[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 61 (Wednesday, March 31, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15353-15354]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-7865]
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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Army
Release of the Notice of Availability on the Draft Environmental
Impact Statement (DEIS) on the Disposal and Reuse of the Military Ocean
Terminal, Bayonne, NJ
AGENCY: Department of the Army, DOD.
ACTION: Notice of availability.
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SUMMARY: This DEIS was prepared by the Army in compliance with the
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969 and the President's
Council on Environmental Quality. The closure of the Military Ocean
Terminal, Bayonne, New Jersey (MOTBY) was
[[Page 15354]]
mandated in accordance with the recommendations of the Defense Base
Closure and Realignment Act of 1990, Public Law 101-510, as amended
(the ``BRAC law'').
DATES: The review period for the DEIS will end 45 days after
publication of the NOA in the Federal Register by the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ADDRESSES: Questions and/or written comments regarding the DEIS, or a
request for a copy of the document may be directed to: U.S. Army Corps
of Engineers, ATTN: Dr. Susan Ivester Rees, U.S. Army Engineer
District, Modile (CESAM-PD), 109 St. Joseph Street, Mobile, AL 36602.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Susan Ivester Rees at 334-694-4141
or by facsimile at 334-690-2727.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The DEIS analyzes three alternative courses
of action with respect to the disposal and subsequent reuse of the 676
acres (440 land acres and 236 submerged land acres) comprising the
Military Ocean Terminal, Bayonne (MOTBY): (1) The no action
alternative, under which the property would be maintained in a
caretaker status after closure; (2) the unencumbered alternative, under
which the Army would transfer the property without encumbrances, such
as environmental restrictions and easements; and (3) the encumbered
disposal alternative, under which the Army would transfer the property
with various environmental restrictions and easement, limiting the
future use of the property. Additionally, this DEIS analyzes the
potential environmental and socioeconomic consequences of three
community reuse alternatives: (1) low intensity reuse alternative; (2)
Low-medium intensity reuse alternative; and (3) medium intensity reuse
alternative.
The DEIS concludes the no action alternative is not reasonable
since the closure of MOTBY is mandated by BRAC law, and the Army has no
requirement to retain the property. The DEIS also concludes that the
unencumbered disposal alternative is not feasible given environmental
conditions and legal requirements.
The Army's preferred alternative course of action is the encumbered
disposal of excess property. Possible encumbrances include: covenants
and restrictions pertaining to asbestos-containing material; lead-based
paint; floodplains; future remedial activities after transfer; wetlands
and easements; and rights-of-way.
Community reuse of the MOTBY property is analyzed in the DEIS as a
secondary action resulting from closure and disposal by the Army. While
the Army does not control the community's reuse of the property, under
NEPA, the Army is required to analyze the reasonably foreseeable
impacts of its disposal action. The local community has established the
Bayonne Local Redevelopment Authority (BLRA) to develop and implement a
reuse plan for the installation. Approval and implementation of the
reuse plan are within the discretion of the BLRA.
A public meeting will be held during the 45-day DEIS comment period
to afford the public the opportunity to provide oral and written
comments on the DEIS. The location and time of the meeting will be
announced in local newspapers at least 15 days prior to the meeting.
Verbal comments made at the public meeting and written comments
received during the comment period will be used in the preparation of
the Final EIS and Record of Decision.
Copies of the DEIS have been forwarded to the EPA, other Federal,
state, and local agencies; public officials; and organizations and
individuals who previously provided substantive comments in the EIS
scoping process. Copies of the DEIS are available for review at the
following libraries: The Bayonne Free Public Library, 697 Avenue C,
Bayonne, NJ 07002-2806; the Jersey City Public Library, 472 Jersey
Avenue, Jersey City, NJ 07302; and the Newark Public Library, 5
Washington Street, Newark, NJ 07102.
Dated: March 25, 1999.
Raymond J. Fatz,
Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army, (Environment, Safety and
Occupational Health), OASA(I&E).
[FR Doc. 99-7865 Filed 3-30-99; 8:45 am]
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