[Federal Register: September 22, 1998 (Volume 63, Number 183)]
[Notices]               
[Page 50557]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr22se98-53]

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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army

 
Final Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant 
Impact for the Disposal and Reuse of Fort Pickett, Virginia, BRAC 95

AGENCY: Department of the Army, DoD.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with Public Law 101-510 (as amended), the 
Defense Base Closure and Realignment Act of 1990, the Defense Base 
Closure and Realignment Commission recommended the closure, except 
minimum essential ranges, facilities, and training areas as a Reserve 
Component enclave, of Fort Pickett, VA. Land the Army deemed not 
minimal essential was declared excess and made available for disposal 
and reuse.
    The Final Environmental Assessment (EA) evaluated the environmental 
and sociological impacts of the disposal and subsequent reuse of the 
3,474 acres. Alternatives examined in the EA include encumbered 
disposal of the property and no action. Unencumbered disposal was not 
evaluated since certain encumbrances exist which are either required by 
law or cannot be practically removed. Under the no action alternative, 
the Army would not dispose of the property but would maintain it in 
caretaker status for an indefinite period.

DATES: Interested parties are invited to review and comment on the 
Finding of No Significant Impact (FNSI) on or before October 22, 1998.

ADDRESSES: A copy of the Final EA and FNSI may be obtained by writing 
to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, ATTN: Mr. Richard Muller, Project 
Management Division, 803 Front Street, Norfolk, VA 23510-1096.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Mr. Richard Muller at (757) 441-7767 or by facsimile at (757) 441-7546.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The EA addressed the environmental and 
socioeconomic effects associated with an action directed by the 1995 
Base Closure and Realignment Commission: disposal of approximately 
3,474 acres of property at Fort Pickett, Virginia. The EA also analyzed 
reuse of the installation by the local community, as planned by the 
Fort Pickett Local Reuse Authority. The Reuse Authority has prepared a 
reuse plan, which was the primary factor in development of the reuse 
scenarios analyzed in this EA. One disposal alternative (encumbered) 
was presented and evaluated in this environmental analysis, as are 
three reuse scenarios representing low, medium-low and medium intensity 
reuse. In addition to the proposed action, a no action alternative, 
with the property remaining in caretaker status, was evaluated. Other 
alternatives are discussed but not analyzed because they were 
considered infeasible. Implementation of the preferred alternative 
(encumbered disposal) would be expected to result in minor beneficial 
and minor adverse effects on several environmental conditions.
    A Notice of Intent (NOI) declaring the Army's intent to prepare an 
EA for the disposal and reuse of Fort Pickett was published in the 
Federal Register on September 22, 1995 (60 FR 49264).

    Dated: September 16, 1998.
Richard E. Newsome,
Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army, (Environment, Safety and 
Occupational Health), OASA, (I,L&E).
[FR Doc. 98-25301 Filed 9-21-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3710-08-M