[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 133 (Tuesday, July 12, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Page 40912]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-17366]


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GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION

[Notice-PBS-02; Docket No. 2011-0006; Sequence 13]


Notice of Availability of the Draft Environmental Assessment for 
the Renovation of the Charles F. Prevedel Federal Building and 
Demolition of Federal Buildings 100, 101, and 102 at the Federal 
Records Center at Overland, MO

AGENCY: General Services Administration (GSA).

ACTION: Notice of Availability.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces the availability, and opportunity for 
public review and comment, of a draft environmental assessment (EA), 
that examines the impacts of a proposal by the GSA. The EA considers 
proposed renovation and demolition actions at the Page Federal Complex 
in Overland, Missouri. The EA identifies, evaluates, and documents the 
effects of the GSA renovating the Charles F. Prevedel Building, 
including the replacement of mechanical systems to meet high 
performance green building standards, and making needed improvements in 
parking, security setbacks, and the like; and demolishing Buildings 
100,101, and 102 at the Page Federal Complex, which are no longer 
needed.

DATES: The review period for the Draft EA and other NEPA documents ends 
Friday, August 19th, 2011. Comments postmarked after this date will be 
considered to the extent practicable.

ADDRESSES: Comments, or requests for copies of the draft EA, should be 
sent to Jeremiah Nelson, General Services Administration, 1500 East 
Bannister Road, Room 2191 (6PTA), Kansas City, MO 64131 or via e-mail 
to [email protected]. Verbal requests for copies of the draft EA 
or comments on the EA may also be made by calling Jeremiah Nelson at 
816-823-5803.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Certain actions by other Federal agencies 
have left the Page Federal Complex underused, leaving the GSA, which 
has custody and control of the Page Federal Complex, to determine how 
best to deal with its excess property. U.S. Army Human Resources 
Command (HRC) personnel vacated the Page Federal Complex and moved to 
Fort Knox, Kentucky, under a Defense Base Closure and Realignment 
(BRAC) directive. Personnel associated with the Military Personnel 
Records Center are moving from the Page Federal Complex to a new 
facility in Fort Knox, Kentucky.
    On September 8, 2005, the BRAC Commission recommended numerous 
realignment and closure actions for domestic military installations. 
The recommendations became law on November 9, 2005, and they must be 
implemented as provided for in the Defense Base Closure and Realignment 
Act of 1990 (Pub. L. 101-510, as amended). BRAC Commission 
Recommendation Number 143 (BRAC 143) requires the realignment of Army 
HRC leased facilities in Alexandria, Virginia; Indianapolis, Indiana; 
and St. Louis, Missouri; to Fort Knox, Kentucky. Approximately 1,583 
HRC personnel that occupied space in the Page Federal Complex in 
Overland, Missouri, were relocated to Fort Knox (DoD 2005).
    The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), which is 
the nation's record keeper for documents and materials created in the 
course of business conducted by the U.S. government, vacated the 
Military Personnel Records Center and the Civilian Personnel Records 
Center, also in St. Louis, to establish a new facility in St. Louis 
which complies with NARA's 2009 record storage standards--a move that 
involves approximately 800 personnel associated with the two record 
centers.
    The Prevedel Building was constructed in 1990, and structurally is 
in very good condition. Minimal seismic improvements are necessary to 
meet current standards. Replacing the building's mechanical systems 
would result in a reduction of energy usage and promote the 
government's commitment to achieve the mandates set forth in Executive 
Order (EO) 13514 (Federal Leadership in Environmental, Energy, and 
Economic Performance).
    Furthermore, a 2008 U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) 
report cites the Federal government's overreliance on costly, long-term 
leasing (GAO 2008). In that report, GAO recommends that agencies' 
reliance on leased space for long-term needs could be reduced when 
ownership would be less costly than leasing. Reinvesting in the 
Prevedel Building (through mechanical systems renovation and 
replacement) would promote the backfill of the remaining approximately 
436,153 square feet (SF) of vacant space in the building by Federal 
agencies currently housed in leased space in the St. Louis area. An 
analysis performed on alternatives revealed that continuing to lease 
space would result in a higher long-term cost to the government than 
using Federally owned space in the Prevedel Building. Alteration of the 
Prevedel Building is the most cost efficient solution, and it would 
comply with EO 13514 and GAO's recommendations.
    This EA is being prepared pursuant to the National Environmental 
Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), and regulations implementing NEPA issued by 
the Council on Environmental Quality (40 CFR Parts 1500-1508), GSA (ADM 
1095.1F). GSA will consider comments received (see dates and addresses, 
above) in finalizing the EA. Based on the final EA, GSA will determine 
whether to prepare an environmental impact statement or issue a finding 
of no significant impact if appropriate for the proposed action.

    Dated: June 30, 2011.
Kevin D. Rothmier,
Director of Portfolio Management, U.S. General Services Administration, 
PBS, Heartland Region.
[FR Doc. 2011-17366 Filed 7-11-11; 8:45 am]
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