[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 170 (Friday, September 2, 1994)]
[Notices]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-21749]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: September 2, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Army

 

Finding of No Significant Impact and Environmental Assessment for 
Disposal and Reuse of Tacony Warehouse, Philadelphia, PA

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 disposal 
and reuse of the Tacony Warehouse facility, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 
as required by the Defense Authorization Amendments and the Base 
Closure and Realignment Act (Pub. L. 100-526). The Army will dispose of 
an approximately 14 acre parcel of land with improvements. The Fort Dix 
Directorate of Public Works has been maintaining the facility since 
closure in September 1992.
    The alternatives are expressed in terms of Army imposed conditions 
for real estate disposal. An ``Unencumbered Alternative'' represents 
the ability to turn over the property with no Army imposed conditions. 
An ``Encumbered Alternative'' deals with property transferred with 
conditions imposed by the Army. This may be due to mitigation required 
by another regulatory agency or may be required to protect Army 
interests. Council on Environmental Quality and Army regulations 
implementing the National Environmental Protection Act require a no-
action alternative as a benchmark against which proposed actions are 
evaluated. For this document, this is the ``Caretaker'' alternative.
    The ``Unencumbered Alternative'', the ``Encumbered Alternative'', 
and the ``No Action Alternative'' (Caretaker) have been addressed in 
the Environmental Assessment (EA). In the ``Unencumbered Alternative'', 
the facility will be available for reuse under a range of projected 
levels of reuse. Those projected levels of reuse are: High Intensity 
Use, Medium Intensity Use, Low Intensity Use and Open Space.
    High Intensity Use is defined when all of the property is offered 
for sale for a light industrial/commercial reuse. There would be 
renovation of existing structures to house a light industrial/
commercial enterprise. Some construction activities, including building 
office and showroom space, will be performed within existing 
structures.
    Medium Intensity Use is when all of the property is used as a 
regional distribution center. The facility's area of distribution will 
be the Mid-Atlantic States region. There will be renovations of 
existing structures and renovation of the rail lines entering the site.
    Low Intensity use would occur if all of the property is sold or 
transferred for reuse as warehouse. An example of Open Space is when 
the remainder of the parcel will be transferred to the city for use as 
an outdoor recreation area.
    Land use in the ``Encumbered Alternative'' is similar to ``Low 
Intensity Use'' addressed in the ``Unencumbered Alternative.'' The 
identified encumbrance is associated with groundwater remediation 
activities and will restrict use of groundwater for human ingestion or 
industrial purposes. Additionally, the 0.9 acre parcel adjacent to the 
state owned boat ramp will be transferred to the Pennsylvania Fishing 
Commission as part of the boat ramp parking and picnic area. In the no 
action alternative, also known as the ``Caretaker'' alternative, the 
Army will retain and close the facility. The structures will be allowed 
to stand, with minimum maintenance activity conducted at the facility.
    The disposal of Tacony Warehouse would not result in significant 
environmental or socioeconomic impacts. The transfer of 0.9 acres to 
the Pennsylvania Fishing Commission will have no impact on the 
environment since the activities and conditions at the 0.9 acre site 
will not change as a result of the transfer.
    Army Environmental Center studies have identified the extent of 
contamination at the site. A remediation plan was prepared and 
coordinated with the Environmental Protection Agency and the 
Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Resources. The following 
remediation has been planned: Removal of underground storage tanks and 
above ground storage tanks; replacement of polychlorinated biphenyl 
contaminated transformers; asbestos removal and management; steam 
cleaning of contaminated building surfaces; contaminated soil and 
sediment removal; and groundwater collection and monitoring. Since the 
structures on the property were constructed prior to 1978, the 
potential for lead based paints exist. The Army does not plan to remove 
any lead based paint.
    Reuse of the property will have potential impacts to air quality, 
water quality, soils, and hazardous and toxic materials. The extent of 
these impacts will be dependent on: (1) The extent of renovation, 
demolition, and construction activities; and (2) the products produced 
and stored at the facility. High intensity reuse and Open Space reuse, 
addressed in the ``Unencumbered Alternative'', will have the greatest 
impacts on these resources. Best management techniques will lessen the 
impacts of construction and renovation. Prior to and during operations, 
consultation will occur with environmental resource agencies, as 
required, to ensure compliance with all federal, state, and local 
regulations and guidelines.
    Increases to the facility's utility usage and the surrounding 
traffic patterns as a result of reuse will not pose a significant 
impact to the surrounding community. No plant and animal ecologies 
exist on the property. No cultural resources exist on the site to be 
affected by reuse. The State Historic Preservation Office has concurred 
with the Army's determination that no historic properties exist on the 
site. Since the disposal of Tacony Warehouse does not constitute a 
major federal action significantly affecting the human environment, an 
Environmental Impact Statement will not be prepared.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before October 3, 1994.

ADDRESSES: Persons wishing to comment may obtain a copy of the EA or 
inquire regarding this Finding of No Significant Impact by writing to 
the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, ATTN: Mr. Larry D. Eastman, Planning 
Division, P.O. Box 1715, Baltimore, Maryland 21203-1715.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: Questions regarding this FNSI may be directed 
to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, ATTN: Mr. Larry D. Eastman, at 
(410) 962-3208.

    Dated: August 29, 1994.
Lewis D. Walker,
Assistant Secretary of the Army, (Environment, Safety and Occupational 
Health) OASA (IL&E).
[FR Doc. 94-21749 Filed 9-1-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3710-08-M