[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 88 (Monday, May 8, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 22569-22570]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-11234]



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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army


Notice of Finding of No Significant Impact (FNSI) and 
Environmental Assessment (EA) for Realignment of Five Business Areas 
From Fort Belvoir, Virginia, to Detroit Arsenal, Michigan

AGENCY: Department of the Army, DoD.

ACTION: Finding of no significant impact.

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SUMMARY: The proposed action analyzed by this document is the 
realignment of the following business areas: a) Supply Distribution, b) 
Bridging, c) Mechanical Counter Mobility, d) Water Purification, and e) 
Fuels and Lubricants to the Detroit Arsenal, Michigan, as required by 
the Base Closure and Realignment Act of 1990 (Public Law 101-510).
    The 1993 Defense Base Closure and Realignment Commission 
recommended certain realignment and closure actions for military 
installations on July 1, 1993 (BRAC 93), including the realignment of a 
portion of the Belvoir Research, Development and Engineering Center 
(BRDEC), Fort Belvoir, Virginia, to the Tank-Automotive Research, 
Development and Engineering Center (TARDEC), Detroit Arsenal, Michigan. 
Recommended actions were approved by the President of the United States 
and subsequent review by the United States Congress did not alter any 
of the BRAC 93 recommendations.
    The purpose of the EA is to identify and evaluate the anticipated 
effects of the realignment of these five business areas upon the 
receiving location. Because the recommended realignment is a statutory 
requirement and must be implemented, No Action, or not implementing the 
proposed action is not currently a viable alternative. The Army is 
required to move and consolidate these activities to the maximum extent 
possible. This mandate does not allow the Army to seek off-post sites 
as options for consolidation of activities. Sufficient office space is 
available in existing Building 201 which is currently undergoing 
renovation to accommodate the office functions of the realigned Supply 
Distribution, and Bridging business areas, however, existing on-post 
laboratory facilities are either occupied or not configured to allow 
efficient use by the Mechanical Counter Mobility, Water Purification, 
and Fuels and Lubricants business areas. There are no feasible 
alternatives to the following construction activities proposed to 
execute this BRAC 93 action.
    The EA studied in detail two possible alternatives: (a) Preferred 
construction site and (b) an alternative construction site. Under the 
Preferred Construction Site Alternative the Fuels and Lubricants, Water 
Purification and Mechanical Counter Mobility business areas would be 
accommodated on Detroit Arsenal in a new 38,000 square foot facility. 
This facility would be built between and connect two existing buildings 
(Buildings 212 and 215) in the north-central portion of Detroit 
Arsenal. The building location was selected on the basis of its 
proximity to existing facilities and its compatibility with current 
utilization.
    Under the Alternative Construction Site the Fuels and Lubricants, 
Water Purification and Mechanical Counter Mobility business areas would 
be accommodated at the Detroit Arsenal in a new 40,000 square foot 
facility. This facility would be a free standing structure built over 
approximately one acre of undeveloped land just west of Building 215 in 
the north-central sector of the Detroit Arsenal. This site is currently 
used as a softball field.
    Regarding the preferred construction site alternative, no 
significant impacts were identified. Potential for only minor, 
insignificant impacts are anticipated regarding: Air Quality, soils, 
and groundwater. Building 212 has been recommended as being eligible 
for the National Register of Historic Places. Proposed construction 
plans for the new connecting building will be coordinated with the 
Michigan State Historic Preservation Officer (SHPO) prior to 
undertaking any construction activities. If necessary, a Memorandum of 
Agreement detailing the actions the Army will take to avoid or mitigate 
for any adverse effects to National Register properties will be 
concluded among the Army, the Michigan SHPO, and the Advisory Council.
    Regarding the Alternative Construction Site, no significant impacts 
were identified. Potential for only minor, insignificant, impacts are 
anticipated regarding: land use, air quality, soils, surface drainage, 
and [[Page 22570]] groundwater. This site would require an 
archaeological reconnaissance.
    Based on the environmental impact analyses found in the EA, it has 
been determined that implementation of the proposed action would not 
have significant individual or cumulative impacts on the quality of the 
natural or the human environment. Because there would be no significant 
environmental impacts resulting from implementation of the proposed 
action, a FNSI has been prepared, and an Environmental Impact Statement 
is not required for the realignment of these five business areas to the 
Detroit Arsenal, Michigan.

DATES: Comments must be received by no later than May 23, 1995.

ADDRESSES: Persons wishing to comment may obtain a copy of the EA or 
inquire regarding the FNSI by writing to the U.S. Army Engineer 
District, Louisville, ATTN: CEORL-PD-R (Jim Baker), P.O. Box 59, 
Louisville, Kentucky 40201-0059.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions regarding this FNSI may be 
directed to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, ATTN: Mr. Jim Baker, at 
(502) 582-5774.

    Dated: May 3, 1995.
Lewis D. Walker,
Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army, (Environment, Safety and 
Occupational Health) OASA (IL&E).
[FR Doc. 95-11234 Filed 5-5-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3710-08-M