[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 2 (Thursday, January 3, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Page 311]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-77]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army


Release of the Notice of Availability (NOA) on the Final 
Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) on the Disposal and Reuse of the 
Oakland Army Base, Oakland, California

AGENCY: Department of the Army, DoD.

ACTION: Notice of Availability.

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SUMMARY: The Army prepared this FEIS in compliance with the National 
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969 and the President's Council on 
Environmental Quality. The closure of the Oakland Army Base (OARB), 
Oakland, California, was 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''). The July 27, 
2001, edition of the Federal Register (66 FR 39153-54 and 39162) 
contained the NOA for the Army's OARB Supplemental Draft EIS.

DATES: The review period for the Final EIS will end 30 days after 
publication of the Notice of Availability in the Federal Register by 
the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

ADDRESSES: Direct questions and/or written comments regarding the Final 
EIS to, or a request for a copy of the document from: Mr. Chuck 
Hubbard, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Sacramento District (CESPK-PD) 
1325 J Street, Sacramento, California 95814-2922.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Chuck Hubbard at (916) 557-6958; 
by facsimile at (916) 557-7850; or by e-mail at 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FEIS analyzes three alternative courses 
of action with respect to the disposal and subsequent reuse of the 425 
acres (371 land acres and 54 submerged land acres) comprising the OARB: 
(1) The no action disposal alternative, under which the property would 
be maintained in a caretaker status after closure; (2) the unencumbered 
disposal alternative, under which the Army would transfer the property 
without encumbrances, such as environmental restrictions, land use 
controls, and easements; and (3) the encumbered disposal alternative, 
under which the Army would transfer the property with various 
environmental restrictions, land use controls, and easements, limiting 
the future use of the property. The FEIS also analyzes the potential 
environmental and socioeconomic consequences of a range of community 
reuse alternatives: (1) Low intensity reuse alternative; (2) low-medium 
intensity reuse alternative, (3) medium intensity reuse alternative; 
(4) medium-high intensity reuse alternative (5) medium-high/high 
intensity reuse alternative; (6) high intensity reuse alternative; and 
(7) very-high intensity reuse alternative.
    The FEIS concludes the no action alternative is not reasonable 
because the BRAC law mandates closure of the Oakland Army Base, and the 
Army has no requirement to retain the property. This FEIS 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; biological resources; historic properties; ground water usage; 
excavations; future remedial activities after transfer; infrastructure 
easements; and rights-of-way.
    The FIES analyzes community reuse of the OARB property 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, NEPA 
requires the Army to analyze the reasonable foreseeable impacts of its 
disposal action. The local community established the Oakland Base Reuse 
Authority (OBRA) to develop and implement a reuse plan for the 
installation. Approval and implementation of the reuse plan are within 
the discretion of the OBRA.
    Comments on the FEIS, received during the 30-day public comment 
period, will be considered in preparing the Army's Record of Decision.
    Copies the FEIS are available for review at the following 
libraries: the Oakland Public Library Main Branch, Science, Social 
Science and Documents Section, 125 Fourteenth Street, Oakland, 
California 94612; the West Oakland Branch Library, 1801 Adeline Street, 
Oakland, California 94607; and the Base Transition Office, 2475-D West 
12th Street, Oakland, California 94607.

    Dated: December 21 2001.
Raymond J. Fatz,
Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army, (Environment, Safety and 
Occupational Health), OASA(I&E).
[FR Doc. 02-77 Filed 1-2-02; 8:45 am]
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