[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 21 (Friday, January 31, 1997)] [Notices] [Page 4744] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 97-2396] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Disposal and Reuse of Naval Station Brooklyn, New York, NY SUMMARY: Pursuant to Section 102(2)(c) of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 as implemented by Council on Environmental Quality regulations (40 CFR parts 1500-1508), the Department of Navy announces its intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Disposal and Reuse of Naval Station Brooklyn (NAVSTA), New York, NY. In December 1988, the Congressional Committee on Base Realignment and Closure recommended the closure and disposal of the land comprising the NAVSTA. The NAVSTA is that area that was largely associated with the former Naval Hospital and often referred to as the ``Navy Yard Annex''. In accordance with the Defense Base Closure and Realignment Act of 1990, the NAVSTA was closed in 1993. Approximately five acres of the property was transferred to the Department of Justice. The remainder of the property was requested by homeless organizations in accordance with the then in-effect Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Plan Act. Plan were initiated for this transfer when the Defense Base Closure Community Redevelopment and Homeless Assistance Act of 1994 allowed communities undergoing the transfer of a defense installation to satisfy homeless demands through other means, thereby preserving the closed defense installation for economic redevelopment. The City of New York has requested that this new legislation be applied to the NAVSTA, and the Mayor's Office of Planning and Community Relations, acting as the local reuse authority (LRA), has prepared a reuse plan for the NAVSTA property. The proposed action to be considered and evaluated in the EIS is the reuse of the NAVSTA property determined surplus to the needs of the federal government. The reuse plan for the NAVSTA, prepared by the LRA, will be the basis for the EIS. The reuse plan emphasizes historic preservation and adaptive reuse of the site's buildings to the greatest extent possible. However, the retention of some existing buildings may not be financially or structurally feasible and their removal will be assessed. The reuse plan represents a reasonable and likely development/reuse scenario based on the City's proposed zoning for the site. The reuse plan proposes a mix of commercial development, institutional, historic, community, and open space uses. The EIS may also consider alternatives to the reuse plan consistent with current zoning. The EIS will address the following known areas of concern: effects of redevelopment at the NAVSTA on the natural and socioeconomic environments inclusive of land use, zoning, on-site historic resources, and neighborhood character. Environmental issues that will be addressed in the EIS include, but are not limited to, air quality, water quality, transportation, and socioeconomic impacts. The EIS will also address potential impacts to the former naval cemetery which occupied a portion of the NAVSTA. ADDRESSES: The Navy will hold a public scoping meeting for the purpose of further identifying the scope of issues to be addressed in the EIS. The meeting will be held on Thursday, February 13, 1997 at the Brooklyn Borough Hall, 209 Joralemon Street, Brooklyn NY 11201, beginning at 7:00 PM. Navy representatives will make a brief presentation, then members of the public will be asked to provide their comments. It is important that federal, state, and local agencies and interested individuals take this opportunity to identify environmental concerns that should be addressed in the EIS. In the interest of time, speakers will be asked to limit comments to five minutes. Written comments must be postmarked by February 28, 1997, and should be mailed to Commanding Officer, Northern Division, Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Code 202, 10 Industrial Highway, Lester PA 19113, (Attn. Mr. Robert Ostermueller, telephone (610) 595-0759, facsimile (610) 595-0778). The scoping meeting will be conducted in English, and requests for language interpreters or other special communications needs should be made to Mr. Ostermueller at least one week prior to the meeting. The Navy will make every reasonable effort to accommodate these needs. Dated: January 28, 1997. D.E. Koenig, Federal Register Liaison Officer. [FR Doc. 97-2396 Filed 1-30-97; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3810-FF-M