[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 148 (Friday, August 1, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 41372-41373]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-19915]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army


Release of the Notice of Availability of the Draft Environmental 
Impact Statement (DEIS) on the Disposal and Reuse of Fort Ritchie, 
Maryland

AGENCY: Department of the Army, DoD.

ACTION: Notice of Availability.

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SUMMARY: The proposed action evaluated by this DEIS is the disposal of

[[Page 41373]]

Fort Ritchie, Maryland, in accordance with the Defense Base Closure and 
Realignment Act of 1990, Pub. L. 101-510. The DEIS addresses the 
environmental consequences of the disposal and subsequent reuse of the 
638 acres.
    The DEIS analyzes two disposal alternatives: (1) the No Action 
Alternative, which entails maintaining the property in caretaker status 
after closure; and (2) the Encumbered Disposal Alternative, which 
entails transferring the property to future owners with Army-imposed 
limitations, or encumbrances, on the future use of the property. 
Additionally, this DEIS analyzes the potential environmental and 
socioeconomic consequences of three reuse alternatives: (1) Low 
Intensity Reuse Alternative; (2) Low-Medium Intensity Reuse 
Alternative; and (3) Medium Intensity Reuse Alternative. Disposal 
alternatives were developed by the Army. Reuse alternatives were 
developed by the Fort Ritchie Local Redevelopment Authority. The 
resources areas evaluated for potential impacts by the proposed action 
(disposal) and the secondary action (reuse) include; land use; climate; 
air quality; noise; geology, soils, and topography; water resources; 
infrastructure; hazardous and toxic substances; biological resources 
and ecosystems; cultural resources; legacy resources; sociological 
environment; economic development; quality of life; installation 
agreements, and permits and regulatory authorizations.
    A scoping meeting was held at Smithsburg High School on October 10, 
1996. Public notices requesting input and comments from the public were 
issued in the regional area surrounding Fort Ritchie.

COPIES: Copies of the DEIS will be available for review at the 
following locations: Adams County Library, Gettysburg, PA; Alexander 
Hamilton Library, Waynesboro, PA; Blue Ridge Summit Library, Blue Ridge 
Summit, PA; C. Burr Artz Central Library, Fredreick, MD; Robert F. 
Barrick Library, Fort Ritchie, MD; and the Washington County Free 
Library, Hagerstown, MD.

DATES: Written public comments and suggestions received 45 days of the 
publication of the Environmental Protection Agency's Notice of 
Availability for this action will be addressed in the Final 
Environmental Impact Statement.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement can be 
obtained by writing to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, ATTN: Mr. 
Clifford Kidd (CENAB-PL-EM), Baltimore District, P.O. Box 1715, 
Baltimore, Maryland 21203-1715, or calling direct to (410) 962-3199.

    Dated: July 23, 1997.
Raymond J. Fatz,
Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army, (Environment, Safety and 
Occupational Health) OASA (I, L&E).
[FR Doc. 97-19915 Filed 7-31-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3710-08-M