[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 88 (Monday, May 8, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 22569-22570]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-11234]
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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Army
Notice of Finding of No Significant Impact (FNSI) and
Environmental Assessment (EA) for Realignment of Five Business Areas
From Fort Belvoir, Virginia, to Detroit Arsenal, Michigan
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
realignment of the following business areas: a) Supply Distribution, b)
Bridging, c) Mechanical Counter Mobility, d) Water Purification, and e)
Fuels and Lubricants to the Detroit Arsenal, Michigan, as required by
the Base Closure and Realignment Act of 1990 (Public Law 101-510).
The 1993 Defense Base Closure and Realignment Commission
recommended certain realignment and closure actions for military
installations on July 1, 1993 (BRAC 93), including the realignment of a
portion of the Belvoir Research, Development and Engineering Center
(BRDEC), Fort Belvoir, Virginia, to the Tank-Automotive Research,
Development and Engineering Center (TARDEC), Detroit Arsenal, Michigan.
Recommended actions were approved by the President of the United States
and subsequent review by the United States Congress did not alter any
of the BRAC 93 recommendations.
The purpose of the EA is to identify and evaluate the anticipated
effects of the realignment of these five business areas upon the
receiving location. Because the recommended realignment is a statutory
requirement and must be implemented, No Action, or not implementing the
proposed action is not currently a viable alternative. The Army is
required to move and consolidate these activities to the maximum extent
possible. This mandate does not allow the Army to seek off-post sites
as options for consolidation of activities. Sufficient office space is
available in existing Building 201 which is currently undergoing
renovation to accommodate the office functions of the realigned Supply
Distribution, and Bridging business areas, however, existing on-post
laboratory facilities are either occupied or not configured to allow
efficient use by the Mechanical Counter Mobility, Water Purification,
and Fuels and Lubricants business areas. There are no feasible
alternatives to the following construction activities proposed to
execute this BRAC 93 action.
The EA studied in detail two possible alternatives: (a) Preferred
construction site and (b) an alternative construction site. Under the
Preferred Construction Site Alternative the Fuels and Lubricants, Water
Purification and Mechanical Counter Mobility business areas would be
accommodated on Detroit Arsenal in a new 38,000 square foot facility.
This facility would be built between and connect two existing buildings
(Buildings 212 and 215) in the north-central portion of Detroit
Arsenal. The building location was selected on the basis of its
proximity to existing facilities and its compatibility with current
utilization.
Under the Alternative Construction Site the Fuels and Lubricants,
Water Purification and Mechanical Counter Mobility business areas would
be accommodated at the Detroit Arsenal in a new 40,000 square foot
facility. This facility would be a free standing structure built over
approximately one acre of undeveloped land just west of Building 215 in
the north-central sector of the Detroit Arsenal. This site is currently
used as a softball field.
Regarding the preferred construction site alternative, no
significant impacts were identified. Potential for only minor,
insignificant impacts are anticipated regarding: Air Quality, soils,
and groundwater. Building 212 has been recommended as being eligible
for the National Register of Historic Places. Proposed construction
plans for the new connecting building will be coordinated with the
Michigan State Historic Preservation Officer (SHPO) prior to
undertaking any construction activities. If necessary, a Memorandum of
Agreement detailing the actions the Army will take to avoid or mitigate
for any adverse effects to National Register properties will be
concluded among the Army, the Michigan SHPO, and the Advisory Council.
Regarding the Alternative Construction Site, no significant impacts
were identified. Potential for only minor, insignificant, impacts are
anticipated regarding: land use, air quality, soils, surface drainage,
and [[Page 22570]] groundwater. This site would require an
archaeological reconnaissance.
Based on the environmental impact analyses found in the EA, it has
been determined that implementation of the proposed action would not
have significant individual or cumulative impacts on the quality of the
natural or the human environment. Because there would be no significant
environmental impacts resulting from implementation of the proposed
action, a FNSI has been prepared, and an Environmental Impact Statement
is not required for the realignment of these five business areas to the
Detroit Arsenal, Michigan.
DATES: Comments must be received by no later than May 23, 1995.
ADDRESSES: Persons wishing to comment may obtain a copy of the EA or
inquire regarding the FNSI by writing to the U.S. Army Engineer
District, Louisville, ATTN: CEORL-PD-R (Jim Baker), P.O. Box 59,
Louisville, Kentucky 40201-0059.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions regarding this FNSI may be
directed to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, ATTN: Mr. Jim Baker, at
(502) 582-5774.
Dated: May 3, 1995.
Lewis D. Walker,
Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army, (Environment, Safety and
Occupational Health) OASA (IL&E).
[FR Doc. 95-11234 Filed 5-5-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3710-08-M