[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 222 (Tuesday, November 18, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Page 65044]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-28723]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army


Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement 
(EIS) for the Real Property Master Plan (RPMP) and Real Property 
Exchange (RPX) for the Parks Reserve Forces Training area (RFTA), 
Dublin, CA

AGENCY: Department of the Army, DoD.

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Army's Installation Management Agency-Army Reserve 
Division (IMA-ARD) and Parks RFTA intend to prepare an EIS in support 
of the installation's RPMP and RPX. The RPMP presents a plan for rapid 
redevelopment of the cantonment area of Parks RFTA, with 182 acres of 
the current cantonment area being transferred out of Federal ownership 
under the RPX program. These actions have the potential to 
significantly affect certain natural, economic, social, and cultural 
resources in and adjacent to Parks RFTA. The EIS will evaluate the 
environmental impacts associated with the implementation of the RPMP/
FPX and other alternatives, while also developing mitigation measures 
when appropriate.

ADDRESSES: Interested parties desiring additional information regarding 
this proposed project or to be placed on a project information mailing 
list can contact: Installation Management Agency--Army Reserve Division 
(SFIM-AR/Mr. Borchardt), 1401 Deshler Street, Fort McPherson, Georgia 
30330-2000.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Installation Management Agency--Army 
Reserve Division (SFIM-AR/Mr. Borchardt), 1401 Deshler Street, Fort 
McPherson, Georgia 30330-2000 or by sending electronic mail to 
emh2.army.mil">david.borchardt.JMWaller@usarc-emh2.army.mil.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The strategic location of the Parks RFTA in 
northern California makes it the most accessible and economic training 
resource for over 250 Reserve component units supporting over 20,000 
Reservists. The installation supports combined training space and 
facilities for the Armed Forces, and other Federal and local agencies 
in the north central part of California. The IMA-ARD has prepared an 
RPMP that proposed a program for revitalizing the installation 
infrastructure and accelerating facility replacements.
    The RPMP for Parks RFTA was completed in November 2002. The RPMP 
proposes approximately 1.3 million square feet of new buildings/
structures and approximately 370,000 square feet of parking area. The 
majority of the existing structures on Parks RFTA were intended to be 
temporary and are inadequate for today's military personnel and 
lifestyle. The RPMP proposes the modernization of facilities to meet 
the troop training requirements and amenities that are consistent to 
the private sector.
    Alternatives to be considered include (1) no action, (2) 
incremental modernization utilizing existing cantonment area, and (3) 
accelerated modernization in a redeveloped compacted cantonment area. 
These alternatives will be refined and other alternatives may be 
developed further during the preparation of the EIS as a result of 
public input and environmental analysis. the study area for the 
environmental analysis will be the Cantonment Area and a small portion 
of the Training Area of Parks RFTA and the surrounding community.
    Issues: Parks RFTA contains approximately 2,500 acres of which 
approximately 500 acres are located in the Cantonment Area. The 
majority of the RPMP involves the redevelopment of the Cantonment area. 
The EIS will analyze potential impacts to resources, which are expected 
to include natural resources, cultural resources, archaeological 
resources, human health and safety, socioeconomics, land use changes, 
air/noise/traffic impacts, and other impacts that will be identified 
through the scoping process and other analysis in the EIS.
    Scoping: A public scoping meeting will be held in close proximity 
to Parks RFTA. The date and time of these meetings will be announced in 
the general media and will be at times and locations convenient to the 
public. A scoping letter will be sent to interested organizations, 
individuals, Federal, state, and local agencies inviting attendance. To 
be considered in the EIS, comments and suggestions should be received 
no later than 15 days following the public scoping meeting.

    Dated: November 7, 2003.
Raymond J. Fatz,
Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army, (Environmental, Safety and 
Occupational Health) OASA(I&E).
[FR Doc. 03-28723 Filed 11-17-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3710-08-M