[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 46 (Monday, March 10, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10829-10830]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-5862]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Army


Supplemental Environmental Assessment and Finding of no 
Significant Impact for the Relocation of the 1111th Signal Battalion, 
The 1108th Signal Brigade, Information Systems Engineering Command-
Conus Elements, and Related Units (MP Company) and Discretionary Moves 
of Technical Applications Office and Information Mission Area BRAC 
Office From Fort Ritchie, Maryland, to Fort Detrick, Maryland

AGENCY: Department of the Army, DoD.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with Public Law 101-510, the Defense Base 
Closure and Realignment Act of 1990, the Defense Base Closure and 
Realignment Commission recommended the relocation of the 1111th Signal 
Battalion, the 1108th Signal Brigade, a portion of the Information 
Systems Engineering Command-CONUS, and associated Base Operations 
support personnel from Fort Ritchie, Maryland, to Fort Detrick, 
Maryland. The Army will also relocate the Technical Applications Office 
(TAO) and the Information Mission Area Base Realignment and Closure 
Office (IMA BRAC Office) to Fort Detrick, Maryland, pursuant to this 
recommendation.
    An Environmental Assessment (EA) was prepared in June 1996 
resulting in a Finding of No Significant Impact (FNSI). Since that EA 
was prepared, the number of personnel affected by the realignment has 
changed slightly for a net increase of 17 personnel (1,164 total). 
Additionally, several new construction projects have been added 
including a military police company operations building; a separate 
storage facility as an addition to the administration building 
described in the June 1996 EA; a physical fitness center; and a 
proposed dining facility. Also, renovations to existing facilities will 
accommodate the TAO secure administration space and administrative 
space for the IMA BRACO. These changes resulted in the need for this 
supplemental EA.
    The supplemental EA identified no significant adverse environmental 
impacts. There is a potential for only minor or insignificant impacts 
in the areas of noise, water quality, stormwater, geology, soil, 
asbestos management, radon management, and visual and aesthetic values. 
Minor adverse impacts will be avoided by implementing best management 
practices during construction, such as a stormwater management plan and 
a soil erosion control plan and by restricting construction to the 
hours of 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Potential asbestos, lead-based paint, or 
radon impacts will be mitigated by conducting the proper testing before 
renovation (for asbestos and lead-based paint) or after construction 
(for radon) and taking mitigation actions as necessary. Geology and 
soil impacts will be avoided by conducting geotechnical studies before 
site development. Visual impacts will be avoided by grading and 
landscaping the construction sites that may be visible from the Nallin 
Farm complex and by turning off the lights on the physical fitness 
center playing fields by 10 p.m. Therefore, based on the analysis found 
in the supplemental EA, which is hereby incorporated into the Finding 
of No Significant Impact (FNSI), it is determined the implementation of 
the proposed action will not have significant individual or cumulative 
impacts on the quality of the natural or the human environment. Because 
no significant environmental impacts would result from implementation 
of the proposed action, an Environmental Impact Statement is not 
required and will not be prepared.

DATES: Public comments will be accepted on or before April 9, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the supplemental EA/FNSI may be obtained by 
writing to, and any inquiries and comments concerning the same should 
be addressed to, the Commander, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Baltimore 
District, ATTN: CENAB-PL-EM (Ms. Elizabeth Quarrick), P.O. Box 1715, 
Baltimore, Maryland 21203-1715, or by calling (410) 962-2886, or by 
sending a telefax to 410-962-4698. Copies of the supplemental EA/FNSI 
will also be available at the Fort Detrick Post Library

[[Page 10830]]

(Building 501) and the Fort Detrick U.S. Army Garrison Headquarters 
Public Affairs Office (Building 810). There will be a 30-day comment 
period on the supplemental EA/FNSI before the Army proceeds with the 
proposed action.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Ms. Elizabeth Quarrick at 410-962-2886.

    Dated: March 4, 1997.
Raymond J. Fatz,
Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army, (Environment, Safety and 
Occupational Health) OASA (I,L&E).
[FR Doc. 97-5862 Filed 3-7-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3710-08-M