[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 103 (Wednesday, May 29, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Page 37405]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-13284]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Navy


Notice of Intent To Prepare a Programmatic Environmental Impact 
Statement for Accommodating Development Within Marine Corps Base 
Quantico, VA

AGENCY: Department of the Navy, DOD.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to section 102(2)(c) of the National Environmental 
Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969 as implemented by the Council on 
Environmental Quality regulations (40 CFR Parts 1500-1508), the 
Department of the Navy announces its intent to prepare a programmatic 
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to evaluate the potential 
environmental effects of accommodating various types and levels of 
development at Marine Corps Base Quantico (MCBQ), VA.

DATES: A public scoping meeting will be held on Wednesday, June 12, 
2002, beginning at 7 p.m., at the Ramada Inn, 4316 Inn Street, 
Triangle, VA.

ADDRESSES: Written comments, statements and/or questions regarding 
scoping issues should be addressed to: Mr. Hank Riek, Engineering Field 
Activity Chesapeake, 1314 Harwood Street, SE, Washington Navy Yard, 
Washington, DC 20374-5018. All written comments must be received no 
later than July 1, 2002.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Hank Riek, Engineering Field 
Activity Chesapeake, at (202) 685-3064.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Marine Corps Base (MCB) Quantico, VA manages 
over 60,000 acres of land approximately 30 miles south of Washington, 
DC. A variety of Department of Defense programs, including those 
related to base realignments and closures, and movement of Federal 
activities from leased space to Federally owned facilities have 
resulted in the relocation of federal activities to MCB Quantico. 
Because of its size, controlled access, proximity to the Washington, DC 
area, and heightened security concerns following the terrorists attacks 
of September 11, 2001, MCB Quantico has been and is expected to 
continue to be an increasingly attractive location for accommodating 
future relocations for other MarineCorps activities and related 
agencies. In anticipation of these relocations and to address traffic 
concerns resulting from growth at the installation, the base has 
conducted a variety of planning studies. These studies have lead to the 
identification of two specific areas within the western area of the 
base that could be used to accommodate new requirements without 
conflicting with installation's primary mission of military education 
and training. The areas identified for accommodating new requirements 
consist of approximately 270 acres located west of Interstate 95 along 
Marine Corps Base Road 1, a primary access route within the 
installation. The studies also support the widening of Russell Road, a 
major access route within the installation, which connects the main 
containment area of the base, located east of Interstate 95, with 
regional transportation routes that serve the base.
    The EIS will examine the environmental effects of various types and 
levels of potential development within the western areas consisting 
primarily of administrative office space, warehousing and light 
industrial. Alternatives for improvements of Russell Road would include 
widening by one or two lanes and associated traffic controls and road 
features.
    Issues to be addressed in the EIS will include effects to 
vegetation, wildlife, water resources, wetlands, threatened and 
endangered species, historic and archaeological resources, air quality, 
socio-economics, and traffic.
    The Marine Corps will initiate a scoping process for the purpose of 
determining the extent of issues to be addressed, and identifying the 
significant issues related to this action. The Marine Corps will hold a 
public scoping meeting as noted in the Dates section of this notice. 
This meeting will be advertised in area newspapers.
    Marine Corps representatives will be available at the meeting to 
receive comments from the public regarding issues of concern to the 
public. Federal, state and local agencies, and interested individuals 
are encouraged to take this opportunity to identify environmental 
concerns that should be addressed during the preparation of the EIS. 
Agencies and the public are also invited and encouraged to provide 
written comment on scoping issues in addition to, or in lieu of, oral 
comments at the public meeting. To be most helpful, scoping comments 
should clearly describe specific issues or topics that the commenter 
believes the EIS should address. Written statements and/or questions 
regarding the scoping process should be mailed to the addresses noted 
in the Address section of this notice.

    Dated: May 22, 2002.
R.E. Vincent II,
Lieutenant Commander, Judge Advocate General's Corps, U.S. Navy, 
Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 02-13284 Filed 5-28-02; 8:45 am]
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