[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 124 (Thursday, June 28, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 35467-35469]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-12596]
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GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION
Revised Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Impact
Statement
AGENCY: General Services Administration (GSA), National Capital Region.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: Pursuant to the requirements of the National Environmental
Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), 42 U.S.C. Sec. 4321-4347, the Council on
Environmental Quality Regulations (40 CFR parts 1500-1508), GSA Order
PBS P 1095.1F (Environmental considerations in decision-making, dated
October 19, 1999), and the GSA Public Buildings Service NEPA Desk
Guide, GSA is revising its June 7, 2005, notice of intent announcing
the preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the
redevelopment of the St. Elizabeths West Campus (St. Elizabeths) in
Southeast Washington, DC. The initial notice of intent defined the
purpose of the proposed action as ``develop[ing] secure office space in
the District of Columbia to accommodate substantial Federal
operations.'' Since that notice was issued, GSA has
[[Page 35468]]
identified a specific tenant for this site. Accordingly, the primary
purpose of the proposed action is now defined as ``developing secure
office space in the District of Columbia to house the consolidated
headquarters of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and its
Components, including the United States Coast Guard, in accordance with
the DHS National Capital Region housing plan.'' GSA has initiated
consultation under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation
Act, 16 U.S.C. Sec. 470f, for the proposed redevelopment.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Denise Decker, NEPA Lead, General
Services Administration, National Capital Region, at (202) 205-5821.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The notice of intent is as follows:
Revised Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact
Statement for the Redevelopment of the St. Elizabeths West Campus in
Southeast Washington, DC, to house the Headquarters of the Department
of Homeland Security and its Components, including the United States
Coast Guard, in accordance with the DHS National Capital Region housing
plan.
The General Services Administration is preparing an Environmental
Impact Statement (EIS) to analyze the potential impacts resulting from
redevelopment of the St. Elizabeths West Campus (St. Elizabeths) in
Southeast Washington, DC. GSA is also preparing a master plan for the
redevelopment of the St. Elizabeths West Campus (``the site'' or the
``West Campus'') for Federal use. The primary purpose for this proposed
action is to develop secure office space in the District of Columbia to
accommodate the headquarters of the Department of Homeland Security and
its Components, including the United States Coast Guard, in accordance
with the DHS National Capital Region housing plan.
Background
In June 2005, GSA issued the initial notice of intent to prepare an
EIS for the proposed Master Plan for the redevelopment of the St.
Elizabeths West Campus. The initial notice of intent defined the
purpose of the proposed action as ``develop[ing] secure office space in
the District of Columbia to accommodate substantial Federal
operations.'' At that time, GSA had only identified potential tenants
for the site. Therefore, GSA considered a wide range of potential
development densities in the initial stages of its master planning for
this site.
In late calendar year 2005, DHS approached GSA and requested
assistance in meeting DHS' housing needs in the National Capital
Region, including the need for a new Coast Guard headquarters. GSA has
reviewed DHS' space needs and has determined that (i) DHS headquarters
and its components are scattered in over 60 buildings throughout the
National Capital Region, which adversely impacts critical
communication, coordination, and cooperation across components
particularly in responding to significant natural disasters or
terrorist threats; (ii) the DHS housing plan requires certain core
elements of its organization, including the Coast Guard, to be located
on a single campus, for reasons of both efficiency and organizational
effectiveness; (iii) DHS has an immediate need for the consolidation of
these core elements; (iv) DHS requires the highest level of secure
Federal office space for its headquarters campus, including buffer
zones around the perimeter of such facility; and (v) DHS headquarters
is required by statute (4 USC Sec. Sec. 71-72) to be located within
the District of Columbia.
Based on these findings, there is a need to establish a secure
campus within the District of Columbia to house the consolidated
headquarters and components of DHS, including the Coast Guard
headquarters, consistent with DHS' housing plan. Therefore, GSA is
redefining the purpose of this proposed action as follows: The primary
purpose of this proposed action is to develop secure office space in
the District of Columbia to accommodate the headquarters of the
Department of Homeland Security and its Components, including the
United States Coast Guard, in accordance with the DHS housing plan.
In addition, based on an analysis of alternative locations, as well
as consideration of applicable legislation regarding relocation of the
Coast Guard headquarters, GSA has determined that the only reasonable
alternatives for meeting the DHS space needs are alternatives involving
the redevelopment of the St. Elizabeths West Campus.
Alternatives Under Consideration
Based on a comprehensive review of its housing needs and
organizational mission, DHS has determined that its headquarters and
components require a single campus, within the District of Columbia,
that includes 4.5 million gross square feet of office space plus
parking for a total of approximately 6.4 million gross square feet. In
the EIS, GSA will consider a range of alternatives for consolidating
DHS headquarters at St. Elizabeths consistent with DHS' operational
requirements. Four alternatives previously under consideration, two at
1.4 million gross square feet of office space and two at 3.0 million
gross square feet of office space, will no longer be considered.
Consistent with the requirements of Section 110 of the National
Historic Preservation Act, GSA will consider alternatives to minimize
harm to the St. Elizabeths West Campus, which has been designated as a
National Historic Landmark (NHL). GSA specifically invites comments on
potential alternatives that accommodate DHS space needs and
organizational requirements, while minimizing harm to the contributing
elements of the NHL.
In addition, as required by NEPA, GSA is studying the no action
alternative. Under the No Action alternative, GSA would not consolidate
the DHS headquarters and its components at St. Elizabeths, and would
not redevelop the St. Elizabeths West Campus. GSA would only perform
the needed maintenance to keep the historic buildings and property on
the West Campus from further deterioration until it determines the
feasibility of retaining the property or disposing of it through the
Federal real property disposal process. As part of the EIS, GSA will
study the impacts of the alternatives on the human environment.
Scoping Process
In accordance with NEPA, GSA is reinitiating the scoping process to
assess significant issues related to the proposed redevelopment of St.
Elizabeths for the consolidation of DHS headquarters and its
components. Scoping will be accomplished through correspondence to
potentially interested persons, agencies, and organizations, and
meetings with agencies having an interest in the St. Elizabeths
redevelopment plan. It is important that Federal, regional, and local
agencies, and interested individuals and groups take this opportunity
to identify environmental concerns that should be addressed in the
Draft EIS. It is not necessary to resubmit previous comments as part of
this process.
GSA is also using this reinitiated NEPA process to continue
consultation with the public under Section 106 of the National Historic
Preservation Act (36 CFR Part 800 [Protection of Historic Properties]).
GSA welcomes comments from the public to ensure that it takes into
account the effects of its action on historic and cultural resources.
Written Comments: Agencies and the public are encouraged to provide
written comments on the scoping issues.
[[Page 35469]]
Written comments regarding the environmental analysis for the
redevelopment of the St. Elizabeths must be submitted no later than 30
days after publication of this notice in the Federal Register. Comments
may be submitted by regular mail to the following address: General
Services Administration, National Capital Region, Attention: Denise
Decker, NEPA Lead, 301 7th Street, SW, Room 7600, Washington, DC 20407.
Comments also may be submitted by facsimile or e-mail: Fax (202) 708--
7671; [email protected].
Dated: June 11, 2007.
Bart Bush,
Assistant Regional Administrator, Public Buildings Service.
[FR Doc. E7-12596 Filed 6-27-07; 8:45 am]
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