[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 125 (Thursday, June 30, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-15958]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: June 30, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Army

 

Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact for 
Disposal and Reuse of Pontiac Storage Activity, Michigan

AGENCY: Department of the Army, DOD.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: The proposed action is the disposal of the Pontiac Storage 
Activity (PSA) Pontiac, Michigan. The 32-acre site is closed and 
maintained in a caretaker condition. The Army considers PSA 
unencumbered, meaning no conditions or restrictions have been placed on 
the PSA property for transfer. A Statement of Condition was issued by 
the Department of the Army on August 11, 1993, which stated that the 
site has been fully restored and is available for reuse. The screening 
process has been completed for PSA with the Department of Defense, 
other Federal agencies, the McKinney Act, and state and local agencies. 
The City of Pontiac was the only organization showing interest in the 
PSA property.
    As part of PSA's disposal, the Army has worked with Federal, state 
and local entities in order to identify three reasonable reuse options 
for the reuse of PSA. These alternatives were evaluated against PSA's 
existing baseline condition in order to determine an environmentally 
sound and socioeconomically beneficial use for the property. The 
baseline was described as the environmental and socioeconomic 
conditions of the site in caretaker status. The three alternatives 
considered included: (1) Light Industrial and Commercial; (2) Light 
Industrial and Warehouse; and (3) the No-Action Alternative, as 
required by National Environmental Policy Act and AR 200-2. Alternative 
1, Light Industrial and Commercial, is the local community's preferred 
reuse of the site.
    Alternative 1 was chosen over Alternatives 2 and 3 because it 
provides the greatest economic benefits for the state and local 
community, while having no significant impact on the natural or human 
environment. While Alternative 2, Light Industrial and Warehouse, has 
even less impact on the human and natural environment than Alternative 
1, it does not provide the most beneficial economic gain. Alternative 
3, the No-Action Alternative, would provide no economic benefits to the 
area and no benefit to the Federal government. The property would 
remain under the care of the Army and may experience some deterioration 
of buildings and overgrowth of grounds.
    Placing the property into the local economy would create revenues 
for the state and local tax base. In addition, implementation of 
Alternative 1 would have a positive effect on the regional economy by 
creating as many as 250 new jobs and increasing local sales volumes. It 
would not have a significant impact on the population or housing 
market, public services, and infrastructure. Land use would be 
compatible with the current zoning of the site. Local traffic flow may 
be altered in the immediate vicinity of the facility when compared with 
baseline conditions, but would require only minor mitigative measures 
to lessen impacts to traffic and transportation. Additional traffic 
signals and entrances to the site would alleviate impacts to local 
traffic.
    The environmental resources affects associated with the disposal 
would be insignificant. The topography or geology of the site would not 
be affected under the proposed activities. Additional parking 
requirements may cause minor disturbances to soils and loss of 
vegetative cover, but the impacts would be minor. Water resources would 
not be affected under the disposal. It is anticipated that the ambient 
air quality would not be significantly impacted nor the National Air 
Quality Standards levels would be exceeded. No hazardous materials nor 
waste generation is expected. However, if they are included in the 
reuse, the appropriate regulatory requirements would be met. Plant and 
animal resources effects are expected to be insignificant. No wetlands, 
threatened and endangered species, and cultural resources exist within 
the boundaries of PSA. Noise levels are not anticipated to be above 
background levels and the aesthetic value of the site is expected to 
remain the same.
    Based on the environmental and socioeconomic impact analysis in the 
Environmental Assessment for the Disposal and Reuse of Pontiac Storage 
Activity, which is incorporated into this Finding of No Significant 
Impact (FNSI), it has been determined that the disposal of real 
property and its subsequent reuse would not have a significant impact 
on the quality of the natural or human environment. Because there would 
be no significant environmental or socioeconomic impacts resulting from 
implementation of the proposed action, an Environmental Impact 
Statement is not required and will not be prepared.

ADDRESSES: Persons wishing to comment may obtain a copy of the EA or 
inquire into this FNSI by writing to the U.S. Army Materiel Command, 
Attn: AMSCO (Robert Jameson), 5001 Eisenhower Avenue, Alexandria, VA 
22333-0001 or by calling (703) 274-9166 within 30 days of the date of 
publication of this notice.

    Dated: June 24, 1994.
Lewis D. Walker,
Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army (Environment, Safety & 
Occupational Health), OASA (IL&E)
[FR Doc. 94-15958 Filed 6-29-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3710-08-M