[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]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
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]
BILLING CODE 3810-AE-M