[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 139 (Friday, July 20, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 39802-39803]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-14126]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Navy


Notice of Availability and Notice of Public Meeting of the Draft 
Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the Development of the 
Westside of Marine Corps Base Quantico, Including the 2005 Base 
Realignment and Closure (BRAC) Action at Marine Corps Base Quantico, 
Virginia

AGENCY: Department of the Navy, Department of Defense.

ACTION: Notice of Availability (NOA) and public meeting.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with Section 102(2)(C) of the National 
Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4332(2)(C)), as implemented 
by the Council on Environmental Quality Regulations (40 CFR parts 1500-
1508), the Department of the Navy (DON), and Marine Corps Base Quantico 
(MCBQ) announces the availability of the DEIS, which evaluates the 
environmental effects of development of the Westside

[[Page 39803]]

of MCBQ to accommodate approximately 3,000 personnel directed to MCBQ 
by the 2005 BRAC law, and potential development within the Westside to 
accommodate up to 2,000 additional personnel, or 5,000 personnel total 
including BRAC, to support other Marine Corps requirements.

DATES: The public comment period for the DEIS will end 45 days after 
publication of an NOA in the Federal Register by the Environmental 
Protection Agency. All comments must be received by 4 September 2007.

ADDRESSES: Please send written comments on the DEIS to: Jeff Gardner, 
NREA Branch (B046), 3250 Catlin Avenue, Marine Corps Base, Quantico, VA 
22134-0855. E-mail comments should be sent to [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Jeff Gardner 703-432-6784 during 
normal business hours Monday through Friday.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Marine Corp Base Quantico, Virginia 
proposes development of the Westside of MCBQ, including the 2005 Base 
Realignment and Closure (BRAC) action at MCBQ. The development would 
entail construction of new facilities in two undeveloped areas west of 
Interstate 95. These areas, the Russell Road Area and the MCB-1 Area, 
would co-locate Military Department Investigative Agency Headquarters 
with the Counterintelligence Field Activity and Defense Security 
Service at MCBQ as directed by the 2005 BRAC law. The areas would also 
provide adequate space for facilities to support Marine Corps units 
currently at MCBQ, as well as potentially other federal and Marine 
Corps initiatives that may identify MCBQ as a site for relocation.
    This DEIS identifies and evaluates the potential environmental 
impacts of (1) Alternative A (BRAC Action), the relocation of 
approximately 3,000 personnel directed to MCBQ by the BRAC Law; (2) 
Alternative B, the relocation of an additional 2,000 personnel for a 
total of 5,000 personnel, including those under Alternative A; and (3) 
the No Action Alternative. Under both Alternatives A and B, two sites 
for the BRAC action, one located in the southern portion of the Russell 
Road Area, and the other in the northern portion of the MCB-1 Area, are 
analyzed as the BRAC site options (BRAC Option 1 (Russell Road) and 
BRAC Option 2 (MCB-1)).
    The Notice of Intent (NOI) published for this EIS in the Federal 
Register on 3 August 2006 identified five alternatives, including the 
no action alternative, for analysis in this EIS. In addition to 
Alternatives A and B, the NOI indicated that a high intensity 
development alternative would be assessed that would add up to 10,000 
personnel, including 3,000 under BRAC, and a medium intensity 
development alternative would be assessed that would add up to 7,000 
personnel, including 3,000 under BRAC. Following a preliminary 
assessment of the proposed sites west of I-95 and further examination 
of known requirements, only Alternatives A and B were carried forward 
for analysis.
    At this time, a preferred alternative has not been selected. The 
DEIS analysis indicate that the increased level of development and 
personnel under Alternative B compared to Alternative A would be 
expected to cause a commensurate increase in the level of impacts.
    The DEIS finds that traffic impacts at base access points are 
similar for both alternatives. Major MCBQ access points currently 
perform unacceptably and regional growth will further degrade 
intersections unless improvements are made. Alternatives have 
unacceptable levels of service at U.S. Route 1 and I-95 intersections, 
and at proposed development sites. The DEIS identifies traffic 
mitigation measures.
    The DEIS also finds that the amount of development from the 
proposed alternatives is small compared to the amount of undeveloped 
land that would remain, largely forested, minimizing impacts to natural 
resources. There would be no effect to threatened and endangered 
species; however, alternatives could impact a small amount of wetlands. 
The DEIS finds that potential regional growth from either alternative 
is not large compared to projected growth already expected for the 
surrounding region and the resulting socioeconomic impacts from either 
alternative are less than significant. Potential impacts, such as 
noise, caused by proximity to military training activities that would 
remain in the Westside, can be acceptably minimized in the facility 
design process, and development is a compatible land use at the 
proposed sites. The sites avoid impacting cultural resources and air 
emissions are not expected to exceed the thresholds established for 
general conformity to state implementation plans or to require a new 
source review.
    The DEIS has been distributed to various federal, state, and local 
agencies, elected officials, special interest groups, and interested 
parties. The DEIS is also available for public review at the following 
local libraries: Central Rappahannock Regional Library, Dumfries 
Neighborhood Library, and the Prince William Public Library System. The 
DEIS is also available at the following Web site: http://www.quantico.usmc.mil/activities/display.aspx?PID=1814&Section=NREA. 
The Marine Corps invites the general public, local governments, other 
federal agencies, and state agencies to submit written comments or 
suggestions concerning the alternatives and analysis addressed in the 
DEIS. The public and government agencies are invited to participate in 
the public meetings where oral and written comments will be received. 
Two public meetings will be held. The first public meeting will be held 
on 6 August 2007 from 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at the Stafford County 
Government Center Board Room, 1300 Courthouse Road, Stafford, VA. The 
second public meeting will be held on 13 August 2007 from 6:30 p.m. to 
9:30 p.m. at the Doctor A. J. Ferlazzo Building, 15941 Donald Curtis 
Drive, Prince William, VA. All comments must be received by 4 September 
2007.

    Dated: July 16, 2007.
L.R. Almand,
Office of the Judge Advocate General, U.S. Navy, Administrative Law 
Division, Federal Register Liaison Officer.
 [FR Doc. E7-14126 Filed 7-19-07; 8:45 am]
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