[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 224 (Tuesday, November 22, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-28701]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: November 22, 1994]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Navy

 

Record of Decision for Realignment of Carswell Air Force Base to 
Naval Air Station Fort Worth, Fort Worth, TX

    Pursuant to section 102(2) of the National Environmental Policy Act 
(NEPA) of 1969 and the Council on Environmental Quality regulations for 
implementing NEPA procedures (40 CFR 1500-1508), the Department of the 
Navy announces its decision to implement realignment of Carswell Air 
Force Base (AFB) to Naval Air Station (NAS) Fort Worth Joint Reserve 
Base (JRB), Fort Worth, Texas. In accordance with the legislative 
requirements of the Defense Base Closure and Realignment Act of 1990 
[Public Law (P.L.) 101-510), the 1993 Defense Base Closure and 
Realignment Commission (BRAC-93) recommended the closure of NAS Dallas, 
Texas, NAS Memphis, Tennessee, and NAS Glenview, Illinois. Assets and 
operations from each of these bases were directed to be relocated to 
the former Carswell AFB, which closed September 30, 1993 pursuant to a 
BRAC-91 decision. The former Carswell AFB is to be realigned to become 
the Naval Air Station Fort Worth Joint Reserve Base (JRB).
    In compliance with the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) 
regulations, the Department of the Navy acted as a Cooperating Agency 
with the Department of the Air Force and had substantial involvement in 
drafting and reviewing an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the 
disposal and reuse of Carswell AFB. The EIS presented a full 
description of the projects and environmental impacts associated with 
the Navy realignment actions. In addition, the Navy planned actions 
were presented at the Draft EIS Public Hearing hosted by the Department 
of the Air Force. The Department of the Navy has conducted an 
independent review of the EIS and adopts the EIS for purposes of its 
proposed actions. This Record of Decision announces Navy's decision to 
implement actions described in the FEIS for the realignment and 
operation of NAS Fort Worth JRB, Fort Worth, Texas.
    A Draft EIS was prepared for the proposed reuse and disposal 
actions and distributed to federal, state, and local agencies and to 
interested individuals and groups in February 1993. The DEIS was 
revised to include the Navy as a cooperating agency when the BRAC-93 
decision to realign Carswell AFB was made. The revised DEIS was 
published and distributed in March 1994. A public hearing was held on 
April 4, 1994 in the City of Fort Worth, Texas. Responses to all public 
comments received were incorporated in an FEIS that was distributed in 
July 1994. The proposed Navy realignment action would incorporate 
approximately 1,869 acres from the former Carswell AFB for reuse as NAS 
Fort Worth JRB. The realignment of the base would consist of renovation 
of approximately 120 buildings and new construction of an additional 25 
facilities, in addition to the demolition of some facilities that are 
not cost effective to reuse or renovate.
    The realignment also includes upgrades of base utilities to 
accommodate JRB requirements. Upgrades to the airfield stormwater 
drainage will also be incorporated into the realignment plans. An 
estimated total of 24 acres of land will need to be distributed for new 
construction activities.
    The proposed operations of the NAS Fort Worth JRB will be primarily 
air operations by reserve forces. Some smaller non-air units will also 
be attached to the base. Reserve units from the Navy, Marine corps, Air 
Force, Texas Air National Guard, and Army National Guard will be 
operating at the base. The various types of aircraft that will be 
normally at the base will include F-14s, F/A-18s, F-16s, KC-130s, C-
130s, C-9s, C-12s, U-21s, CH-47s, UH-60s and a UH-1. An estimated 
95,000 annual air operations are associated with the various proposed 
military aircraft, including transient military aircraft. All of the 
existing airspace and air traffic control services associated with 
previous Air Force operations will be retained for use by the JRB. The 
combination of closure and realignment will reduce military air traffic 
in the area and significantly reduce potential civilian-military 
aircraft conflicts.
    Approximately 2,100 active duty military personnel are expected to 
be attached to the JRB. An additional 1,400 civilian personnel will be 
employed at the base. Approximately 8,500 reservists or guardsmen will 
drill at the JRB on schedules that will attempt to spread the numbers 
equally over three weekends each month.
    The realignment and establishment of NAS Fort Worth JRB will occur, 
as mandated by P.L. 101-510, regardless of the disposal and reuse of 
the remaining portions of Carswell AFB. Therefore, these military land 
areas and reuse activities were incorporated as part of the No-Action 
alternative and all reuse alternatives for analysis in the EIS. Maximum 
consideration was given to the use of existing structures to minimize 
environmental impacts and construction costs for realignment. Sites 
considered at NAS Fort Worth JRB for the proposed new facilities 
avoided environmentally sensitive areas and were selected based on 
functional considerations, adequacy of existing structures for the 
proposed uses, availability of utilities, proximity to existing 
facilities, and observing all airfield safety and noise criteria. The 
proposed action will cause no significant impact to ambient air quality 
levels. Localized, temporary impacts would occur during construction 
and demolition activities. Compliance with state and federal 
regulations, including National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air 
Pollutants (NESHAPS), will be achieved during any removal of asbestos-
containing materials.
    NAS Fort Worth JRB is located in a non-attainment area for ozone. 
An applicability analysis was performed for air pollutant emissions of 
nitrogen oxides (NOX) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in 
compliance with the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 and the 1993 
General Conformity Rule for determining conformity of federal actions 
to state or federal implementation plans (40 CFR Parts 6, 51, and 93). 
The analysis included construction-related emissions, mobile-source 
emissions, and stationary-source emissions associated with the proposed 
action. Neither NOX nor VOC emissions estimates for any year of 
the proposed action exceeded the de minimis levels of 100 tons per year 
established by the General Conformity Rule. The proposed action was 
determined to conform to the State Implementation Plan (SIP) and is 
exempted from any further requirements of the General Conformity Rule. 
The Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission (TNRCC) has reviewed 
the applicability analysis presented in the FEIS and has approved the 
air permit application resulting in the issuance of a construction 
permit to the Navy.
    An aircraft noise study was conducted to analyze the effects of 
noise patterns associated with JRB operations as compared to the 
previous operations at Carswell AFB. The area exposed to sound level 
DNL 65 dB or greater is expected to decrease by approximately 2,605 
acres and affect 2,300 fewer residents than the previous Air Force 
aircraft noise impacts.
    No significant degradation of levels of service for on-base or off-
base road systems are expected as a result of the proposed action. 
Current utilities to the base are of sufficient capacity to provide 
anticipated services. Utility lines within the base infrastructure will 
be upgraded in some locations where additional fire protection, natural 
gas, sanitary sewer, or electrical services are required.
    The local economy will not encounter any significant impacts from 
the proposed action. NAS Forth Worth JRB will initially reuse 83 units 
of family housing on-base. An estimated 3,939 housing units within the 
local communities will be vacated as a result of the closure of 
Carswell AFB. An estimated 1,196 housing units will be required to 
accommodate the in-migration of permanent personnel associated with the 
JRB. Based on this projected in-migration, 281 new students will enroll 
in the area's various school districts; this number is less than the 
decreases experienced in each of the last three years as a result of 
the Carswell AFB closure.
    Clean-up on identified installation restoration program (IRP) sites 
will continue regardless of the reuse or disposal plans. The 
Departments of the Navy and Air Force have entered into a Memorandum of 
Agreement to identify which department will continue the management of 
the clean-up program and provide the funding requirements. The two 
Departments have agreed to finalize program arrangements by October 1, 
1995. In the interim, the Air Force Base Conversion Agency (AFBCA) will 
continue to administer the program. New construction and renovations 
requiring excavations will be closely coordinated with the IRP project 
manager to avoid any impacts to IRP sites or construction plans and 
maintain the health and safety of contractor personnel.
    The Navy will institute a hazardous material minimization program 
at NAS Fort Worth JRB by issuing hazardous materials in increments for 
daily consumption to the various departments and users on base. The 
hazardous waste storage facility currently permitted under a Part B 
permit by the State of Texas will continued to be used as a permitted 
facility for the storage of generated hazardous wastes.
    The AFBCA has identified all underground storage tanks that were in 
place at Carswell AFB. Navy design teams are evaluating what tanks are 
required for continued support to facilities planned for reuse. These 
tanks will be inspected and certified for use in accordance with all 
applicable underground storage tank regulations. The AFBCA is 
continuing with efforts to remove all other tanks not planned for 
reuse.
    The proposed action would result in no significant impacts to plant 
or animal species listed as threatened or endangered by either federal 
or state agencies. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has concurred in 
this conclusion. No impacts to wetlands will be experienced as a result 
of new construction. Minor impacts to floodplains will be mitigated 
through the construction of improved storm water drainage and handling 
systems. The estimated 24 acres of disturbance from new construction 
will have minimal impacts to biological resources because of 
adjacencies to current airfield/industrial operations and the already 
existing built-up conditions.
    Potential impacts to cultural resources at NAS Fort Worth JRB have 
been evaluated in compliance with Section 106 of the National Historic 
Preservation Act (NHPA). Renovations are proposed for two buildings 
(Building 1430 and 4175) that have been identified as eligible for the 
National Register of Historic Places. The exterior renovations to 
Building 1430 will include the installation of a new roof. Interior 
renovations will include movement of office walls added to the facility 
during earlier Air Force interior renovations. Building 4575 will 
undergo major interior renovations to adapt this alert crew facility to 
a squadron operations building. Exterior renovations will include 
removal and demolition of surrounding equipment, addition of some 
windows, and altering some facility points of ingress/egress. All 
proposed modifications to these buildings will be coordinated with the 
Texas Historical Commission (THC) during project design. The Navy is 
proposing to the THC, a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) for the 
acknowledgment, operation, and maintenance of eligible historic 
structures on NAS Fort Worth JRB. No significant archaeological, Native 
American, or paleontological resources have been identified on NAS Fort 
Worth JRB that would be adversely affected by the realignment 
activities. In the event that archaeological, paleontological, or 
Native American resources are discovered during the course of project 
activities, ground disturbing activities will cease in the immediate 
area and a qualified archaeologist will be consulted.
    Questions regarding the Navy proposed actions for the realignment 
of Carswell AFB to NAS Forth Worth JRB addressed in the Draft and Final 
Environmental Impact Statement prepared for the Reuse and Disposal of 
Carswell AFB may be directed to: Commanding Officer, Southern Division, 
Naval Facilities Engineering Command, P.O. Box 190010, North 
Charleston, SC 29419-9010 (Attn: Mr. Darrell Molzan, Code 203DM), 
telephone (803) 743-0796, fax (803) 743-0993.

    Dated: November 14, 1994.
Elsie L. Munsell,
Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy, (Environment and Safety).
[FR Doc. 94-28701 Filed 11-21-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3810-FF-M