EUL actions.
Alternative sites on Fort Meade for placement of proposed BRAC
facilities have also been evaluated. Alternative siting variations
would provide similar impacts and benefits as compared to the Preferred
Alternative. The No Action Alternative provides the baseline conditions
for comparison to the Preferred Alternative.
As stated in the FEIS, implementation of the BRAC-Directed
Realignment and EUL Actions, which is the Preferred Alternative, will
result in long-term environmental impacts on transportation, land uses,
socioeconomics areas (demographics, schools, and law enforcement),
visual and aesthetic resources, biological (vegetation and wildlife),
and utilities (wastewater and storm water drainage). Implementation of
the Preferred Alternative would have short-term environmental impacts
to visual and aesthetic resources, noise, energy sources, and solid
waste disposal; and potential short-term indirect effects to surface
water during construction activities. Implementation of the Preferred
Alternative would have no significant impacts to air quality, geology
and soils; water resources (groundwater, floodplains, and coastal
zones); biological (rare, threatened, and endangered species and
aquatic species); socioeconomics areas (economic development and
housing); utilities (potable water, energy sources operations, solid
waste operations); and hazardous and toxic substances. There would be
no adverse impacts to surrounding land uses, cultural resources,
socioeconomics areas (environmental justice, recreation, or protection
of children), utilities (communications), and hazardous waste disposal
from implementation of the BRAC and EUL Actions Alternative.
An electronic version of the FEIS can be viewed or downloaded from
the following URL: http://www.hqda.army.mil/acsim/brac/nepa_eis_docs.htm
.
Dated: September 11, 2007.
Addison D. Davis, IV,
Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army, (Environment, Safety and
Occupational Health).
[FR Doc. 07-4665 Filed 9-20-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3710-08-M