[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 206 (Friday, October 24, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Page 60972]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-26834]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army


Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement 
(EIS) for Update of the Fort Belvoir Real Property Master Plan

AGENCY: Department of the Army, DOD.

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: The Department of the Army intends to prepare an EIS pursuant 
to Section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental Policy Act and 
regulations of the Council on Environmental Quality (40 CFR 1500-1508). 
The EIS will evaluate potential environmental, transportation, and 
socioeconomic effects associated with implementation of the Army's 
proposed revision and update of the Fort Belvoir Real Property Master 
Plan. In addition to evaluation of a no action alternative, the EIS 
will consider a range of alternatives based on various development 
scenarios to accommodate the installation's current and projected 
missions and requirements.

DATES: Comments concerning the scope of the EIS must be received within 
30 days from the date of this Notice to be considered in the 
preparation of the draft EIS.

ADDRESSES: Please send written comments to: Mr. Patrick McLaughlin, 
Directorate of Public Works and Logistics, 9430 Jackson Loop, Suite 
107, Fort Belvoir, VA 22060, or via e-mail to 
[email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Patrick McLaughlin at (703) 806-
4007 during normal working business hours, Monday through Friday 7:30 
a.m. to 4 p.m., or via e-mail to [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Fort Belvoir, comprising 8,419 acres 
(excluding the Engineer Proving Ground), is approximately 18 miles 
southwest of Washington, DC, and serves as a strategic sustaining base 
for America's Army. The post is home to one Army major command 
headquarters and elements of 10 others, 2 Direct Reporting Units, 19 
agencies of the Department of Army, 8 elements of the U.S. Army Reserve 
and the Army National Guard, and numerous Department of Defense and 
other Federal agencies. Tenant organizations perform work vital to the 
success of the goals and objectives of the Nation's defense strategy. 
Fort Belvoir contributes to the Nation's defense by efficiently and 
effectively supporting the various Army and DoD elements in the 
performance of their missions.
    A Real Property Master Plan is an installation's strategy for the 
orderly management and development of its real property assets, 
including land, facilities, resources, and infrastructure. The Real 
Property Master Plan forms the foundation for the development of an 
installation, provides the framework for analyzing resource 
allocations, and aids the management of peacetime and mobilization 
construction and development activities.
    Army Regulation 210-20, Installation Master Planning, provides that 
an installation's Real Property Master Plan shall consist of four major 
components: Long-Range Component, Capital Investment Strategy, Short-
Range Component, and Mobilization Mission Planning Component. 
Contributory plans support and accompany the four major components. The 
Long-Range Component provides the ``big picture'' and long-range real 
property management for an installation.
    In 1993, Fort Belvoir prepared a comprehensive update to the Real 
Property Master Plan. Over the past decade, numerous developments have 
resulted in a need for Fort Belvoir to provide support to a growing 
number of Army and Department of Defense entities. Further expansion of 
Fort Belvoir's critical role in supporting the national defense is 
likely to occur.
    Alternative potential development scenarios for EIS analysis are 
under development. Preference will be given to alternative development 
plan scenarios that afford operational efficiency, minimize 
environmental and community impacts, and provide flexibility to respond 
to changes in future installation mission requirements. The potential 
for alternatives to provide for sustainable, long-term use of resources 
will be central to their selection for evaluation in detail.
    The Army solicits input in the scoping process to identify issues 
of concern, identify information sources bearing on evaluation of 
impacts, and to obtain public input on the range and reasonableness of 
alternatives.
    The Army recognizes numerous resource areas and issues that will 
require consideration in the EIS. These include, but are not limited 
to: Air quality; surface water quality; cultural resources; 
transportation system; environmentally sensitive areas such as wildlife 
corridors, wetlands, floodplains, wildlife refuges, Chesapeake Bay 
Protection Areas; biological resources, to include, in particular, 
protected fauna and flora species; site topography and soils; 
socioeconomic conditions; land use; and community facilities and 
services. Additional resources and conditions may be identified as a 
result of the scoping process initiated by this Notice.
    The general public, local governments, other Federal agencies, and 
state agencies are invited to submit written comments or suggestions 
concerning the scope of the analysis and issues and alternatives to be 
analyzed. The Army will host a scoping meeting to enable the submission 
of oral or written comments by interested parties. Comments, whether 
provided orally or in writing, will be considered in determining the 
scope of the EIS. The scoping meeting will be held near Fort Belvoir 
with the time and place of the scoping meeting being announced in local 
media not less than 15 days before the event.
    In addition, the Army will provide direct notification of the time 
and location of the scoping meeting to individuals, community 
organizations, local government personnel, state agencies, Federally 
recognized Indian tribes, and other Federal agencies that so request it 
as a result of this Notice. Requests must be addressed to the 
individual and office shown in the ADDRESSES section above.

    Dated: October 20, 2003.
Raymond J. Fatz,
Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army, (Environment, Safety and 
Occupational Health), OASA(I&E).
[FR Doc. 03-26834 Filed 10-23-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3710-08-M