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[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 221 (Friday, November 15, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 90302-90304]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-26393]

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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

[Docket Number USCG-2021-0183]

Final Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement for the 
Expansion and Modernization of Base Seattle

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION: Notice of Availability of the Final Programmatic Environmental 
Impact Statement Expansion and Modernization of Base Seattle.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Coast Guard (Coast Guard) announces the availability 
of the Final Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS) for the 
Expansion and Modernization of Base Seattle. In accordance with 
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and the Council on 
Environmental Quality (CEQ) NEPA implementing regulations, the Final 
PEIS analyzes the potential environmental and socioeconomic impacts, 
and identifies related mitigation measures, associated with land 
acquisition, facility and infrastructure modernization, and continued 
operation to support current and future Coast Guard missions at Base 
Seattle.

DATES: The Coast Guard will not issue a final decision on the proposed 
action until at least December 16, 2024, or at least 30 days after the 
Environmental Protection Agency publishes its Notice of Availability of 
this Final PEIS in the Federal Register.

ADDRESSES: The complete text of the Final PEIS is available in the 
docket, which can be found by searching the docket number USCG-2021-
0183 using the Federal eRulemaking Portal at https://www.regulations.gov or at https://www.dcms.uscg.mil/NEPA.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information 
should be sent to U.S. Coast Guard, Shore Infrastructure Logistics 
Center, Environmental Management Division, ATTN: Dean Amundson, 1301 
Clay Street, Suite 700N, Oakland, CA 94612-5203. ; phone 510-637-5541; 
email [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Final PEIS was prepared in accordance 
with the requirements of NEPA, the CEQ regulations implementing NEPA 
(40 CFR 1500-1508), DHS procedures for implementing NEPA (DHS 
Instruction Manual 023-01-001-01 (series)), Coast Guard Environmental 
Planning Policy (Commandant Instruction [COMDTINST] 5090.1), and other 
applicable DHS and Coast Guard policies and guidance. A Notice of 
Intent (NOI) to prepare the PEIS was published in the Federal Register 
on May 7, 2021 (86 FR 24637). On October 11, 2022, the Coast Guard 
published a Notice of Availability (NOA) and a request for comments on 
the Draft PEIS (87 FR 61344). In response to a comment in the docket 
the Coast Guard extended the public comment period until December 16, 
2022, which was announced in the Federal Register (87 FR 73011) and in 
local newspapers on November 28, 2022.
    The purpose of the proposed action is to provide adequate and 
efficient shore facilities and infrastructure at Base Seattle to 
support the Coast Guard's execution of its current and future statutory 
missions, pursuant to 14 United States Code (U.S.C.) 102. Base Seattle 
is the largest Coast Guard installation in the Pacific Northwest and is 
an essential facility to support Coast Guard missions in the Pacific 
Northwest and polar (the Arctic and Antarctica) areas of responsibility 
(AOR), now and for the foreseeable future.
    The Coast Guard identified three reasonable alternatives that would 
meet the purpose and need of the proposed action. The PEIS analyzed the 
potential environmental and socioeconomic impacts associated with the 
proposed action, action alternatives and the no action alternative; 
including direct, indirect, and cumulative effects, and

[[Page 90303]]

potential mitigation measure to minimize impacts. The Coast Guard has 
actively considered the full range of alternatives when determining the 
preferred alternative for the Final PEIS. The Coast Guard continues to 
consider each alternative and will document the Guard's decision as 
part of the Record of Decision.
    The Draft PEIS identified Alternative 1 as the Coast Guard's 
preferred alternative. Based on public comments, the Coast Guard 
conducted additional technical analysis which provided greater detail 
about the context and intensity of environmental impacts. While the 
significant findings remained consistent, additional information was 
obtained to better inform the Coast Guard decision-maker. The 
socioeconomic analysis considered each of the alternatives, as well as 
different land acquisition options, based on acreage, within each 
alternative to establish a range of impacts. The socioeconomic study 
found that the magnitude of socioeconomic impacts to the Port of 
Seattle are largely dependent upon the amount of acreage that is 
acquired.
    Therefore, acquiring fewer acres of land in Alternative 1 would 
cause less long-term socioeconomic impacts than acquiring more acres of 
land in Alternatives 2 or 3. Additionally, Alternative 1 is the 
environmentally preferable alternative as it avoids and minimizes 
impacts to biological, visual, and cultural resources. Finally, 
Alternative 1 would enable the Coast Guard to more quickly achieve the 
purpose of the proposed action. Consequently, Alternative 1 remains the 
Coast Guard's preferred alternative in the Final EIS.
    The details of all three Action Alternatives are provided in 
Section 2.5. The Socioeconomic Report can be found in Appendix R of the 
Final PEIS.
    Alternative 1: Modernization with Additional Land and Two Berths at 
Terminal 46 (Preferred Alternative). Alternative 1 would involve 
acquisition of land to the north at Terminal 46, including onshore 
development and access to existing berth space for two Coast Guard 
cutters. While additional work would occur on the existing Base 
property, this alternative would provide a single, large piece of 
property that would enable efficient expansion of Base facilities while 
providing the capability to incorporate the most effective Anti-
Terrorism/Force Protection (AT/FP) setbacks of all the alternatives. 
Acquiring two existing, structurally adequate berths would be the most 
cost-effective and efficient action and would reduce potential effects 
by eliminating the need to construct new berths. Under Alternative 1, 
approximately 27 to 54 acres of land would be acquired from the Port of 
Seattle, including the 1.1-acre Belknap property, and between 26 and 53 
acres from the Port of Seattle at Terminal 46. The acquired property at 
Terminal 46 would provide 1,070 linear feet of new Coast Guard berthing 
space. The alternative would provide flexible space for parking, 
equipment staging, emergency storage, and other similar or related uses 
would distributed throughout the current Base boundaries as well as on 
acquired property at Terminal 46 acquired property. Alternative 1 would 
include construction of several new facilities on Base.
    Alternative 2: Modernization with Additional Land from Terminals 30 
and 46. Alternative 2 would expand Base Seattle both to the north and 
south. Under Alternative 2, many of the proposed infrastructure 
modernization and expansion elements would occur within the current 
Base boundaries or on land acquired at Terminal 30, and berthing 
requirements would be satisfied by the development of two new berths to 
the south at Pier 35 E/F. Land acquired at Terminal 46 would be used 
for active cutter support services, material laydown areas for cutter 
materials and equipment, and AT/FP setbacks. Existing Base Seattle 
deficiencies would be resolved, AT/FP measures would be implemented, 
and aging infrastructure would be upgraded to meet current building 
codes (including seismic). Land acquisition under Alternative 2 would 
include 21.5 to 29.5 acres of land with the majority being 13.5 to 21.5 
acres at Terminal 30 and would include Jack Perry Memorial Park. Two 
new berths would provide 1,120 linear feet (LF) of wharf space. The 
berths would be constructed with one berth on currently owned Coast 
Guard property and a second berth constructed on property acquired at 
Terminal 30. Flexible space for parking, equipment staging, emergency 
storage, and other similar or related uses would be distributed 
throughout the current Base boundaries as well as a portion of the 
newly acquired property at Terminal 30. Alternative 2 would include 
construction of several new facilities on Base.
    Alternative 3: Modernization with Additional Land and One Berth at 
Terminal 46. Alternative 3 would expand Base Seattle to the north 
through land acquisition at Terminal 46 and would infill the current 
Base footprint by acquiring currently leased properties. Under 
Alternative 3, many of the proposed infrastructure modernization and 
expansion elements would occur within the current Base boundaries and 
on land acquired at Terminal 46. These elements include satisfying 
berthing requirements with construction of one new berth within the 
current Base boundaries (Pier 35 E) and one additional existing berth 
at Terminal 46. Under Alternative 3, existing Base Seattle deficiencies 
would be resolved, AT/FP measures upgraded, and aging infrastructure 
would be upgraded to meet current building codes (including seismic). 
Under Alternative 3, the minimum acquired land would total 
approximately 24.25 to 32.25 acres, with the majority of land 21.75 to 
29.75 acres at Terminal 46. Under this alternative, one existing berth 
totaling 560 LF would be acquired at Terminal 46. No further 
modifications are required for this berth. A new berth would be 
constructed on Coast Guard property at Pier 35 E. Work would likely 
include typical construction for waterfront facilities, such as pile 
and decking installation and possibly dredging. The construction 
configuration and details for this berth are unknown at this time due 
to the unknown extent of a Comprehensive Environmental Response, 
Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (CERCLA) action that would have 
to occur prior to any pier construction. Flexible space for parking, 
equipment staging, emergency storage, and other similar or related uses 
would be distributed throughout the current Base boundaries as well as 
a portion of the newly acquired property at Terminal 46. Alternative 3 
would include construction of several new facilities on Base.
    No-Action Alternative. Under the No-Action Alternative, the Coast 
Guard would not implement land acquisition, facility modernization 
requirements, or infrastructure enhancements. Base Seattle would not be 
upgraded to make it a suitable location to homeport up to eight future 
major cutters. The No-Action Alternative would also eliminate the 
possibility of Coast Guard personnel relocating to Base Seattle from 
current facilities in downtown Seattle. Further, several buildings on 
Base could be forced to reduce capacity or risk losing functionality 
altogether if ongoing structural deterioration is not addressed. 
Delaying necessary demolition and construction projects would result in 
increased risks to the environment, the public, and the health and 
safety of Coast Guard personnel and visitors. Selecting the No-Action 
Alternative would significantly impair the Coast

[[Page 90304]]

Guard's ability to accomplish its operational mission requirements 
throughout the Pacific Northwest and Arctic operational areas from Base 
Seattle. The No-Action Alternative would also leave requirements 
unfulfilled. The Coast Guard would not be able to continually comply 
with its statutory mandated missions effectively and efficiently. This 
alternative was analyzed in the PEIS to comply with Council of 
Environmental Quality (CEQ) National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) 
regulations (40 Code of Federal Regulations [CFR] Sec.  1502.14[c]) and 
to provide a comparative baseline against which to evaluate impacts of 
the Proposed Action and alternatives.
    Resource areas analyzed in the Final PEIS include land use and 
coastal zone management, geological resources, water resources, 
transportation, air quality, biological resources, socioeconomics and 
environmental justice, cultural resources, noise, utilities and public 
services, hazardous materials and wastes, visual resources, 
recreational resources, and greenhouse gases and climate change.
    Based on the analysis presented in the Final PEIS, potentially 
significant direct or indirect adverse impacts could occur to land use, 
socioeconomics and environmental justice, and cultural resources. 
Adverse cumulative impacts could occur to geological resources, water 
resources, biological resources, cultural resources, hazardous 
materials and wastes, and visual resources. Impacts to all other 
resource areas would be less-than-significant or beneficial. Base 
facilities and infrastructure improvements represent a long-term 
development program that will require a multi-year capital investment 
strategy. Specific projects may require additional NEPA evaluation and 
compliance with other environmental laws and regulations when they are 
programmed for implementation.
    Following a 30-day waiting period, after publication of the 
Environmental Protection Agency's NOA in the Federal Register, the 
Coast Guard will announce its Record of Decision, which will be 
published in the Federal Register.

    Dated: November 5, 2024.
A. Grable,
Rear Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard, Assistant Commandant for Engineering 
and Logistics.
[FR Doc. 2024-26393 Filed 11-14-24; 8:45 am]
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