[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 226 (Friday, November 23, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 70155-70156]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-28408]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Navy


Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for 
the Disposal and Reuse of the Former Naval Air Station Joint Reserve 
Base Willow Grove, Horsham, PA, and Notice of Public Scoping Meetings

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 (NEPA) of 1969, as implemented by the Council on 
Environmental Quality regulations (40 CFR parts 1500-1508), the 
Department of the Navy (DoN) announces its intent to prepare an 
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to evaluate the potential 
environmental consequences of the disposal and reuse of the former 
Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base (NAS JRB) Willow Grove, Horsham, 
Pennsylvania, per Public Law 101-510, the Defense Base Closure and 
Realignment Act of 1990, as amended in 2005 (BRAC Law). Potential 
impacts associated with reuse of NAS JRB Willow Grove, including the 
change in land use and traffic patterns, will be evaluated and will 
contribute to the alternatives considered.

DATES: The DoN will conduct public scoping meetings in Horsham Township

[[Page 70156]]

in Montgomery County, PA to receive comments on the environmental 
concerns that should be addressed in the EIS. Both public scoping open 
houses will be held at the Horsham Township Community Center located at 
1025 Horsham Road, Horsham, PA. Schedule will be as follows:
    1. Open House: Thursday, December 13, 2012, 4:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m.
    2. Open House: Friday, December 14, 2012, 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.
    The previously announced public scoping meetings scheduled for 
October 29 and October 30, 2012 were cancelled due to Hurricane Sandy.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Director, BRAC Program Management 
Office Northeast, 4911 Broad Street, Building 679, Philadelphia, PA 
19112-1303, telephone 215-897-4900, fax 215-897-4902, email: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Base Closure and Realignment (BRAC) 
Commission was established by Public Law 101-510, the BRAC Law, to 
recommend military installations for realignment and closure. 
Recommendations of the 2005 BRAC Commission were included in a report 
presented to the President on September 8, 2005. The President approved 
and forwarded this report to Congress on September 16, 2005, which 
became effective as public law on November 9, 2005, and must be 
implemented in accordance with the requirements of the BRAC Law. In 
2005, NAS JRB Willow Grove, PA was designated for closure under the 
authority of the Defense Base Closure and Realignment Act of 1990, 
Public Law 101-510, as amended (the Act). Pursuant to this designation, 
on January 8, 2010, land and facilities at this installation were 
declared excess to the DoN and made available to other DoD components 
and other Federal agencies. The DoN has evaluated all timely Federal 
requests and made a decision to close the former NAS JRB Willow Grove 
on September 15, 2011.
    The proposed action for this EIS is to accommodate the BRAC 2005 
law. The BRAC-directed action includes disposal and reuse of NAS JRB 
Willow Grove and its excess properties. Upon completion of the 
disposal, the property will be redeveloped in accordance with the 
Horsham Township Authority (HLRA) Redevelopment Plan.
    The EIS will consider the alternatives that are reasonable to 
accomplish the proposed action. Alternatives to be considered include: 
(1) Disposal of the property by the DoN and reuse in accordance with 
the HLRA's Preferred Land Use Plan; (2) Disposal of the property by the 
DoN with a higher-density reuse scenario; (3) Disposal of the property 
by the DoN and reuse as an airport; and (4) No Action in which the DoN 
would retain the property in a caretaker status and no reuse or 
development would occur.
    Alternative 1 would meet the requirements of the BRAC Law by 
allowing for the disposal and reuse of NAS JRB Willow Grove. Reuse 
would be conducted in accordance with the HLRA Plan. The Plan provides 
a mix of land uses based on existing conditions on the installation and 
in the community, guiding principles for development established by the 
HLRA, and public participation. It is anticipated that full build-out 
of the Plan would be implemented over a 20-year period. The Reuse Plan 
calls for the development of approximately 444 acres (52%) of the total 
base property. In addition, approximately 418 acres (48%) would be 
dedicated to a variety of active and passive land uses, including 
recreation, open space, and natural areas. The plan also incorporates 
elements based on smart-growth principles, including pedestrian-
friendly transportation features (e.g., walkable neighborhoods, bike 
lanes, and compact development), open spaces, and a mix of land use 
types.
    Alternative 2 would also meet the requirements of the BRAC Law by 
allowing for disposal and reuse of NAS JRB Willow Grove. This 
alternative features a higher density of residential and community 
mixed-use development. Similar to Alternative 1, this alternative 
includes a mix of land use types, preserves open space and natural 
areas, and incorporates elements based on smart-growth principles, 
including pedestrian-friendly transportation and compact development. 
It is anticipated that full build-out of the higher-density scenario 
would be implemented over a 20-year period. The higher density 
alternative calls for the development of approximately 576 acres (67%) 
of the total base property. In addition, approximately 280 acres (32%) 
of the base would be dedicated to a variety of active and passive land 
uses, including recreation, open space, and natural areas.
    Alternative 3 would maintain and reuse the existing airfield for 
private aviation purposes. The plan reuses the existing airfield and 
its supporting infrastructure (i.e., taxiways, parking aprons and 
hangar facilities). After accounting for the area being reused for 
aviation purposes, the remaining land available for development would 
be approximately 380 acres. This would be developed in a mix of land 
use types and densities, and preserves open space and natural areas. 
New development would be airport related industry and businesses.
    Alternative 4 is required by NEPA and is the No Action Alternative. 
Under this alternative, NAS JRB Willow Grove would be retained by the 
U.S. government in caretaker status. No reuse or redevelopment would 
occur at the facility.
    The EIS will address potential direct, indirect, short-term, long-
term, and cumulative impacts on the human and natural environments, 
including potential impacts on topography, geology and soils, water 
resources, biological resources, air quality, noise, infrastructure and 
utilities, traffic, cultural resources, land use, socioeconomics, 
environmental justice, and waste management. Known areas of concern 
associated with the BRAC action include impacts on socioeconomics due 
to loss of the military and civilian workforce, impacts on local 
traffic patterns resulting from reuse scenarios, and the clean-up of 
installation remediation sites.
    The DoN is initiating the scoping process to identify community 
concerns and issues that should be addressed in the EIS. Agencies and 
the public are encouraged to provide written comments at scheduled 
public scoping meetings. Comments should clearly describe specific 
issues or topics that the EIS should address. Written comments must be 
postmarked or emailed by midnight December 31, 2012, and should be sent 
to: Director, BRAC Program Management Office Northeast, 4911 South 
Broad Street, Building 679, Philadelphia, PA 19112-1303, telephone 215-
897-4900, fax 215-897-4902, email: [email protected].
    Requests for special assistance, sign language interpretation for 
the hearing impaired, language interpreters, or other auxiliary aids 
for scheduled public scoping meetings must be sent by mail or email by 
November 30, 2012, to Mr. Matt Butwin, Ecology and Environment, Inc., 
348 Southport Circle, Suite 101, Virginia Beach, Virginia, 23452, 
telephone 757-456-5356, ext. 2811, email: [email protected].

    Dated: November 16, 2012.
C.K. Chiappetta,
Lieutenant Commander, Office of the Judge Advocate General, U.S. Navy, 
Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 2012-28408 Filed 11-21-12; 8:45 am]
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