[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 16 (Monday, January 26, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Page 3570]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-1537]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Air Force


Notice of Intent (NOI) To Prepare Environmental Impact Statement 
(EIS) on the Proposed Military Family Housing Demolition, Construction, 
Renovation, and Leasing Program, Eglin Air Force Base (AFB) and 
Hurlburt Field, FL

AGENCY: Air Force Material Command, United States Air Force.

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 
1969, as amended (42 U.S.C. 4321, et seq.), the Council on 
Environmental Quality (CEQ) Regulations for Implementing the Procedural 
Provisions of NEPA (40 CFR parts 1500-1508), and Air Force policy and 
procedures (32 CFR part 989), the Air Force is issuing this notice to 
advise the public of its intent to prepare an EIS to assess the 
potential environmental impacts on a proposal to provide a means to 
rapidly upgrade housing to current Air Force standards while ensuring 
that appropriate housing is available and affordable for military 
personnel assigned to Eglin AFB and Hurlburt Field.
    A total of 2,739 existing housing units distributed among thirteen 
parcels on Eglin AFB and Hurlburt Field would be conveyed to a private 
contractor along with associated infrastructure and utilities. Selected 
real estate (land) on which housing units are located would remain in 
Air Force ownership but would be leased to the private developer for 50 
years. The developer will manage and maintain the housing, making it 
available to military personnel at rates that will not exceed their 
housing allowance. Of the 2,739 total units proposed for conveyance, 
there are 138 existing units that meet standards and do not require 
improvement, two units that would be renovated in place, and 2,594 
units that would be demolished.
    The Air Force is proposing that a developer construct 2,015 new 
units, for a net total of 2,155 privatized military family housing 
units. At least some of the new units would be located on sites not 
currently developed for housing. All demolition and construction 
activities would occur on Air Force property within the Eglin 
Reservation. The Air Force used a screening process to identify 
suitable areas for new housing development and identified four such 
parcels, all located in the south-central portion of Eglin Reservation.
    The Air Force has developed five alternatives for accomplishing the 
proposed action. These alternatives differ only in the location and 
distribution of the 2,015 new units to be constructed. Under the No 
Action Alternative the Air Force would continue owning and managing all 
current 2,739 housing units. The standard military construction process 
would continue to be used to upgrade housing as needed.
    The Air Force will host public scoping meetings in the local area. 
The exact dates, times, and location(s) will be announced through the 
local media. Oral and written comments presented at the public 
meetings, as well as written comments received by the Air Force during 
this scoping period and throughout the environmental impact analysis 
process, will be considered in the preparation of the EIS. To ensure 
the Air Force has sufficient time to consider public input in the 
preparation of the Draft EIS, written comments from the public should 
be submitted to the address below by March 23, 2004:
    Point of Contact: Please direct any written comments or requests 
for information to Ms. Julia Cantrell, HQ AFCEE/ISM, 3300 Sydney Brooks 
Road, Brooks City-Base, TX 78235-5112 (PH:210.536.3515).

Pamela Fitzgerald,
Air Force Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 04-1537 Filed 1-23-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 5001-05-P