[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 85 (Wednesday, May 1, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19263-19264]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-10746]



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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for 
the Realignment of Naval Sea Systems Command Headquarters Within the 
Washington, DC Area

SUMMARY: Pursuant to Section 102(2)(c) of the National Environmental 
Policy Act of 1969 as implemented in the Council on Environmental 
Quality regulations (40 CFR parts 1500-1508), the Department of the 
Navy announces its intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement 
(EIS) for the Realignment of Naval Sea Systems Command Headquarters 
(NAVSEA) within the Washington DC area.
    As directed by the Defense Base Closure and Realignment Act of 
1990, as implemented by the 1995 Base Closure and Realignment (BRAC) 
process, the receiver site designated by the 1993 BRAC process was 
changed from the White Oak facility in Silver Spring, MD, to another 
location within the Washington, DC area. The preferred receiver site is 
the Washington Navy Yard.
    Approximately 4,100 NAVSEA personnel will move by 2001. The NAVSEA 
activities involved in the realignment are primarily administrative, 
and will require 1.15 million square feet of office space, parking for 
3,500 vehicles, and infrastructure upgrades. Alternatives to implement 
this realignment include a combination of adaptive reuse of existing 
structures, demolition, and/or new construction. The EIS will address 
the following impact areas of concern: cultural resources; air quality; 
water quality; floodplains; flora and fauna; socioeconomics (traffic, 
employment, services, access, environmental justice); permitting 
requirements; safety; and compatibility with existing military and 
civilian functions.
    The Navy will hold two public scoping meetings for the purpose of 
further identifying the scope of issues to be addressed in the EIS. The 
meetings will be held on Thursday, May 16, 1996, and Saturday, May 18, 
1996. The first meeting will be held at the Washington Navy Yard's 
Officer's Club (Building 101, 901 M Street SE). It will begin with an 
open house at 7:00 PM, followed by the scoping meeting at 8:00 PM. The 
second meeting will be held at the Hine Junior High School Auditorium 
(8th and

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Pennsylvana Ave. SE). It will begin with an open house at 1:00 PM 
followed by the scoping meeting at 2:00 PM. Navy representatives will 
make a brief presentation, then members of the public will be asked to 
provide their comments. It is important that federal, state, and local 
agencies and interested individuals take this opportunity to identify 
environmental concerns that should be addressed in the EIS. In the 
interest of time, speakers will be asked to limit comments to five 
minutes.

ADDRESSES: Agencies and the public are encouraged to provide written 
comments in addition to, or, in lieu of, oral comments at the scoping 
meeting. To be most helpful, comments should clearly describe specific 
issues or topics which the EIS should address. Written comments must be 
postmarked by June 1, 1996, and should be mailed to Commanding Officer, 
Engineering Field Activity Chesapeake, Naval Facilities Engineering 
Command, Washington Navy Yard, Bldg. 212, 901 M Street SE, Washington 
DC 20374-5018 (Attn: Mr. Hank Riek), telephone (202) 685-3064, 
facsimile (202) 685-3350. The scoping meeting will be conducted in 
English, and requests for language interpreters or other special 
communications needs should be made to Mr. Riek at least one week prior 
to the meeting. The Navy will make every reasonable effort to 
accommodate these needs.

    Dated: April 26, 1996.
M.A. Waters,
LCDR, JAGC, USN, Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 96-10746 Filed 4-30-96; 8:45 am]
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