[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 240 (Friday, December 14, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 71126-71128]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-24214]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Navy


Notice of Availability and Notice of Public Hearings for Draft 
Environmental Impact Statement for the Activities To Implement 2005 
Base Realignment and Closure Actions at National Naval Medical Center, 
Bethesda, MD

AGENCY: Department of the Navy, DoD.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to Section (102)(2)(C) of the National Environmental 
Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), the regulations implemented by the Council 
on Environmental Quality (40 CFR parts 1500-1508), and the Department 
of the Navy (DON) NEPA regulation (32 CFR part 775), DON announces the 
availability of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for 
potential environmental impacts associated with implementing actions 
directed by the Defense Base Closure and Realignment (BRAC) Act of 
1990, Public Law 101-510, as amended in 2005 (BRAC Law), at the 
National Naval Medical Center (NNMC) in Bethesda, MD.
    Under the BRAC law, the Walter Reed Army Medical Center (WRAMC) 
will realign all tertiary and complex health care services to the NNMC 
campus in Bethesda. The transfer and integration of these services with 
existing functions at NNMC will result by law in creation of a new 
premier military health care center to be named the Walter Reed 
National Military Medical Center (WRNMMC) at Bethesda, MD.
    The BRAC law calls for completion of the realignment, establishment 
of the WRNMMC, and closure of WRAMC to be accomplished by 15 September 
2011.
    The realignment of tertiary and complex medical care will bring 
additional patients and visitors requiring additional staff and 
facilities to be provided at NNMC. The DEIS provides information on the 
proposed new construction and facility alterations, current estimates 
of the additional staff that will be needed, and an assessment of the 
potential environmental impacts associated with implementation of these 
realignment actions at NNMC in Bethesda, MD.

DATES: The public comment period for the DEIS will end 45 days after 
publication of an NOA in the Federal Register by the United States 
Environmental Protection Agency. All comments on the DEIS must be 
postmarked, faxed, or e-mailed by midnight January 28, 2008.

ADDRESSES: Send comments to Officer in Charge--BRAC, National Naval 
Medical Center, 8901 Wisconsin Avenue, Bethesda, MD 20889, fax: 301-
295-5020 or e-mail: [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Officer in Charge--BRAC, National 
Naval Medical Center, 8901 Wisconsin Avenue, Bethesda, MD 20889, 
Telephone: 301-295-2722 during normal business hours Monday through 
Friday, fax: 301-295-5020, or e-mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This DEIS evaluates the potential 
environmental effects of construction and operation of new facilities 
at the National Naval Medical Center (NNMC), Bethesda, Maryland. 
Alternative One would add approximately 1,144,000 square feet

[[Page 71127]]

(SF) of new building construction, provide approximately 508,000 SF of 
renovation to existing building space at NNMC, and provide 
approximately 824,000 SF of new parking facilities. It would 
accommodate approximately 2,500 additional staff. The new construction 
or improvements to existing facilities would provide medical care and 
administration additions and alterations, a Traumatic Brain Injury/Post 
Traumatic Stress Disorder Intrepid Center of Excellence, permanent and 
temporary lodging facilities (Bachelor Enlisted Quarters and Fisher 
HousesTM), a new physical fitness center, additional 
parking, and road and utility improvements on the installation as 
needed to support the new facilities. Under Alternative Two, the same 
facilities are proposed; some facility sites change and the choice of 
new construction versus renovation of some facilities differs from 
Alternative One. Alternative Two would add to NNMC approximately 
1,230,000 SF feet of new building construction, approximately 423,000 
SF of building renovation, and approximately 824,000 SF of new parking 
facilities. The estimated staffing increase would also be approximately 
2,500 personnel under Alternative Two.
    The Notice of Intent (NOI), published in the Federal Register on 
November 21, 2006, identified the following alternatives to be under 
consideration in the EIS: (1) Implement the BRAC recommendation; (2) 
Implement the BRAC recommendation and provide for future anticipated 
growth, support activities, and changes to the installation; (3) No 
action, with NNMC continuing to maintain and repair existing facilities 
without additional growth.
    Since November 2006, a number of planning decisions have been made 
by Department of Defense (DoD) that have affected, but not 
substantially changed, the proposed NEPA analysis on the best way to 
ensure world-class care is provided for the Nation's wounded veterans 
both today and in the post-BRAC environment. Special housing, 
billeting, food service, medical support, and administrative support 
requirements were determined and then appropriately sited on the NNMC 
Bethesda campus. The decisions made by DoD resulted in a refocused 
effort in this DEIS to concentrate in the Proposed Action entirely on 
implementation of the BRAC mandate through Warrior Care. Any other non-
BRAC related future growth, support activities, or changes to the 
installation are considered when reasonably foreseeable in the analysis 
of cumulative impacts.
    The DEIS finds that environmental impacts from Alternative One and 
Alternative Two would be similar. The DEIS analysis indicates an 
increase in off-base traffic volumes due to the increase in staff, 
patients, and visitors. The off-base traffic impact would be the same 
for either alternative. The DEIS finds that proposed new facilities 
would involve a small increase in impervious surface area and minimal 
impacts to biological resources because the new facilities would be 
constructed on either existing development such as parking lots or on 
landscaped areas. The increase in runoff resulting from the increase in 
impervious surface would be controlled with storm water management and 
erosion and sediment control measures.
    Emissions of air pollutants from the Proposed Action during 
construction and operations would not exceed de minimis levels or 
ambient standards established by the U.S. Environmental Protection 
Agency for protection of the airshed and thus air quality impacts would 
not be significant. Short-term increases in noise levels would occur 
during construction that are typical of construction activities. No 
major issues are anticipated for utilities required to support the NNMC 
expansion.
    Formal consultation under the National Historic Preservation Act 
with appropriate agencies will be conducted by the DON to ensure that 
construction of new buildings in the NNMC Bethesda Historic District 
would be accomplished with minimal impacts to cultural resources.
    The DEIS finds that the Proposed Action is compatible with existing 
land use plans and land use planning underway within NNMC. Beneficial 
economic impacts to the surrounding economy are anticipated under each 
action alternative, resulting from the large investment in construction 
and renovation of facilities. Local residents could experience 
increased traffic on weekdays and weekends. Personnel relocating from 
their positions at WRAMC are not expected to change their off base 
residences; therefore, impacts to local housing, schools, or community 
services are expected to be minimal. Adherence to applicable 
regulations and guidance will avoid impacts to human health and safety.
    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 and public facilities: Bethesda Library, 7400 Arlington 
Road, Bethesda, MD 20814; Chevy Chase Library, 8005 Connecticut Avenue, 
Chevy Chase, MD 20815; Davis Library, 6400 Democracy Boulevard, 
Bethesda, MD 20817; Kensington Park Library, 4201 Knowles Avenue, 
Kensington, MD 20895; Rockville Library, 21 Maryland Avenue, Rockville, 
MD 20850; Bethesda-Chevy Chase Regional Services Center, 4805 Edgemoor 
Lane, Bethesda, MD 20814; Bethesda Urban Partnership, Inc., 7700 Old 
Georgetown Road, Bethesda, MD 20814; and Bethesda-Chevy Chase Chamber 
of Commerce, 7910 Woodmont Avenue, Suite 1204, Bethesda, MD 20814.
    The DEIS is also available at the following Web sites: http://www.bethesda.med.navy.mil/Professional/Public_Affairs/BRAC/; and 
http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/brac.
    The DON also invites the general public, local governments, state 
and other federal agencies to participate in the public hearings where 
the DON will receive oral and written comments on the DEIS. Two 
hearings will be held: January 9 and 10, 2008 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., at 
Pooks Hill Marriott, 5151 Pooks Hill Road, Bethesda, MD 20814.
    The public hearings will be conducted in English. A court reporter 
will be available to record oral comments. The DON requests that people 
desiring to speak submit, in writing, their intention to participate 
and that they frame their statements to meet a three (3) minute 
limitation on the length of any oral statement. The limit is not 
intended to constrain an individual's ability to make comments but 
rather to ensure that all persons requesting to make a comment are 
given that opportunity. The DON also requests that technical statements 
or statements of considerable length be submitted in writing.
    For requests for special assistance, sign language interpretation 
for the hearing impaired, language interpreters, or other auxiliary 
aids at the scheduled public hearings, please contact: Officer in 
Charge--BRAC, National Naval Medical Center, 8901 Wisconsin Avenue, 
Bethesda, MD 20889, Telephone: 301-295-2722 during normal business 
hours Monday through Friday, fax: 301-295-5020, or e-mail: 
[email protected].
    To allow time for the arrangements to be made, any request for 
special assistance at the public hearings must be made to the DEIS 
point of contact by January 04, 2008.


[[Page 71128]]


    Dated: December 10, 2007.
T.M. Cruz,
Lieutenant, Judge Advocate Generals Corps, U.S. Navy, Federal Register 
Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. E7-24214 Filed 12-13-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3810-FF-P