[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.

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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]
BILLING CODE 6820-23-S