[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 57 (Wednesday, March 25, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14430-14431]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-7698]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army


Environmental Assessment (EA) on the Disposal and Reuse of the 
BRAC Parcels at Sierra Army Depot (SIAD), California

AGENCY: Department of the Army, DoD.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: The Department of the Army announces the availability of the 
Environmental Assessment (EA) and Finding of No Significant Impact 
(FNSI) for the proposed action evaluated by this EA to dispose of 
property made available by the realignment of Sierra Army Depot (SIAD), 
California, in accordance with the Defense Base Closure and Realignment 
Act of 1990, Public Law 101-510, as amended. The EA addresses the 
environmental consequences of the disposal and subsequent reuse of 
approximately 4,397 acres at SIAD. The Army will negotiate the transfer 
of 2,688 acres to the Lassen County Local Redevelopment Authority 
(LRA), transfer 1,037 acres to the U.S. Department of Health and Human 
Services, and 600 acres to the U.S. Department of Justice. Seventy-two 
acres have transferred to the U.S. Department of Interior which were 
the subject of a separate environmental analysis but the impacts of 
disposal are also analyzed in the cumulative effectives section of this 
EA. Three alternative methods of disposal were analyzed: Encumbered 
disposal, unencumbered disposal and retention of the property in 
caretaker status (i.e., no action alternative). The Army's preferred 
alternative for dipsosal of the SIAD BRAC parcels is encumbered 
disposal which involves conveying the property with conditions imposed 
on easements and rights-of-ways, remedial activities, unexploded 
ordnance restriction, noise advisory, wetlands, threatened and 
endangered species habitat, archaeological site protection and 
utilities dependencies.
    The EA, which is incorporated into the Finding of No Significant 
Impact (FNSI), examines potential effects of the proposed action and 
alternatives on 15 resources areas and areas of environmental concern: 
Land use, climate, air quality, noise, geology, and water resources 
infrastructure, hazardous and toxic substances, permits and regulatory 
authorizations, biological resources and ecosystems, cultural 
resources, economic development, socioeconomics and quality of life.
    The cumulative effects analysis of the EA determined that one 
resource category, (socioeconomic impacts), would have significant 
adverse impacts. A significant impact to sociological affects, in and 
of itself, does not give rise to an EIS pursuant to 40 CFR 1508.14. 
Accordingly, a FNSI is appropriate and an EIS will not be prepared.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before April 24, 1998.

ADDRESSES: A copy of the EA or inquiries into the FNSI may be obtained 
by writing to Mr. Glen Coffee at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 
Mobile District, P.O. Box 2288, Mobile, Alabama 36628-0001 or by 
facsimile at (334) 690-2721.


[[Page 14431]]


    Dated: March 13, 1998.
Raymond J. Fatz,
Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army (Environment, Safety and 
Occupational Health), OASA (I,L&E).
[FR Doc. 98-7698 Filed 3-24-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3710-08-M