[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 109 (Wednesday, June 7, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 32998-32999]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-8765]



[[Page 32998]]

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

DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT

[Docket No. FR-4912-N-19]


Notice of Intent To Prepare Draft Environmental Impact Statement 
for Westpark, Bremerton, WA

AGENCY: Office of the Assistant Secretary for Community Planning and 
Development, HUD.

ACTION: Notice of Intent.

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

SUMMARY: HUD gives notice to the public, agencies, and Indian tribes 
that the City of Bremerton, WA, intends to prepare an Environmental 
Impact Statement (EIS) for the redevelopment of Westpark public housing 
community located in Bremerton, WA. The City of Bremerton, as the 
Responsible Entity for compliance with the National Environmental 
Policy Act (NEPA) in accordance with 24 CFR 58.4, and the Bremerton 
Housing Authority (BHA), as lead agency for compliance with the 
Washington State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA, RCW 43.21C) will 
perform the joint environmental review. This notice is in accordance 
with regulations of the Council on Environmental Quality at 40 CFR 
parts 1500-1508. Federal agencies having jurisdiction by law, special 
expertise, or other special interest should report their interests and 
indicate their readiness to aid in the EIS effort as a ``Cooperating 
Agency.''
    An EIS will be prepared for the proposed action described herein. 
Comments relating to the scope of the EIS are requested and will be 
accepted by the contact person listed below.
    When the Draft EIS is completed, a notice will be sent to 
individuals and groups known to have an interest in the Draft EIS and 
particularly in the environmental impact issues identified therein. Any 
person or agency interested in receiving a notice and making comment on 
the Draft EIS should contact the person listed below.
    Lead Agencies: This EIS will be a joint National Environmental 
Policy Act (NEPA) and Washington State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) 
document intended to satisfy requirements of federal and state 
environmental statutes. In accordance with specific statutory authority 
and HUD's regulations at 24 CFR part 58, HUD has allowed NEPA authority 
and NEPA lead agency responsibility to be assumed by the City of 
Bremerton. The BHA is the lead agency for compliance with SEPA.
    Comments: All interested agencies, groups, and persons are invited 
to address written comments related to the scope of the EIS to the 
address shown below. All comments received by June 28, 2006, will be 
considered in preparation of the Draft EIS to: (1) Determine 
significant environmental issues, (2) identify data that the EIS should 
address, and (3) identify agencies and other parties that will 
participate in the EIS process and the basis for their involvement.
    Particularly solicited is information on reports or other 
environmental studies planned or completed in the project area, major 
issues and dates that the EIS should consider, and potential 
alternatives to the proposed project. Federal agencies having 
jurisdiction by law, special expertise or other special interest should 
report their interest and indicate their readiness to aid in the EIS 
effort as a `` Cooperating Agency.''

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Chris Hugo, Director, Department of 
Community Development, City of Bremerton, 345 6th Street, Suite 600, 
Bremerton, WA 98337; Phone: (360) 473-5275; FAX: (360) 473-5278; e-
mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

A. Background

    The Westpark public housing community, built in 1941, is the 
remnant of a larger World War II-era housing project that was built as 
temporary housing for shipyard workers. Located on the 80-acre site, 
which is in west Bremerton, are 631 residential units, a Community 
Center, Senior Center, Teen Center, Head Start facility, laundry and 
storage facilities, a maintenance shop, and administrative offices. The 
571 public housing units are in primarily single story duplex and 
fourplex structures. In addition, there is a 60-unit apartment building 
for elderly and disabled residents, and a 72-unit assisted living 
facility is under construction.
    The proposed redevelopment will be completed in three phases. The 
Community Center, the apartment building housing elderly and disabled 
residents, and the assisted living facility will remain. All other 
structures will be demolished. In addition, much of the existing 
infrastructure would be replaced. The site would be redeveloped to 
provide approximately 660 to 900 dwelling units of which about one 
third would be rental housing and two thirds would be for-sale housing. 
Some residential units would be in mixed residential and commercial 
structures, and approximately five acres of the site would be developed 
for commercial and small retail uses. The rental housing would serve 
households of very low-income. The proposed redevelopment is consistent 
with requirements for a mixed-use, mixed-income housing project as 
defined by HUD.
    All existing low-income housing will be replaced either on-site, or 
elsewhere in Bremerton or Kitsap County. Replacement housing will be 
provided through construction of public housing units on-site and the 
use of Section 8 vouchers in off-site housing complexes. Existing 
residents would be displaced and assisted with benefits according to 
the provisions of the Uniform Relocation Act. Where possible, displaced 
residents in good standing would be allowed to return to the public 
housing units once redevelopment is complete.

B. Need for the EIS

    The City of Bremerton and the BHA have determined that the proposed 
project constitutes an action that has the potential to affect the 
quality of the human environment and, therefore, requires the 
preparation of an EIS in accordance with NEPA and SEPA.

C. Alternatives

    The alternatives to be considered by the lead agencies will include 
a no action alternative and a redevelopment alternative to the proposed 
action. The redevelopment alternative will be finalized after the 
scoping meeting and conclusion of the written comment period. It may 
include options related to grading of the site, housing densities, 
infrastructure replacement and design, storm water management, and/or 
the amount and location of commercial/retail space.

D. Scoping Meeting

    A public EIS scoping meeting will be held on June 22, 2006, 
starting at 5:30 p.m. at the Westpark Community Center, 79 Russell 
Road, Bremerton, WA. The EIS scoping meeting will provide an 
opportunity for the public to learn more about project planning and to 
provide input to the environmental review process. At the meeting, the 
public will be able to view graphics illustrating preliminary planning 
work and the project design team, and ask questions of or provide input 
to staff from the City of Bremerton and BHA, and members of the 
consultant team providing technical analysis for to the EIS. Written 
comments and oral testimony concerning the scope of the EIS will be 
accepted at this meeting, or by submittal to the City of Bremerton by 
June 27, 2006.

[[Page 32999]]

E. EIS Issues

    The lead agencies have preliminarily identified the following 
environmental elements for discussion in the EIS:
Earth (geology, soils, topography)
     Air Quality;
     Water (surface water movement/quantity, runoff/absorption, 
flooding, groundwater movement/quantity/quality);
     Plants and Animals;
     Energy Use;
     Noise;
     Land Use and Socioeconomics (land use patterns, 
relationship to plans/policies and regulations; population; housing and 
displacements);
     Environmental Justice (disproportionately high and adverse 
effects on minority and low income populations);
     Historic and Cultural Resources;
     Aesthetics, Light and Glare;
     Parks and Recreation;
     Public Services and Utilities (fire, police, parks/
recreation, communications, water, stormwater, sewer, solid waste); and
     Transportation (transportation systems, parking, movement/
circulation, traffic hazards).
    Questions may be directed to the individual named in this notice 
under the heading FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.

    Dated: May 30, 2006.
Nelson R. Bregon,
General Deputy Assistant Secretary for Community Planning and 
Development.
[FR Doc. E6-8765 Filed 6-6-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4210-67-P