[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 79 (Wednesday, April 24, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 20097-20099]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-10030]
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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Navy
Record of Decision for Disposal and Reuse of the Naval Air
Station, South Weymouth, MA
AGENCY: Department of the Navy, DOD.
ACTION: Notice of record of decision.
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SUMMARY: The Department of the Navy announces its decision to dispose
of the Naval Air Station (NAS), in South Weymouth, MA, in a manner
consistent with the Final Reuse Plan adopted by the South Shore Tri-
Town Development Corporation (SSTTDC).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under the authority of the Defense
Authorization Amendments and Base Closure and Realignment Act, Public
Law 100-526, 10 U.S.C. section 2687 note (1994), pursuant to section
102(2)(C) of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, and
the Council on Environmental Quality Regulations for implementing NEPA
procedures (40 CFR parts 1500-1508), the Department of the Navy (Navy)
announces its decision to dispose of NAS South Weymouth in a manner
consistent with the Final Reuse Plan adopted by the South Shore Tri-
Town Development Corporation.
The disposal and subsequent reuse of this property will be in
accordance with the preferred alternative as described in the Final
Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS).
Background: NAS South Weymouth is situated on 1,450 acres in the
towns of Weymouth (Norfolk County), Abington and Rockland (Plymouth
County) approximately 15 miles south of the capital city of Boston. The
site contains two runways and 85 buildings providing nearly 600,000
square feet of space. Approximately 45 acres of property with 165 units
of housing have been transferred to the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG).
Another 4.8 acre parcel has been transferred to the USCG for continued
operation of their buoy maintenance and storage program. A half-acre
parcel with Doppler radar equipment has been transferred to the Federal
Aviation Administration.
In addition to the main station, two non-contiguous sites were also
controlled by NAS South Weymouth: the Squantum Gardens and Naval
Terrace housing areas consisting of 27 acres located in Quincy, MA, and
Nomans Land Island, 628 acres about three miles south of Martha's
Vineyard. A separate Environmental Assessment was prepared for the
disposal and reuse of Squantum Gardens and Naval Terrace housing areas
and these properties have been transferred to the City of Quincy.
Nomans Land Island, a former Naval bombing range, has been transferred
to the U.S. Department of the Interior. These land holdings are not
part of this Record of Decision.
Alternatives Considered: The proposed action is the disposal of the
NAS South Weymouth property and the subsequent reuse in a manner
consistent with the Final Reuse Plan as adopted by the SSTTDC. The FEIS
analyzed the effects of the Preferred Reuse Plan, as well as the
effects of two other reuse plan alternatives.
The Preferred Reuse Plan proposes a mix of business (office,
research and
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development (R&D), manufacturing, and industrial), retail, residential,
institutional, recreational, open space, and infrastructure uses. A
total of about 3.6 million square feet of new and existing buildings
would provide employment opportunities for about 9,540 workers.
Approximately 500-700 units of senior housing would provide housing for
1,140 senior citizens. A new access road, referred to as the Route 3
access roadway, would be necessary to accommodate the increased
traffic. This access roadway would connect Route 3 to Route 18
transiting through the NAS South Weymouth. Full build-out of the NAS
South Weymouth property under the Preferred Reuse Plan would occur over
a 20-year period.
The Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) evaluated the development
of NAS South Weymouth under a more intensive reuse plan identified as
the New South Shore Community Alternative. Under this plan, there would
be about 3 million square feet of business/R&D space; 150,000 square
feet of retail space; 1400 housing units; 60 acres set-aside for
government or institutional use; and recreational and open space. The
Route 3 access roadway would also be constructed under this
alternative. This development would provide employment opportunities
for about 12,400 workers.
The EIS evaluated a third reuse plan that would be the least
intensive of the three alternatives. The Minimal Investment Alternative
would provide 610,000 square feet for business/R&D use; 150,000 square
feet of retail space; 930 family housing units; 60 acres for government
or instutitional use; and recreational and open space. The Route 3
access roadway also be constructed under this alternative. This
alternative would provide housing for about 3,000 persons and job
opportunities for approximately 3,800 employees.
Under the No Action Alternative, the NAS South Weymouth property
would remain in U.S. Government ownership. The property would be placed
in Federal caretaker status with the Navy maintaining the physical
condition of the property, providing a security force, and making
repairs essential to safety.
Environmental Impacts of the Preferred Alternative: The FEIS
analyzed the direct, indirect and cumulative environmental impacts of
the Preferred Reuse Plan. Redevelopment of the property will generate
an estimated 9,540 new jobs, resulting in beneficial socioeconomic
impacts. Annual estimated earnings of these jobs would be about $305
million. Other employment occurring in the region as a result of the
new development on the NAS South Weymouth property is estimated at
8,000 new jobs providing an additional $257 million in earnings. As the
property is transitioned to private ownership, and thereby subject to
local real estate taxes, the estimated tax generated would be about $10
million.
The Preferred Reuse Plan would construct up to 700 units of senior
housing providing homes for about 1,140 senior citizens. Since the new
housing population would be limited to seniors and the new workers at
the NAS South Weymouth site are expected to commute from elsewhere in
the region, the local school systems will not be significantly
impacted. Even if there is worker migration into the area, local school
systems have sufficient capacity to accommodate any corresponding
increase in student enrollment. There will be additional demands on
community support services such as police, fire, and emergency care. It
is expected that this need would increase gradually over several years.
The Preferred Reuse Plan provides for additional property tax revenue
to support increased service costs.
The Preferred Reuse Plan would generate 32,600 average daily
weekday (one way) trips. This new traffic is expected to cause
significant degraded levels of service at several intersections in the
vicinity of the NAS South Weymouth site. State and local governments
will need to make intersection and roadway improvements to mitigate the
impacts of the increased traffic. In order to minimize traffic impacts,
the Board of Directors of the SSTTDC has endorsed the Preferred Reuse
Plan on the following guidelines: redevelopment would be staged over a
period of ten or more years; development would occur as infrastructure
impacts are addressed and mitigation measures are put in place; and the
scope and mix of development would be as defined in the Preferred Reuse
Plan.
The Clean Air Act General Conformity rule is not applicable to the
disposal of the NAS South Weymouth property as stated in 40 CFR Part
153(c), exemptions (XIV) and (XIX). While there will be an increase in
carbon monoxide emissions due to the increase in traffic, the increase
in carbon monoxide will not be significant since the levels will remain
below the National Ambient Air Quality Standards.
Noise level increases off-base due to additional traffic would be
less than three decibels, a generally accepted level of perceptible
change. A noise level increase greater than three decibels would occur
on the redeveloped Shea Memorial Drive due to the additional traffic.
However these higher noise levels will not exceed the Federal Highway
Administration (FHWA) standards for residential property located in the
surrounding area. With respect to the Route 3 access roadway, lands
within 180 feet of the road centerline would experience noise levels
significantly above the FHWA standards for land uses such as schools,
churches, and residences.
Projected infrastructure impacts, such as water supply, wastewater,
stormwater system, electric, gas, steam, and telecommunications, were
examined in the FEIS for the Preferred Reuse Plan. SSTTDC is
investigating the following water supply sources: Groundwater from
aquifers underlying the site; surplus water from local communities; the
Bluestone Desalination Project; and, water from the Massachusetts Water
Resource Authority (MWRA). The demand for utility services will grow as
the site is developed over a 20-year period. This will provide time for
coordination between SSTTDC, local towns and authorities to develop
infrastructure capacity in sequence with the project.
There are no buildings, structures or districts that are eligible
for listing on the National Register of Historic Properties at NAS
South Weymouth. The majority of NAS South Weymouth's ground surface has
been highly disturbed through previous development. The Massachusetts
Historical Commission determined that closure/realignment of NAS South
Weymouth would be unlikely to affect significant archaeological
resources.
Implementation of the Preferred Reuse Plan would result in a loss
of vegetation and habitat. Wetlands are located on the site and may be
impacted by new development. However, any new construction that may
impact wetlands must comply with appropriate Federal and state
regulations governing development in or near wetlands. The groundwater
beneath NAS South Weymouth property is not currently used for water
supply purposes. This on-site aquifer may be utilized in the future to
meet the potable water supply demands of the Preferred Reuse Plan.
No Federally listed threatened or endangered species are known to
inhabit the NAS South Weymouth property, thus no significant impacts on
those species are anticipated.
There will be no significant impacts associated with existing
hazardous waste sites. Transfer of Navy property must include a
determination of the environmental suitability of the land for transfer
to a non-Federal agency or to
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the public. Early transfer of Navy property before the property is
environmentally suitable may also occur as authorized under the
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act
of 1980 (CERCLA).
The Navy analyzed the direct and indirect effects of the proposed
conveyance and reuse on low income and minority populations. The
conveyance and reuse will not cause adverse and disproportionately high
environmental or economic impacts to minority or low-income populations
residing in the region.
Mitigation: Implementation of the decision to transfer Navy
property does not require the Navy to perform any mitigation measures.
No mitigation is required for direct impacts associated with conveyance
of the property. Reuse will result in indirect impacts that can be
mitigated through measures taken directly by state and local
governments or imposed on the SSTTDC through state and local permitting
processes.
Reuse will cause significant traffic impact at various
intersections in the study area surrounding NAS South Weymouth.
Potential mitigation measures may include changing of traffic signal
timing and/or geometric improvements. These measures could be
implemented by the state, Norfolk and/or Plymouth Counties or the
SSTTDC proposing redevelopment at NAS South Weymouth.
With respect to the Route 3 Access Roadway, noise levels are
predicted to exceed the FHWA Noise Abatement Criterion. Potential
mitigation measures include the installation of noise barriers along
the Route 3 Access Roadway and placing a Category B land use
restriction within the area of potential impact.
Implementation of the Preferred Reuse Plan without the expansion of
the existing water supply/distribution and wastewater infrastructure
would result in a significant adverse impact. The SSTTDC has identified
the following potential alternative sources of water: groundwater from
aquifers underlying the site; surplus water from local communities; the
Bluestone Desalination Project; and water from the MWRA. The SSTTDC has
identified the following potential alternatives for treatment of
wastewater flows generated by redevelopment of NAS South Weymouth:
local municipal facilities; on-site treatment and land disposal; and
MWRA. The viability of any potential water supply or wastewater system
enhancement would be dependent upon coordination among local towns,
authorities, and the SSTTDC.
The Preferred Reuse Plan would affect on-site wetlands and their
buffers. Any disturbance to wetlands would require compliance with the
Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act by the acquiring entity.
Comments Received on the FEIS: The Navy received eight comment
letters on the FEIS, including the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA); the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Department of Food and
Agriculture; the Massachusetts Highway Department (MHD); the Town of
Weymouth, MA; and four private citizens. U.S. EPA reiterated their
concerns on the impacts to water supplies and quality, wetlands, local
roadway network and air quality, as previously provided in their
comments on the draft DEIS. Additionally, EPA emphasized that the
redevelopment benefit and not the burden of surrounding communities be
based on the principles of smart growth, and be supported by local
infrastructure. In response to these concerns, the Navy notes that the
responsibility to develop the reuse plan is the local reuse authority.
The Massachusetts Department of Food and Agriculture requested that
the prime agricultural land and soils on the NAS South Weymouth remain
available for the production of agricultural crops. While the Navy will
not place land use restrictions on the transfer of the property, the
SSTTDC has committed to resolve or mitigate adverse impacts to
agricultural resources through the Massachusetts Environmental Policy
Act process.
The MHD provided comments with regard to a traffic study prepared
for the MHD by Wilbur Smith Associates and referenced in the FEIS. This
study, entitled the South Weymouth Access Study, was prepared for the
Final Reuse Plan and while its conclusions were similar to the findings
of the FEIS, the MHD noted that there were some differences in the
Access Study and the FEIS. Among their comments, the MHD noted that
while the FEIS reported that the MHD would be responsible for the
planning, funding, design, and construction of the Route 3 access road,
no such determination of this responsibility has been made. The Navy
acknowledges that there are differences in the traffic studies prepared
for the FEIS and by the MHD; however, the overall findings of traffic
impacts expressed in the FEIS are considered valid.
The Town of Weymouth stated its concerns over the ongoing
Installation Restoration Program and requested that the Navy remain
committed to the thorough cleanup of all identified contaminants on the
NAS South Weymouth site. The Navy acknowledges its responsibility for
the timely completion of the ongoing site remediation process that will
be defined in South Weymouth CERCLA RODs.
Comments received from private citizens expressed concern with
regard to traffic, air, noise, infrastructure, land use, and
terrestrial and aquatic environmental impacts due to the development
and reuse of NAS South Weymouth. Additionally, comments expressed
concern over the ongoing site remediation program. These issues were
addressed in the FEIS and do not require further clarification.
Conclusion: The Preferred Reuse Plan adopted by the SSTTDC was
identified by popular vote of the residents of the local communities as
the plan that best responds to local and regional economic conditions
and promotes economic recovery from the closure of NAS South Weymouth.
The Preferred Reuse Plan complies with the conditions imposed by
Congress on the conveyance of the NAS South Weymouth property.
Potentially significant environmental impacts associated with
implementation of the Preferred Reuse Plan can be mitigated either
directly by the state and local governments or indirectly through the
regulatory authorities exercised by the state and local governments
over private landowners and developers. Although the ``no action''
alternative has less potential for adverse environmental impacts and is
the environmentally preferred alternative, it would not promote local
economic redevelopment and create jobs. Keeping the property in
caretaker status would not be the highest and best use of the property
because it would not take advantage of the property's physical
characteristics and infrastructure.
Based on the analysis contained in the FEIS and the associated
administrative record, I have decided to convey the Naval Air Station
in South Weymouth, MA, in a manner that is consistent with the reuse
plan adopted by the South Shore Tri-Town Development Corporation, as
provided for in the Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 1994.
Dated: April 11, 2002.
Duncan Holaday,
Deputy Assistant Secretary, (Installations and Facilities).
[FR Doc. 02-10030 Filed 4-23-02; 8:45 am]
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