[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 73 (Tuesday, April 16, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Page 18623]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-9146]


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GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION


Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Assessment

    The General Services Administration intends to prepare an 
Environmental Assessment, with the National Capital Planning Commission 
(NCPC) participating as a cooperating agency, in compliance with the 
National Environmental Policy Act, on the following project:

    Disposal of Square 62, (Lot Nos. 810, 813, 814 and 815), located 
at 2218 C Street, NW Washington, DC 20037.

    Square 62 was acquired through condemnation in 1958 for the purpose 
of providing a security buffer to the newly constructed Department of 
State building on C Street, NW. GSA is currently maintaining Square 62 
as a ceremonially landscaped buffer area.
    Although security is still a major issue with any future 
development of Square 62, maintaining it, as a vacant landscaped buffer 
is no longer required. Square 62 produces no income and requires 
periodic expenses for maintenance and as a result, GSA is proposing to 
dispose of the Square 62 property under its disposal authority (the 
Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949, as amended). 
Part of GSA's mission is to dispose of surplus Federal property that is 
no longer serving a Federal purpose but requires Federal expenses for 
upkeep and maintenance.
    Alternatives being considered include:
     No Action Alternative--Taking no action and continuing to 
maintain Square 62 as a ceremonially landscaped security buffer area.
     Disposition of Square 62
    Under the disposition alternative, GSA is considering the 
following:
     Disposing of Square 62 to the adjacent landowner, the 
American Pharmaceutical Association, (APhA). APhA wants to use the 
Square 62 property along with a portion of their existing property to 
build a new 193,000 square feet, five story, office building capable of 
housing roughly 800-850 workers.
     Disposing of Square 62 to some other entity, which would 
allow the option of developing a 100,000 square feet building, likely 
to be zoned SP-2 by District of Columbia (GSA appraisal 2001).
    A public scoping meeting has been scheduled for: Thursday, April 
25, 2002, at 7 pm, at the American Pharmaceutical Association Building, 
2215 Constitution Avenue, Washington, DC 20405.
    GSA is requesting your input to ensure that all pertinent issues 
are addressed in the Environmental Assessment (EA). In addition GSA and 
NCPC are soliciting comments under Section 106 of the National Historic 
Preservation Act as building actions under some of the alternatives 
could have an impact on other historic properties in the National Mall 
area.
    All interested parties who would like to provide oral comments at 
the public scoping meeting should register to speak by calling (202) 
708-5334.
    At the meeting there will be a brief presentation about the 
proposed action and the EA process. Agencies and individuals will then 
be invited to offer their comments about the appropriate scope of the 
study. Those who have preregistered to speak by telephone will be given 
the first opportunity to speak. They will be followed by those persons 
who sign up to speak at the registration desk, the night of the scoping 
meeting. All speakers will be asked to limit their oral comments to 
five (5) minutes.
    The meeting will also feature informational displays about the 
project and the environmental study, and meeting participants will have 
an opportunity to provide their input at these exhibits.
    Agencies and the general public are also invited and encouraged to 
provide written comment in addition to, or in lieu of, comments at the 
public meeting. To be most helpful, scoping comments should clearly 
describe specific issues or topics that you think the EA should 
address, and should be received by GSA no later than May 12, 2002.
    If you can not attend the Public Scoping meeting, please send 
comments to the address below.
    Frank T. Thomas, General Services Administration, National Capital 
Region, Public Buildings Service, Office of Portfolio Management (WPT), 
Room 7600, 7th & D Streets 20407. FAX (202) 708-7671. (202) 708-4840. 
E-mail: [email protected].

    Dated: April 9, 2002.
Nancy Czapek,
Executive Officer/Acting Director, Property Disposal.
[FR Doc. 02-9146 Filed 4-15-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6820-23-M