[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 191 (Monday, October 3, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 61106-61107]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-25385]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

National Institutes of Health


Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement

    Summary: In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act, 
the National Institutes of Health (NIH), an agency of the Department of 
Health and Human Services (HHS), is issuing this notice to advise the 
public that an environmental impact statement will be prepared for the 
NIH Animal Center at Poolesville Master Plan, Poolesville, Montgomery 
County, Maryland.
    For Further Information Contact: Valerie Nottingham, Chief, 
Environmental Quality Branch, Division of Environmental Protection, 
Office of Research Facilities, NIH, B13/2S11, 9000 Rockville Pike, 
Bethesda, Maryland 20892, telephone 301-496-7775; fax 301-480-8056; or 
e-mail [email protected].
    Supplementary Information: The NIH Animal Center is located on 513 
acres 4 miles southwest of the City of Poolesville, a small 
agricultural community located in western Maryland. The campus is a 
component of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), one of the 
world's largest biomedical research facilities and the Federal 
government's focal point for medical and behavioral research. The NIH 
Animal Center at Poolesville is a major extension of animal holding and 
production facilities at Bethesda and consists of a number of buildings 
used to house, quarantine, and study the

[[Page 61107]]

behavior and immunological conduct of a variety of animal models. The 
NIH Animal Center at Poolesville conducts and supports research 
protocols for various Institutes and Centers, which includes the 
studies of animal behavior, conduct of immunologic procedures and 
sampling, and surgical investigation. Total building space on the 
campus amounts to approximately 364,507 gsf. Approximately 199 people 
work at the NIH Animal Center site.
    A Master Plan is an integrated series of documents that present in 
graphic, narrative, and tabular form the current composition of NIH 
campuses and the plan for their orderly and comprehensive development 
over a 20-year period. The plan provides guidance in coordinating the 
physical development of NIH campuses, including building locations, 
utility capacities, road alignments, parking facilities, and the 
treatment of open spaces. General design guidelines are also used to 
provide detailed guidance for the placement and design of physical 
improvements.
    The proposed action is to develop a long-range physical master plan 
for the NIH Animal Center. The plan will cover a 20-year planning 
period and address the future development of the NIH Animal Center 
site, including placement of future construction; vehicular and 
pedestrian circulation on- and off-campus; parking within the property 
boundaries; open space in and around the campus; required setbacks; 
historic properties; natural and scenic resources; noise; and lighting. 
The plan will examine potential growth in the NIH Animal Center 
personnel, and consequent construction of space over the planning 
period. Future construction on the site could include such facilities 
as: new animal holding, research laboratories, and support facilities.
    In accordance with 40 CFR 1500-1508 and DHHS environmental 
procedures, NIH will prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) 
for the proposed master plan. The EIS will evaluate the impacts of the 
master plan should development occur as proposed. Among the items the 
EIS will examine are the implications of the master plan on community 
infrastructure, including, but not limited to, utilities, storm water 
management, traffic and transportation, and other public services.
    To ensure that the public is afforded the greatest opportunity to 
participate in the planning and environmental review process, the NIH 
is inviting oral and written comments on the master plan and related 
environmental issues.
    The NIH will be sponsoring a public Scoping Meeting to provide 
individuals an opportunity to share their ideas on the master planning 
effort, including recommended alternatives and environmental issues the 
EIS should consider. The meeting is planned for 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. on 
October 25, 2011 at the Town Hall Building at 19721 Beall Street, 
Poolesville, Maryland 20837. All interested parties are encouraged to 
attend. The NIH has established a 30-day public comment period for the 
scoping process. Scoping comments must be postmarked no later than 
November 18, 2011 to ensure they are considered. All comments and 
questions on the EIS should be directed to Valerie Nottingham at the 
address listed above, telephone 301-496-7775; fax 301-480-8056; or e-
mail [email protected].

    Dated: September 23, 2011.
Daniel G. Wheeland,
Director, Office of Research Facilities Development and Operations, 
National Institutes of Health.
[FR Doc. 2011-25385 Filed 9-30-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4140-01-P