WASHINGTON -- The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has completed an environmental assessment of three possible sites for a future national cemetery in the Sacramento area and has identified one site as the preferred alternative.
VA picked a site in Solano County, where it hopes to purchase approximately 400 acres. VA's finding that development of the cemetery will have no significant impact, and publication of a report on the environmental assessment, mark the beginning of a 30-day public comment period that will end September 16. After considering the comments, Secretary of Veterans Affairs Anthony J. Principi will make the final decision before VA purchases any land.
The site is 30 miles southwest of Sacramento, just off Interstate 80, near Dixon. Essentially flat, the land is in agricultural use. VA officials said part of the basis for selecting it over the other sites studied is its proximity to San Francisco, 65 miles away, thereby serving a large veteran population.
"This selection moves us an important step forward in reaching our goal to better serve northern California veterans," said Principi.
A finding of no significant environmental impact was published August 16 in Sacramento newspapers. The notice included instructions on how to access the report.
If developed, the national cemetery will serve nearly 315,000 veterans living within 75 miles of the site. Presently, the nearest VA national cemetery with available grave space is San Joaquin Valley National Cemetery in Gustine, about 100 miles south. Both the San Francisco National Cemetery and the Golden Gate National Cemetery in San Bruno can accommodate only burials of family members of those already interred.
If the Solano County site is approved and purchased early in 2003, first burials could take place in 2005. Another year would be required to build the cemetery's permanent buildings and roadways.
Originally, VA identified 10 sites in Solano, Yolo, Sacramento and El Dorado counties. Those 10 were reduced to three sites including two in Sacramento County -- a 455-acre site 25 miles east of downtown Sacramento on State Highway 50 and a 382-acre site 15 miles southeast of downtown Sacramento.
The cemetery would be built in phases to provide an estimated 60,000 burials by 2030. The first phase would include construction of an administration and maintenance building, a public information center, two committal service shelters, roadways and a flag and assembly area.
Funds to purchase land for a cemetery were included in the VA budget for 2002. The administration's proposed budget for 2003 includes funds to design the cemetery.
The environmental assessment report on the three sites under consideration describes the environmental resources of each site and the impact of cemetery development on the property and surroundings. The report also looks at the capacity of each site to meet certain criteria for building and maintaining a cemetery. The report is on the Internet at http://www.cem.va.gov/news63.htm.
Nationwide, VA operates 120 national cemeteries. All veterans with discharges other than dishonorable, their spouses and dependent children are eligible for burial in VA national cemeteries. Information on VA burial benefits can be obtained from national cemetery offices, from a VA web site on the Internet at http://www.cem.va.gov or by calling VA regional offices toll-free at 1-800-827-1000.
