[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 109 (Monday, June 7, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 31830-31831]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-12908]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY


Science and Technology Directorate; Notice of Intent To Prepare 
an Environmental Impact Statement

AGENCY: Science and Technology Directorate, DHS.

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement 
for the National Biosecurity Analysis and Countermeasures Center 
Facility at Fort Detrick, Maryland.

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

SUMMARY: The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announces its intent 
to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to evaluate the 
construction and operation by DHS of the proposed new National 
Biosecurity Analysis and Countermeasures Center (NBACC) facility, at 
Fort Detrick in Frederick, Maryland. This EIS is being prepared and 
considered in accordance with requirements of the National 
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, regulations of the President's 
Council on Environmental Quality (40 CFR parts 1500-1508), and Army 
Regulation 200-2, Environmental Analysis of Army Actions (32 CFR 651), 
29 March 2002. The U.S. Army, as owner of the site of the proposed 
NBACC facility, is a Cooperating Agency in the preparation of this EIS.

DATES: Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act, a Public 
Scoping meeting will be held on Tuesday, June 22, 2004, 7 p.m.

ADDRESSES: The meeting location is Frederick Community College, 7932

[[Page 31831]]

Opossumtown Pike, Frederick, MD 21702.
    Comments on the scope of the EIS for the proposed project should be 
received no later than July 8, 2004. Additional information on how to 
submit comments is included in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The mission of the DHS, as stated in the 
Homeland Security Act (Pub. L. 107-296), is to prevent terrorist 
attacks within the United States, to reduce America's vulnerability to 
terrorism, and to minimize the damage and assist in recovery efforts 
from attacks that may occur. DHS has the specific responsibility to 
identify and develop countermeasures to biological threats in support 
of this mission. In accordance with specific national policy directives 
and DHS strategic policy, construction of the NBACC facility is 
proposed to support the DHS goals by countering bioterrorism threats 
through the conduct of research and operational programs.
    To accomplish this mission, the proposed NBACC facility will 
provide the research laboratory and office space to meet program 
requirements for biological threat characterization and bioforensic 
operations and research.
     Biological Threat Characterization reduces the nation's 
vulnerabilities to biological threats by conducting research to better 
understand current biological threats as well as future threats. 
Additionally, this program will conduct science-based comprehensive 
risk assessments to anticipate, prevent, respond to and recover from an 
attack through the execution of an integrated science program at the 
NBACC facility.
     Bioforensics Operations and Research provides a validated, 
authoritative assessment of collected materials subject to forensic 
analysis. This same material may then be linked through identification 
of the biochemical fingerprint to the source.
    The proposed NBACC facility will include laboratories designed and 
constructed to Biosafety Levels -2, -3, and -4 standards that will 
enable DHS researchers to safely conduct these research and forensics 
programs to accomplish this work. ``Biosafety Levels'' is a system of 
well-defined facilities, equipment, and procedures established to 
minimize risk of exposure to potentially hazardous agents for 
laboratory workers and the outside environment. The research conducted 
at NBACC will be solely defensive in nature, serving to understand and 
attribute the threats that may be used against the United States in a 
biological attack.
    The proposed location is on an approximately 7-acre plot within the 
National Interagency Biodefense Campus on Area A of Fort Detrick, 
Maryland, near facilities of the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute 
of Infectious Diseases, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the 
planned National Institutes of Health Integrated Research Facility.
    Issues to be analyzed in the EIS will include safety of laboratory 
operations; public health and safety; handling, collection, treatment, 
and disposal of research wastes; and analysis of other risks, as well 
as concerns for pollution prevention and impacts of the proposed action 
on air quality, biological resources, cultural resources, water 
resources, land use, and socioeconomic resources. The EIS will address 
several alternatives, including citing the proposed NBACC facility at 
another location on the grounds of Fort Detrick; locating the proposed 
NBACC facility on other existing government-owned property outside of 
Fort Detrick; siting the proposed NBACC facility on privately-owned 
property outside Fort Detrick; and a No-Action alternative, under which 
the proposed NBACC facility would not be built. Additional alternatives 
may be identified in the Public Scoping process.
    Public Participation: The DHS and the U.S. Army invite full public 
participation to promote open communication and better decision-making. 
All interested persons and organizations, including minority, low-
income, disadvantaged, and Native American groups, are urged to 
participate in this NEPA environmental analysis process. Assistance 
will be provided upon request to anyone with special needs to 
facilitate their participation in the NEPA process.
    To ensure that the full range of issues related to this proposed 
action and the scope of this EIS are addressed, oral and written 
comments are invited from all interested parties, including appropriate 
federal, state, and local agencies, and private organizations and 
citizens.
    Public comments are welcome throughout the NEPA process and should 
be directed to Kevin Anderson, Department of Homeland Security, 7435 
New Technology Way, Suite A, Frederick, MD 21703. Additional formal 
opportunities for public participation after the Public Scoping are 
tentatively scheduled as follows:
    Review and comment on the Draft EIS (including a public meeting), 
August-September 2004.
    Public meeting on the Draft EIS, August 2004.
    Notices of Availability for the Draft EIS, Final EIS, and Record of 
Decision will be provided through direct mail, the Federal Register, 
and other media. Notifications also will be sent to federal, state, and 
local agencies and persons and organizations that submit comments or 
questions throughout the NEPA process. Precise schedules and locations 
for public meetings will be announced in the local news media. 
Interested individuals and organizations may request to be included on 
the mailing list for public distribution of meeting announcements and 
associated documents.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kevin Anderson, 301-846-2156.

    Authority: 42 U.S.C. 4321-4347 (National Environmental Policy 
Act).

    Dated: June 3, 2004.
Maureen I. McCarthy,
Director, Research and Development, Science and Technology Directorate.
[FR Doc. 04-12908 Filed 6-4-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4410-10-U