[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 11 (Thursday, January 16, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2352-2353]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-988]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Environmental Assessment for Managing Flight Obstructions to 
Preserve Safety at Andrews Air Force Base

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability of environmental assessment.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), 
Council on Environmental Quality regulations, U.S. Air Force (USAF) and 
National Park Service (NPS) guidance and requirements, the USAF Air 
Mobility Command and the NPS have prepared an environmental assessment 
(EA), and other environmental documentation evaluating environmental 
impacts potentially resulting from implementation of vegetation 
management plans for managing trees which are flight obstructions 
affecting the safety of flight operations at Andrews Air Force Base 
(AFB). USAF is the lead agency for this EA, and the NPS intends to 
adopt this EA. These trees are primarily located on Andrews Air Force 
Base and within the Suitland Parkway, a park area administered by the 
NPS--National Capital Region, National Capital Parks--East. The Parkway 
is located on the National Register of Historic Places. The proposed 
action occurs in Prince George's County, Maryland.
    Copies of these documents are available for public review at the 
following locations, and by request to the NPS at (202) 690-5185:

The Prince George's County Public Library, 14741 Governor Oden Drive, 
Upper Marlboro, MD 20772, (301) 952-3904.
Andrews Air Force Base Library, 1642 Brookley & D Street, Andrews AFB, 
MD 20762.

    There is a 30 day public review period for comment on the EA and 
associated documents. Comments should be received no later than 30 
calendar days from the publication date of this notice. The NPS will 
consider all comments submitted to the address below. Comments should 
be sent to: Andrews Air Force Base, EA, HQ AMC/CEV, 507 Symington Dr., 
Scott AFB, IL 62225-5022, Fax: (818) 229-0257, E-mail: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The USAF identified a need to manage trees 
which adversely affect safe flight operations at Andrews AFB in Prince 
George's County, Maryland. Andrews AFB is home to the 89th Airlift Wing 
and

[[Page 2353]]

provides worldwide airlift and logistical support of the President of 
the United States, the Vice President, cabinet members, and other high-
ranking United States and foreign officials. Many of the trees 
requiring management are located on the NPS' Suitland Parkway which is 
listed on the National Register for Historic Places. Other trees 
requring management are located on Andrews AFB and on lands within an 
industrial park immediately north of Suitland Parkway and lands 
adjoining the southern base perimeter. This EA follows on a 2001 EA 
which analyzed emergency tree pruning to remove obstructions to the 
Andrews AFB West Runway.
    The EA describes a no-action alternative (Alternative 1), a 
preferred alternative (Alternative 2) involving vegetation management 
to manage obstructions without reconfiguring the runways, and a third 
alternative (Alternative 3) involving reconfiguring the runways to 
reduce the severity of the required vegetation management. It also 
contains discussion of those alternatives which were considered but 
rejected. The USAF and NPS, in consultation with the Maryland Historic 
Trust, are in the process of complying with Section 106 of the National 
Historic Preservation Act. This EA, the USAF draft Finding of No 
Significant Impact/Finding of No Practicable Alternative (FONSI/FONPA), 
and the NPS draft Statement of Findings (SOF) are all available for 
review.

Edward F. Duffy, Jr.,
Acting Regional Director, National Capital Region.
[FR Doc. 03-988 Filed 1-15-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-P