[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 38 (Friday, February 25, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-4315]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: February 25, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Navy

 

Public Hearing for the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for 
Redevelopment and Reuse of the (Former) Naval Construction Battalion 
Center (NCBC) Davisville, RI

    Pursuant to section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental Policy 
Act of 1969 as implemented by the Council on Environmental Quality 
regulations (40 CFR parts 1500-1508), the Department of the Navy has 
prepared and filed with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency the 
Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the Redevelopment and 
Reuse of the (former) Naval Construction Battalion Center (NCBC) 
Davisville, Rhode Island.
    The NCBC is located in the town of North Kingstown eighteen miles 
south of the city of Providence in the county of Washington. The Center 
consists of a total of approximately 904 acres including all lands at 
the main center, and West Davisville. The Center has a combined total 
of 237 buildings and structures including 62 permanent, 161 semi-
permanent and 14 temporary facilities.
    In November 1990, the Congress passed the Base Closure and 
Realignment Act (BCRA) which established a procedure for the 
realignment/closure of U.S. Defense Department installations. As a 
result of the 1991 BCRA Commission recommendations, which were 
subsequently approved by the President, the U.S. Naval Construction 
Battalion Center Davisville, Rhode Island was slated for closure.
    The BCRA also identified the requirements for compliance with the 
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) stating that the provisions of 
NEPA shall apply (a) during the process of property disposal and (b) 
during the process of relocating functions from a military installation 
being closed or realigned to another military installation after the 
receiving installation has been selected but before the functions are 
relocated.
    The proposed action addressed in the DEIS is the redevelopment and 
reuse of land/facilities determined excess to the needs of the federal 
government. A local community Base Reuse Committee (``BRC''), 
consisting of representatives from the Rhode Island Port Authority, the 
North Kingtown Town Council, and the local community have developed a 
NCBC Comprehensive Plan for the reuse of the (former) NCBC complex. The 
DIS has been prepared to address the environmental consequences of the 
implementation of this comprehensive reuse plan.
    The DEIS also includes the no action alternative defined as the 
NCBC is closed, all military activities are relocated or terminated and 
the land is not disposed, i.e., it remains as U.S. Government land. It 
is noted that congressional legislation will be required to implement 
the no action alternative.
    In the development of the reuse plan for NCBC, consideration was 
given to the possible reuse of the complex by other federal, state, and 
local agencies: Native American tribal interests; homeless support 
organizations; educational and technical institutions; business 
interests; and organized sports and recreational organizations. Various 
development/reuse scenarios were developed by the BRC and a preferred 
reuse plan has been identified and approved following public review and 
evaluation. The preferred action evaluated in the DEIS is the approved 
reuse plan developed by the BRC.
    The reuse plan identifies areas of the NCBC complex for 
administrative, institutional and industrial uses; increased support to 
ongoing pier operations including commercial fishing; expanded 
recreational uses including an enlarged marina; and expanded 
warehousing and small business support.
    As proposed, implementation of the reuse plan would see a 
conversion of the NCBC complex to a significant industrial park 
employing approximately 5,000 new workers.
    The DEIS has been distributed to various federal, state and local 
governmental agencies and elected officials, special interest groups, 
and libraries. A limited number of single copies are available at the 
address listed at the end of this notice.
    The Department of the Navy will hold a public hearing to inform the 
public of the DEIS findings and to solicit comments. The hearing will 
be held on March 29, 1994, at Building 404 on NCBC Davisville. The 
hearing will begin at 7:30 p.m. and will end at 10 p.m. or at the 
conclusion of public comments. The hearing will be conducted by the 
Navy. Federal, state and local agencies and interested parties are 
invited and urged to attend or be represented at the hearing. Oral 
statements will be heard and transcribed by a stenographer ; however, 
to ensure the accuracy of the record, all statements should be 
submitted in writing. All statements, both oral and written, will 
become part of the public record on this action and will be given equal 
consideration.
    In the interest of available time, each speaker will be asked to 
limited remarks to five minutes. If longer statements are to be 
presented, they should be summarized at the public hearing and 
submitted in writing either at the hearing or mailed to the address 
listed at the end of this notice. All written statements must be 
postmarked by April, 2, 1994, to become part of the official record.
    Additional information concerning this notice may be obtained by 
contacting Mr. Robert Ostermueller (Code 202) Northern Division, Naval 
Facilities Engineering Command, 10 Industrial Highway, Lester, PA 
19113, telephone 212-595-0759.

    Dated: February 22, 1994.
Saundra K. Melancon,
Alternate Federal Regional Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 94-4315 Filed 2-24-94; 8:45 am]
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