[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 165 (Wednesday, August 26, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Page 45472]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-22884]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Navy


Notice of Public Scoping Meeting for the Marine Corps Heritage 
Center

AGENCY: Department of the Navy, DOD.

ACTION: Notice of meeting.

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SUMMARY: The Department of the Navy announces that it will hold a 
public scoping meeting to solicit comments on its preparation of an 
environmental impact statement for the Marine Corps Heritage Center at 
or adjacent to Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia. Agencies and the 
public are invited to provide written comments.

DATES: The public scoping meeting will be on September 17, 1998, from 
7:00 pm to 9:00 pm. All written comments must be received no later than 
October 5, 1998.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the Ramada Inn, Grill Room, 
16304 Route 1, Triangle, Virginia. Written comments, statements and/or 
questions regarding scoping issues should be addressed to: Commanding 
General, Marine Corps Base, (B 046), 3040 McCawley Avenue, Suite 2, 
Quantico, Virginia, 22134-5053 (Attention: Mr. Jeff Shrum).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Jeff Shrum (703) 784-5383 ext 225, 
fax (703) 784-5809, email [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to the National Environmental 
Policy Act as implemented by the Council on Environmental Quality 
regulations (40 CFR Parts 1500-1508), the U.S. Marine Corps published a 
notice of intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) in 
the Federal Register on July 7, 1998, to evaluate the environmental 
effects of constructing and operating a Heritage Center complex at or 
adjacent to Marine Corps Base (MCB) Quantico for Marine Corps 
personnel, their families and the general public. This Center would 
consolidate existing interpretive and curatorial functions that are 
located at MCB Quantico, VA, and the Washington Navy Yard, Washington, 
DC.
    The Marine Corps Air Ground Museum, located at MCB Quantico, holds 
many of the items in the Marine Corps collections and also provides 
items to other DOD museums, the Smithsonian Museum, and other civilian 
museums. The proposed Heritage Center would facilitate and enhance the 
presentation of Marine Corps artifacts and history, promote 
professional military educational opportunities and accommodate unique 
military events and conferences. Currently, the dispersed locations 
used to protect the heritage of the Marine Corps do not have adequate 
facilities for preservation of artifacts or adequate space for displays 
and historic interpretation presentations.
    Locations that meet requirements for siting the Heritage Center 
will be evaluated in the EIS. The siting criteria includes sufficient 
size and suitability in order to accommodate facilities (e.g., 
buildings, parking, roads), and provide visual and noise buffers; 
proximity to Interstate 95 and/or U.S. Route 1 in order to facilitate 
traffic to/from the site; and proximity to MCB Quantico in order to 
support educational requirements of the Base and obtain educational and 
facility support from the Base.
    Environmental issues to be addressed in the EIS include: geological 
resources, biological resources, water resources, noise, air quality, 
land use compatibility, cultural resources, socioeconomics, 
environmental justice, public health and safety, transportation/
circulation, aesthetics, utilities, hazardous materials, and solid 
waste.

    Dated: August 21, 1998.
Ralph W. Corey,
LCDR, JAGC, USN, Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 98-22884 Filed 8-25-98; 8:45 am]
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