[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 44 (Thursday, March 6, 1997)] [Notices] [Pages 10276-10277] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 97-5477] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Exterior Security of Federally Occupied Buildings in the District of Columbia Pursuant to Section 102(2)(C) the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969 as implemented by the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) regulations (40 CFR parts 1500-1508), the General Services Administration (GSA) announces its intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to evaluate the potential environmental impacts of vehicle restrictions near selected federally-occupied buildings in the District of Columbia. The GSA is investigating measures to improve security at buildings in the District of Columbia occupied by federal employees. In cooperation with the GSA, tenants of federally occupied buildings formed Building Security Committees (BSC) to decide the type and amount of security appropriate for their needs. The BSC recommended vehicle restrictions in the proximity of federal buildings. GSA will prepare an EIS to assess the potential effect of this type of recommendation and determine whether the impact of the recommended alternative is significant. The GSA has identified 80 federally occupied buildings within the downtown of the District of Columbia that are currently at a security risk. A series of alternatives will be analyzed to determine the effectiveness at improving building security and determine the environmental impacts:No Action--This alternative presents no change in the existing vehicle restrictions. Partial Vehicular Restriction--Vehicle restrictions in proximity to federal buildings would only allow for authorized vehicles with a secure windshield sticker, placard, or other identifying marker. Total Vehicular Restriction--All vehicles in proximity to any at-risk federally occupied buildings would be prohibited. The EIS to be prepared by the GSA will address the following potential areas of concern: economic impacts to the District of Columbia; traffic flow and mass transit; air quality; and public safety. GSA will initiate a scoping process for the purpose of determining the scope of issues to be addressed and for identifying the significant issues related to this proposed action. [[Page 10277]] Public scoping meetings are scheduled for: April 9, 1997 beginning at 7:30 p.m. at the General Services Administration Auditorium located at 18th and F Streets, NW., Washington, DC 20405 (enter on the F Street Entrance) and April 10, 1997 beginning at 1:30 p.m. at the General Services Administration Regional Auditorium located at 7th & D Streets, SW., Washington, DC 20407 (enter on the D Street Entrance) These meetings will be announced in local newspapers. A brief presentation will precede the request for public comment. GSA representative will be available at this meeting to receive comments from the public regarding issues of concern. It is important that federal, state, and local agencies and interested groups and individuals take this opportunity to identify environmental concerns that should be addressed during the preparation of the EIS. All interested parties are invited to attend this meeting or submit comments in writing as described below. When registering, each attendee will be requested to indicate whether oral comments will be delivered at the meeting. In the interest of available time, each speaker will be asked to limit oral comments to five (5) minutes. Longer comments should be summarized at the public meeting or mailed to the address listed at the end of this announcement. To be most helpful, scoping comments should clearly describe specific issues or topics that the commenter believes the EIS should address. All written statements and/ or questions regarding the scoping process should be mailed no later than April 24, 1997 to: Ms. Christine Kelly, General Services Administration, (WPCAA), Property Development Division, Room 2634, 7th & D Streets SW., Washington, DC 20407, telephone (202) 708-4900, ext. 256, E-mail [email protected]. Dated: February 21, 1997. William R. Lawson, Assistant Regional Administrator, Public Buildings Service. [FR Doc. 97-5477 Filed 3-5-97; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6820-23-M