[Federal Register: December 14, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 240)]
[Notices]
[Page 71126-71128]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr14de07-32]
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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Navy
Notice of Availability and Notice of Public Hearings for Draft
Environmental Impact Statement for the Activities To Implement 2005
Base Realignment and Closure Actions at National Naval Medical Center,
Bethesda, MD
AGENCY: Department of the Navy, DoD.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: Pursuant to Section (102)(2)(C) of the National Environmental
Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), the regulations implemented by the Council
on Environmental Quality (40 CFR parts 1500-1508), and the Department
of the Navy (DON) NEPA regulation (32 CFR part 775), DON announces the
availability of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for
potential environmental impacts associated with implementing actions
directed by the Defense Base Closure and Realignment (BRAC) Act of
1990, Public Law 101-510, as amended in 2005 (BRAC Law), at the
National Naval Medical Center (NNMC) in Bethesda, MD.
Under the BRAC law, the Walter Reed Army Medical Center (WRAMC)
will realign all tertiary and complex health care services to the NNMC
campus in Bethesda. The transfer and integration of these services with
existing functions at NNMC will result by law in creation of a new
premier military health care center to be named the Walter Reed
National Military Medical Center (WRNMMC) at Bethesda, MD.
The BRAC law calls for completion of the realignment, establishment
of the WRNMMC, and closure of WRAMC to be accomplished by 15 September
2011.
The realignment of tertiary and complex medical care will bring
additional patients and visitors requiring additional staff and
facilities to be provided at NNMC. The DEIS provides information on the
proposed new construction and facility alterations, current estimates
of the additional staff that will be needed, and an assessment of the
potential environmental impacts associated with implementation of these
realignment actions at NNMC in Bethesda, MD.
DATES: The public comment period for the DEIS will end 45 days after
publication of an NOA in the Federal Register by the United States
Environmental Protection Agency. All comments on the DEIS must be
postmarked, faxed, or e-mailed by midnight January 28, 2008.
ADDRESSES: Send comments to Officer in Charge--BRAC, National Naval
Medical Center, 8901 Wisconsin Avenue, Bethesda, MD 20889, fax: 301-
295-5020 or e-mail: NNMCEIS@med.navy.mil.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Officer in Charge--BRAC, National
Naval Medical Center, 8901 Wisconsin Avenue, Bethesda, MD 20889,
Telephone: 301-295-2722 during normal business hours Monday through
Friday, fax: 301-295-5020, or e-mail: NNMCEIS@med.navy.mil.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This DEIS evaluates the potential
environmental effects of construction and operation of new facilities
at the National Naval Medical Center (NNMC), Bethesda, Maryland.
Alternative One would add approximately 1,144,000 square feet
[[Page 71127]]
(SF) of new building construction, provide approximately 508,000 SF of
renovation to existing building space at NNMC, and provide
approximately 824,000 SF of new parking facilities. It would
accommodate approximately 2,500 additional staff. The new construction
or improvements to existing facilities would provide medical care and
administration additions and alterations, a Traumatic Brain Injury/Post
Traumatic Stress Disorder Intrepid Center of Excellence, permanent and
temporary lodging facilities (Bachelor Enlisted Quarters and Fisher
HousesTM), a new physical fitness center, additional
parking, and road and utility improvements on the installation as
needed to support the new facilities. Under Alternative Two, the same
facilities are proposed; some facility sites change and the choice of
new construction versus renovation of some facilities differs from
Alternative One. Alternative Two would add to NNMC approximately
1,230,000 SF feet of new building construction, approximately 423,000
SF of building renovation, and approximately 824,000 SF of new parking
facilities. The estimated staffing increase would also be approximately
2,500 personnel under Alternative Two.
The Notice of Intent (NOI), published in the Federal Register on
November 21, 2006, identified the following alternatives to be under
consideration in the EIS: (1) Implement the BRAC recommendation; (2)
Implement the BRAC recommendation and provide for future anticipated
growth, support activities, and changes to the installation; (3) No
action, with NNMC continuing to maintain and repair existing facilities
without additional growth.
Since November 2006, a number of planning decisions have been made
by Department of Defense (DoD) that have affected, but not
substantially changed, the proposed NEPA analysis on the best way to
ensure world-class care is provided for the Nation's wounded veterans
both today and in the post-BRAC environment. Special housing,
billeting, food service, medical support, and administrative support
requirements were determined and then appropriately sited on the NNMC
Bethesda campus. The decisions made by DoD resulted in a refocused
effort in this DEIS to concentrate in the Proposed Action entirely on
implementation of the BRAC mandate through Warrior Care. Any other non-
BRAC related future growth, support activities, or changes to the
installation are considered when reasonably foreseeable in the analysis
of cumulative impacts.
The DEIS finds that environmental impacts from Alternative One and
Alternative Two would be similar. The DEIS analysis indicates an
increase in off-base traffic volumes due to the increase in staff,
patients, and visitors. The off-base traffic impact would be the same
for either alternative. The DEIS finds that proposed new facilities
would involve a small increase in impervious surface area and minimal
impacts to biological resources because the new facilities would be
constructed on either existing development such as parking lots or on
landscaped areas. The increase in runoff resulting from the increase in
impervious surface would be controlled with storm water management and
erosion and sediment control measures.
Emissions of air pollutants from the Proposed Action during
construction and operations would not exceed de minimis levels or
ambient standards established by the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency for protection of the airshed and thus air quality impacts would
not be significant. Short-term increases in noise levels would occur
during construction that are typical of construction activities. No
major issues are anticipated for utilities required to support the NNMC
expansion.
Formal consultation under the National Historic Preservation Act
with appropriate agencies will be conducted by the DON to ensure that
construction of new buildings in the NNMC Bethesda Historic District
would be accomplished with minimal impacts to cultural resources.
The DEIS finds that the Proposed Action is compatible with existing
land use plans and land use planning underway within NNMC. Beneficial
economic impacts to the surrounding economy are anticipated under each
action alternative, resulting from the large investment in construction
and renovation of facilities. Local residents could experience
increased traffic on weekdays and weekends. Personnel relocating from
their positions at WRAMC are not expected to change their off base
residences; therefore, impacts to local housing, schools, or community
services are expected to be minimal. Adherence to applicable
regulations and guidance will avoid impacts to human health and safety.
The DEIS has been distributed to various federal, state, and local
agencies, elected officials, special interest groups, and interested
parties. The DEIS is also available for public review at the following
local libraries and public facilities: Bethesda Library, 7400 Arlington
Road, Bethesda, MD 20814; Chevy Chase Library, 8005 Connecticut Avenue,
Chevy Chase, MD 20815; Davis Library, 6400 Democracy Boulevard,
Bethesda, MD 20817; Kensington Park Library, 4201 Knowles Avenue,
Kensington, MD 20895; Rockville Library, 21 Maryland Avenue, Rockville,
MD 20850; Bethesda-Chevy Chase Regional Services Center, 4805 Edgemoor
Lane, Bethesda, MD 20814; Bethesda Urban Partnership, Inc., 7700 Old
Georgetown Road, Bethesda, MD 20814; and Bethesda-Chevy Chase Chamber
of Commerce, 7910 Woodmont Avenue, Suite 1204, Bethesda, MD 20814.
The DEIS is also available at the following Web sites: http://www.bethesda.med.navy.mil/Professional/Public_Affairs/BRAC/
; and
http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/brac.
The DON also invites the general public, local governments, state
and other federal agencies to participate in the public hearings where
the DON will receive oral and written comments on the DEIS. Two
hearings will be held: January 9 and 10, 2008 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., at
Pooks Hill Marriott, 5151 Pooks Hill Road, Bethesda, MD 20814.
The public hearings will be conducted in English. A court reporter
will be available to record oral comments. The DON requests that people
desiring to speak submit, in writing, their intention to participate
and that they frame their statements to meet a three (3) minute
limitation on the length of any oral statement. The limit is not
intended to constrain an individual's ability to make comments but
rather to ensure that all persons requesting to make a comment are
given that opportunity. The DON also requests that technical statements
or statements of considerable length be submitted in writing.
For requests for special assistance, sign language interpretation
for the hearing impaired, language interpreters, or other auxiliary
aids at the scheduled public hearings, please contact: Officer in
Charge--BRAC, National Naval Medical Center, 8901 Wisconsin Avenue,
Bethesda, MD 20889, Telephone: 301-295-2722 during normal business
hours Monday through Friday, fax: 301-295-5020, or e-mail:
NNMCEIS@med.navy.mil.
To allow time for the arrangements to be made, any request for
special assistance at the public hearings must be made to the DEIS
point of contact by January 04, 2008.
[[Page 71128]]
Dated: December 10, 2007.
T.M. Cruz,
Lieutenant, Judge Advocate Generals Corps, U.S. Navy, Federal Register
Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. E7-24214 Filed 12-13-07; 8:45 am]
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