[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 80 (Friday, April 25, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Page 20159]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-10773]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army


Environmental Assessment (EA) and Finding of no Significant 
Impact (FNSI) for the Disposal and Reuse of Fort Holabird Defense 
Investigative Service and Cummins Apartments Parcels, Baltimore, 
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 Commission recommended the closure of Fort 
Holabird upon relocation of its remaining tenant, the Defense 
Investigative Service (DIS). The law further directs that the 
organization be relocated to a new facility at Fort Meade, Maryland. In 
addition, Public Law 104-106 allows for the conveyance of the 6.6 acres 
under and around Cummins Apartments, housing located on a parcel of 
Fort Holabird, to the current owner of the apartment building(s).
    The EA analyzes the environmental and socioeconomic effects of the 
closure of Fort Holabird, and the sale of land associated with Cummins 
Apartments. The relocation of the organization to Fort Meade and the 
planned construction of a new facility is covered in a separate EA. The 
Fort Holabird disposal EA also evaluates potential reuse of the 
property.
    The EA evaluated three disposal alternatives: encumbered disposal, 
unencumbered disposal, and the no-action alternative. The preferred 
alternative is encumbered disposal. This involves transfer of the 
property with conditions, imposed by the Army and incorporated into 
transfer documents, on future reuse. Currently, there are no 
encumbrances associated with the parcels. There are, however, several 
potentially contaminated areas in the vicinity of the DIS parcel. These 
areas require further environmental evaluation. If the ongoing 
investigation reveals contamination that needs to be remediated, it may 
be necessary to dispose of the property with encumbrances to protect 
and allow continued access to affected area.
    In addition to the proposed Army disposal actions, the EA also 
evaluates three potential reuse scenarios for the DIS parcel (high-
intensity, medium-intensity, and low-intensity reuse scenarios). These 
scenarios were developed by the Army in cooperation with the City of 
Baltimore to evaluate a range of reasonably foreseeable impacts from 
reuse by other parties, as an indirect action resulting from the 
disposal. A local community reuse plan is being prepared.
    The Chief of Staff, U.S. Army Military District of Washington, has 
concluded the proposed disposal and reuse of the DIS and Cummins 
Apartments parcels do not constitute a major federal action 
significantly affecting the environment. Because no significant adverse 
effects are expected as a result of the disposal and reuse of the 
parcels, an Environmental Impact Statement is not required, and will 
not be prepared.

DATES: Public comments must be submitted on or before May 27, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the EA and FNSI may be obtained by writing to, and 
any inquiries should be addressed to, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 
ATTN: Ms. Maria de la Torre (CENAB-PL-EM), P.O. Box 1715, Baltimore, 
Maryland 21203-1715, or by telefax at (410) 962-4698, within 30 days of 
the publication of this notice. Individuals wishing to review the EA 
may also examine a copy at the Enoch Pratt Library, 400 Cathedral 
Street, Baltimore, Maryland.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Ms. Charlotte Rodriguez at (202) 685-3255.

    Dated: April 18, 1997.
Raymond J. Fatz,
Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army (Environment, Safety and 
Occupational Health) OASA (I, L&E).
[FR Doc. 97-10773 Filed 4-24-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3710-08-M