[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 175 (Monday, September 10, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Page 55466]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-22225]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army


Environmental Impact Statement for Short Range-Projects and 
Update of the Real Property Master Plan for Fort Belvoir, VA

AGENCY: Department of the Army, DoD.

ACTION: Notice of Intent.

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SUMMARY: The Department of the Army announces its intent to conduct 
public scoping under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) to 
gather information to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) 
for proposed short-range improvement projects and the proposed update 
of the Real Property Master Plan (RPMP) for Fort Belvoir, VA. The EIS 
will analyze environmental impacts associated with the proposed short-
range projects and anticipated land uses designated in a revised RPMP. 
The revised RPMP will incorporate a short-range component and a long-
range component. The short-range component projects are proposed for 
the next five years, and the long-range component looks at land uses 
and potential development through 2030. The EIS will assess potential 
environmental impacts associated with future development and management 
of land, facilities, resources and infrastructure based on the 
population capacity identified in the revised RPMP. Additional site-
specific NEPA analyses will be prepared for future development projects 
identified in the long-range component of the revised RPMP. The revised 
RPMP will incorporate adjustments to the land use plan in the RPMP that 
were made in the Final Environmental Impact Statement for 
Implementation of Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) Recommendations 
and Related Army Actions at Fort Belvoir, VA (2007) and BRAC-related 
changes made since 2007.

ADDRESSES: Please send written comments to: Fort Belvoir Directorate of 
Public Works, Environmental and Natural Resources Division (RPMP EIS), 
9430 Jackson Loop, Suite 200, Fort Belvoir, VA 22060-5116; or by email 
to [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Fort Belvoir Directorate of Public 
Works, Environmental and Natural Resources Division at (703) 806-4007 
or (703) 806-3193, during normal working business hours Monday-Friday, 
8 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.; or by email to 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The analysis will focus on Fort Belvoir's 
Main Post (7,700 acres) and the Fort Belvoir North Area (800 acres, 
formerly called the Engineer Proving Ground). The update will not 
include Fort Belvoir property at Rivanna Station in Charlottesville, 
VA; the Mark Center in Alexandria, VA; or the Humphreys Engineer 
Center.
    The EIS will analyze environmental impacts of the short-range 
projects currently programmed for construction in fiscal years 2013-
2017. These projects include new office buildings; community and 
recreational facilities; a Fisher House; industrial and maintenance 
facilities; privatization of utilities; long-term lease of additional 
land to the privatized housing partner; the National Museum of the U.S. 
Army; and roads. If and when these projects are completed, 
approximately 4,800 additional employees would be expected to work at 
Fort Belvoir.
    The Army is also updating its RPMP for Fort Belvoir by analyzing 
the on-post and off-post environmental impacts of reasonably 
foreseeable future development and management of real property (land 
uses, facilities, resources, infrastructure, and population capacity. 
The EIS will assess the potential direct, indirect, and cumulative 
environmental impacts associated with updating the RPMP to meet the 
Army's current and future planning needs.
    A range of reasonable alternatives will be analyzed in the EIS. 
Alternatives will reflect various scenarios for implementation of the 
short-range projects, combined with various scenarios for land use 
designations on the installation for longer range planning. The EIS 
will also consider a No Action alternative, under which the approved 
1993 Master Plan (as amended in the 2007 BRAC EIS) would remain in 
effect. Other reasonable alternatives identified during the scoping 
process will be considered for evaluation in the EIS.
    The proposed short-range projects at Fort Belvoir could have 
significant impacts to traffic, air quality, and natural, cultural, and 
other resources. Long-range development could have significant impacts 
to the same resources. Mitigation measures will be identified for 
adverse impacts.
    Scoping and public comments: Federally-recognized Indian tribes, 
federal, state, and local agencies, organizations, and the public are 
invited to be involved in the scoping process for the preparation of 
this EIS by participating in meetings and/or submitting written 
comments. The scoping process will help identify possible alternatives, 
potential environmental impacts, and key issues of concern to be 
analyzed in the EIS. Written comments will be accepted within 30 days 
of publication of the NOI in the Federal Register. Meetings will be 
held in Alexandria, VA. Notification of the times and locations for the 
scoping meetings will be published locally.

Brenda S. Bowen,
Army Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 2012-22225 Filed 9-7-12; 8:45 am]
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