**Houston National Cemetery**

**10410 VETERANS MEMORIAL HIGHWAY**

**HOUSTON, TEXAS 77038**

**ADJACENT Land Donation**

**FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT AND**

**NOTICE OF AVAILABILITY OF ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT**

The U. S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) assessed the potential
impacts related to acquisition and management of adjacent donated land
to act as a buffer on the south end of the Houston National Cemetery. An
Environmental Assessment was completed with a finding that no adverse
conditions were found on the site. An Environmental Impact Statement is
not required as the land acquisition will have only minimal
environmental impact, related to minor cleanup of the buffer area.

This project involves acquisition of a 34.2-acre tract of undeveloped
land donated by a private landowner to the Houston National Cemetery.
The donated land is adjacent to the southern boundary of the existing
cemetery located in the City of Houston, Harris County, Texas. The
property will not be developed for burial purposes, but will be
maintained as a natural buffer to shield residential areas from
activities of Houston National Cemetery.

The project is needed to improve the existing appearance of the
undeveloped, wooded areas adjacent to burial areas. The property will be
cleaned and landscaped to achieve National Veterans Cemetery appearance
standards.

Two alternatives exist for the land acquisition. The no-action
alternative allows the property to remain in its unimproved state or be
sold for residential or commercial use, depending on zoning. Alternative
A, the preferred alternative, is for the Houston National Cemetery to
accept the land donation. This would allow the Houston National Cemetery
to improve the appearance of the property, assuring an improved
appearing buffer between the existing cemetery and the adjacent
residential areas.

A Phase I Environmental Site Assessment was completed on January 6, 2005
by MACTEC Engineering and Consulting of Houston, Texas. Based on the
information in this report, no evidence of adverse environmental
conditions was identified on the buffer area site. No further assessment
was recommended.

Acquisition of the property will not significantly affect the property.
There may be short-term impacts from landscaping equipment operation to
clean up the site.  The landscape contractors will operate all equipment
in accordance with city and state noise and environmental requirements.

**FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT:**

After reviewing the Environmental Assessment for the acquisition and
management of donated land at Houston National Cemetery, the
implementation of the proposed action as described would not constitute
a major federal action that would have significant impact upon the
quality of the human environment within the meaning of Section 102(2c)
of the National

Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969. Accordingly, the preparation of
an Environmental Impact Statement is not required.

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**Michael Elliott Date**

**Director, Project Support Service**

**National Cemetery Administration**

**Department of Veterans Affairs**

**CONTACT INFORMATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT LOCATIONS**

1\. Houston National Cemetery

Jorge Lopez, Cemetery Director:

10410 Veterans Memorial Highway

Houston, Texas 77038

281-447-8686

2\. Department of Veterans Affairs, National Cemetery Administration

Environmental Assessment Website:

http://www.cem.va.gov/pdf/HoustonEA.pdf

3\. Donald Campbell

Environmental Engineer

Department of Veterans Affairs

National Cemetery Administration

Office of Construction Management

810 Vermont Avenue, NW, LAF 235

Washington, DC 20420

202-565-5924

donald.campbell@va.gov