[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 65 (Thursday, April 3, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18262-18263]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-6891]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Navy


Notice of Availability for Final 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 Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) 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.

DATES: The Wait Period (No Action Period) for the FEIS will end 30 days 
after publication of an NOA in the Federal Register by the U.S. 
Environmental Protection Agency.

ADDRESSES: Officer in Charge--BRAC, National Naval Medical Center, 8901 
Wisconsin Avenue, Bethesda, MD 20889 and Telephone: 301-319-4561.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Officer in Charge--BRAC, National 
Naval Medical Center, 8901 Wisconsin Avenue, Bethesda, MD 20889 and 
Telephone: 301-319-4561.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 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, and is to be accomplished by 15 September 2011.
    The BRAC-directed realignment will bring additional patients and 
visitors requiring additional staff and facilities to be provided at 
NNMC. The FEIS 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.
    The FEIS addresses three alternatives: Two alternatives that 
implement the BRAC-directed actions and a No Action Alternative. Both 
BRAC implementation alternatives provide the same facilities with some 
facility site changes and differences between new construction and 
renovation to obtain required facilities. The environmental impacts 
between the two BRAC alternatives are similar.
    The Navy's Preferred Alternative would add approximately 1,144,000 
square feet (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 and an estimated 1,862 
patients and visitors each weekday.
    The new construction or improvements to existing facilities would 
provide medical care and administration additions and alterations, a 
National Intrepid Center of Excellence for traumatic brain injury and 
psychological health care, permanent and temporary lodging facilities 
(Bachelor Enlisted Quarters and Fisher Houses\TM\), a new physical 
fitness center, additional parking, and road and utility improvements 
on the installation as needed to support the new facilities.
    The FEIS finds that the Preferred Alternative would have minimal 
impacts to soil, water, or biological resources because the new 
facilities would be constructed on either existing development such as 
parking lots or on landscaped areas with only a small increase in 
impervious surfaces. No effects to rare, threatened, and endangered 
species would be expected under the Preferred Alternative.
    Emissions of air pollutants from construction and operations of the 
Preferred Alternative 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. A short-term increase in noise levels would occur during 
construction that is typical of construction activities. Utility 
expansions would be required, but major issues are not anticipated.
    The Navy is pursuing formal Section 106 consultation under the 
National Historic Preservation Act to resolve all adverse effects to 
historic properties.
    The Preferred Alternative will add traffic to an area already 
experiencing

[[Page 18263]]

heavy traffic congestion. The FEIS provides a number of recommended 
improvements both on and off Base to address the effects of the traffic 
generated by the Preferred Alternative. The Navy is programming funds 
for improvements at gates and on Base and is submitting a request for 
Defense Access Road Program approval for some of these improvements off 
Base.
    The FEIS finds all direct effects to land use to be within NNMC and 
consistent with NNMC plans; all actions take place within the NNMC 
boundaries. Off Base, the BRAC actions increase traffic on roads 
already experiencing traffic congestion. Community planners believe 
that the traffic congestion in the region could cause land development 
plans to be altered and the BRAC traffic volumes contribute to the 
congestion with heavier volumes than previously anticipated in their 
plans.
    Economic impacts to the surrounding economy from the large 
investment in construction and renovation of facilities under the 
Preferred Alternative would be beneficial. Personnel relocating from 
WRAMC are not expected to change their off base residences and lodging 
being added for the increase in staff, patients and visitors is 
considered adequate; impacts to local housing, schools, or community 
services are expected to be minimal. Impacts to human health and safety 
are not expected.
    The FEIS has been distributed to various federal, state, and local 
agencies, elected officials, special interest groups, and interested 
parties. The FEIS is also available 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 FEIS is also available at the following Web sites: http://www.bethesda.med.navy.mil/Professional/Public_Affairs/BRAC/; and 
http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/brac.

    Dated: March 28, 2008.
T.M. Cruz,
Lieutenant, Judge Advocate Generals Corps, U.S. Navy, Federal Register 
Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. E8-6891 Filed 4-2-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3810-FF-P