[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 100 (Tuesday, May 23, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 33301-33302]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-12972]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army


Environmental Assessment (EA) and Finding of No Significant 
Impact (FNSI) for the National Park Seminary Historic District, Forest 
Glen Annex, Walter Reed Army Medical Center

AGENCY: Department of the Army, DoD.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: The Department of the Army proposes to report the National 
Park Seminary Historic District (NPSHD), in its entirety, as excess 
property to the General Services Administration (GSA), in accordance 
with Army Regulation 405-90 and federal property law. The NPSHD is part 
of the Forest Glen Annex of the Walter Reed Army Medical Center (WRAMC) 
in Montgomery County, Maryland, and is listed on the National Register 
of Historic Places.
    The Army's proposed action will begin the screening and disposal 
process, by providing notice to the GSA that the NPSHD is excess to the 
Army's needs. Under the Federal Property and Administrative Services 
Act and accompanying regulations, GSA is responsible for the disposal 
of excess federal property. The EA for the NPSHD identifies analyzes 
the potential impacts of four alternatives: (1) Excessing the NPSHD; 
(2) excessing NPSHD with additional parcels of land; (3) no action; or 
(4) moth-balling the historic buildings. The Army's preferred 
alternative for implementing the proposed action is Alternative 2.

DATES: Public comments on the EA and FNSI must be submitted by June 22, 
2000.

ADDRESSES: Address comments to Ms. Beverly Chidel, Acting Public 
Affairs Officer, Walter Reed Army Medical Center, 6900 Georgia Avenue, 
N.W., Washington, D.C. 20307-5001 or via email at 
[email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Beverly Chidel, Acting Public 
Affairs Officer, at (202) 782-7177.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Little or no direct adverse impacts on the 
natural and human environment are anticipated as a result of the Army's 
proposed excessing action. The Army will retain control of the property 
and will continue to provide current levels of security and maintenance 
until a new owner is found. Indirect adverse impacts on air quality, 
noise, surface water, soil erosion, biological resources, land use, and 
traffic would result from the eventual reuse of the property by the new 
(non-Army) owner, which can be avoided or minimized by using best 
management practices and complying with state and local laws and 
regulations. The Army is committed to remedying environmental 
contamination, associated with the Army's past ownership or use of the 
NPSHD property, as necessary to protect human health and the 
environment. On the basis of currently available information, no 
remedial action is expected to be necessary for hazardous substances or 
wastes, as defined by 42 U.S.C. 9601(14). Indirect adverse effects on 
historic properties are expected. Consultation with the Maryland State 
Historic Preservation Officer (SHPO) under Section 106 of the National 
Historic Preservation Act is ongoing. The GSA, Army, SHPO, Advisory 
Council on Historic Preservation, as well as any other consulting 
parties identified by GSA, will work to achieve an appropriate 
agreement to address potential adverse effects on the historic 
district. Further evaluation of impacts will be provided in National 
Environmental Policy Act documentation that will be prepared by GSA for 
their action of disposal.
    On the basis of the environmental impact analyses found in the EA, 
which was incorporated into a FNSI, it has been determined that 
implementing the Army's proposed action of reporting the NPSHD to GSA 
as excess property will not have significant individual or cumulative 
impacts on the quality of the human environment. Therefore, an 
Environmental Impact Statement is not required and will not be 
prepared.
    Individuals who want to review the EA and FNSI may obtain a copy 
and provide comments during this 30-day period, by writing to Ms. 
Beverly Chidel at the address listed above. Copies of the EA will also 
be available for public review at the Silver Spring Branch Library 
(8901 Colesville Road, Silver Spring, MD). The EA also may be viewed on 
the Internet at www.wramc.amed.army.mil/departments/dpw.


[[Page 33302]]


    Dated: May 18, 2000.
Raymond J. Fatz,
Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army (Environment, Safety and 
Occupational Health) OASA (I&E).
[FR Doc. 00-12972 Filed 5-22-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3710-08-M