[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 192 (Thursday, October 3, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 61373-61375]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-24205]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

National Institutes of Health


Animal Center Master Plan Record of Decision

SUMMARY: The Department of Health and Human Services, the National 
Institutes of Health (NIH), has decided, after completion of a Final 
Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) and a thorough consideration of 
the public comments on the Draft EIS, to implement the Proposed Action, 
referred to as the Proposed Action in the Final EIS. This action is for 
a long-range physical Master Plan for National Institutes of Health 
Animal Center (NIHAC) located in Dickerson, Maryland. This alternative 
accounts for potential growth in NIHAC personnel, new construction, 
additions, renovations, demolitions, and upgrades in site utilities.
    Responsible Official: Daniel G. Wheeland, Director, Office of 
Research Facilities Development and Operations, NIH.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Valerie Nottingham, Deputy Director, 
DEP, ORF, NIH, Building 13, Room 2S11, 9000 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, 
MD 20892, Phone 301-496-7775, [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Decision

    After careful review of the environmental consequences in the Final 
Environmental Impact Statement for the Master Plan, National Institutes 
of Health Animal Center, and consideration of public comment throughout 
the NEPA process, the NIH has decided to implement the Proposed Action 
described below as the Selected Alternative.

Selected Alternative

    The Selected Alternative is intended to be a strategic tool for the 
efficient allocation of campus resources, the orderly accommodation of 
future growth, and the creation of an environment, which is both 
functionally and aesthetically conducive to accomplishing the NIHAC 
mission. The Selected Alternative will provide a guide for the reasoned 
and orderly development of the NIHAC campus, one that values and builds 
on existing resources, corrects current deficiencies and meets changing 
needs through new construction or renovation. The plan sets forth 
implementation priorities and a logical sequencing of planned 
development.
    The Selected Alternative is for a long-range physical Master Plan 
for NIHAC. This alternative covers a 20-year planning period, with 
reviews every 5 years to ensure that the plan continues to address 
issues affecting the campus. The alternative addresses the future 
development of the NIHAC 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. This alternative accounts for potential 
growth in NIHAC 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.
    NIH will continue to develop NIHAC to accommodate NIH's research 
needs and required programmatic adjacencies consistent with the 
commitment to maintain the ``campus'' character of the site. The 
alternative advances this objective by programming and locating future 
NIHAC growth so that new development would tie into the existing 
utility services and utilities are available to support growth, and 
establishing development guidelines for future changes to the site that 
ensure that as the campus grows new development would be responsive to 
the context of adjacent neighborhoods or developments. Under the 
selected alternative, NIHAC's population is anticipated to grow in the 
next twenty years to a total campus population of 212. The primary 
growth at the campus would be in intramural research personnel and the 
administrative and facility staff to support them.

Alternatives Considered

    The Proposed Action Alternative and No Action Alternative were the 
two alternatives analyzed in the Final EIS. The Master Plan covers a 
20-year planning period, but will be reviewed every 5 years to ensure 
that the plan continues to remain current and relevant to the key 
issues affecting the campus. The alternatives addressed the future 
development of the NIHAC 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. They account for potential growth in 
NIHAC 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.

Factors Involved in the Decision

    The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) requires that NIH 
facilities have a Master Plan; however, the previous Master Plan for 
the NIHAC campus was outdated. In addition, factors such as the aging 
of facilities that were designed only to accommodate temporary use, 
animal housing facilities that do not provide adequate space for 
projected increases in animal populations, and research support 
facilities not being adequate to sustain current and projected programs 
played a key role. The Master Plan contains information and 
recommendations to guide development of individual projects. It also 
serves as a means of informing city and county officials and utilities 
of future NIHAC development plans so they can anticipate and plan for 
the potential effects of NIHAC proposals on their systems.

Resources Impacts

    The Final EIS describes potential environmental effects of the 
Selected Alternative. These potential effects are documented in Chapter 
3 of the Final EIS. Any potential adverse environmental effects will be 
avoided or

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mitigated through design elements, procedures, and compliance with 
regulatory and NIH requirements. Potential impacts on air quality are 
all within government standards (federal, state, and local). NIH does 
not expect negative effects on the environment or on the citizens of 
Dickerson from construction and operations at NIHAC.

Summary of Impacts

    The following is a summary of potential impacts resulting from the 
Selected Alternative that the NIH considered when making its decision. 
No adverse cumulative effects have been identified during the NEPA 
process. Likewise, no unavoidable or adverse impacts from 
implementation of the Selected Action have been identified. The 
Selected Alternative will be beneficial to the long-term productivity 
of the national and world health communities. Biomedical research 
conducted at the NIHAC facility will have the potential to advance 
techniques in disease prevention, develop disease immunizations, and 
prepare defenses against naturally emerging and re-emerging diseases 
and against bioweapons. Additionally, the local community will benefit 
from increased employment, income and, government and public finance.

Housing

    NIHAC is located in a very rural area of Dickerson. Temporary 
impacts during construction are expected to have a minimal effect on 
the existing rural community.

Education

    The current public school capacity in nearby Poolesville would be 
adequate to accommodate the expected minimal growth caused by the 
Selected Alternative.

Transportation

    The potential increase in vehicular traffic generated by the Master 
Plan would only minimally contribute to the slight decrease in the 
level of service on the roadways in the vicinity of the campus. 
Existing arterial, connector, and local roads surrounding NIHAC are 
underutilized and have the capacity to support projected traffic 
increases associated with the Master Plan and the population growth. In 
addition, NIHAC is relatively isolated from existing and projected 
local centers of employment, residences, or retail, limiting potential 
effects on road infrastructure or traffic levels. Therefore, the minor 
increase in traffic volume associated with the Master plan is not 
expected to contribute to significant traffic concerns in the vicinity 
of NIHAC.

Security

    The Master Plan would provide an entrance security and screening 
center, 100-foot vehicle separation from buildings, access control at 
loading docks, perimeter fence repair, and an emergency access for the 
campus to meet recently enacted safety requirements for government 
facilities.

Employment

    If the Selected Alternative is fully implemented, up to only 13 new 
employees over the current 199 employees would be hired. Some of the 
new staff members are likely to move to Montgomery County, and possibly 
the Poolesville area, from outside the region.

Environmental Justice

    As no minority or low-income populations occur within the analysis, 
Environmental Justice will not be discussed.

Visual Quality

    The Master Plan's land use plan provides a framework to help 
organize future development at NIHAC so that similar land use types are 
consolidated while open space and natural features are preserved. NIHAC 
would exhibit the same basic types of land use as it does currently, 
but in a slightly different configuration. The Master Plan does not 
propose any land use changes outside NIHAC. Therefore, the NIHAC campus 
is anticipated to remain consistent with the county plan and zoning 
regulations.

Noise

    To limit impacts to nearby residences, NIH would limit construction 
activities to normal daytime working hours. Under the Master Plan, the 
ambient noise levels at NIHAC would remain within Maryland and 
Montgomery County noise thresholds. Furthermore, any minor change in 
noise levels is not expected to affect the rural character of the site.

Air Quality

    Air monitoring data at the stations closest to NIHAC demonstrate 
that ozone and PM ambient air quality pollutant concentrations have 
been steadily declining over the past 10 to 20 years (USEPA, 2012a). 
Therefore, the moderate increase in air emissions under the Master Plan 
is not expected to result in cumulative negative impacts to regional 
air quality.

Wastewater/Water Supply

    The Master Plan recommends system upgrades and water conservation 
measures to address the Waste Water Treatment Plant (WWTP) capacity 
concern. The Master Plan would install an additional filter at the WWTP 
to increase the treatment capacity. Installation of the new filter, 
combined with implementation of the potable water conservation 
measures, should provide sufficient capacity to accommodate wastewater 
generated under the Master Plan and would accommodate a 20 percent 
factor of safety. NIH would evaluate the water demands and potential 
implementation of system upgrades and water conservation measures as 
they proceed through planning and design for each new facility.
    If potable water conservation measures are not fully implemented, 
or the actual building designs result in greater than anticipated 
flows, the WWTP would likely require replacement or a major component 
upgrade. NIH would conduct a detailed study during Phase 1 of the 
Master Plan to evaluate the need for upgrades to the WWTP. Following 
the Phase 1 study, NIH would implement WWTP upgrades during Phases 2 
and/or 3 of the Master Plan.
    Expansion of the WWTP treatment capacity under the Master Plan may 
require a revised NPDES permit from MDE with updated effluent 
limitations. Prior to implementing upgrades, NIH would consult with MDE 
to identify the appropriate review and NPDES permitting requirements, 
which may involve opportunities for public comment. NIH would continue 
to operate the WWTP in accordance with the applicable NPDES permit 
limitations.

Historic Resources

    NIH would comply with NHPA Section 106 by consulting with Maryland 
Historical Trust on the need for particular archeological studies as 
individual Master Plan project elements are funded, designed, and 
executed. In the event that eligible prehistoric resources are 
identified and adverse effects are anticipated, NIH would continue 
Section 106 consultation with the appropriate consulting parties (which 
would include MHT and may also include ACHP and Native American tribes) 
to establish a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) to resolve adverse 
effects. Mitigation measures identified through this consultation could 
include in-place preservation through site avoidance,

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protection, or easement acquisition; development and implementation of 
a data recovery plan to retrieve and analyze the site's resources- 
implementation of innovative, alternative mitigation measures- or a 
combination of these measures.

Practicable Means to Avoid or Minimize Potential Environmental Harm 
From the Selected Alternative

    All practicable means to avoid or minimize adverse environmental 
effects from the Selected Action have been identified and incorporated 
into the action. The proposed Master Plan construction will be subject 
to the existing NIHAC pollution prevention, waste management, and 
safety, security, and emergency response procedures as well as existing 
environmental permits. Best management practices, spill prevention and 
control, and stormwater management plans will be followed to 
appropriately address the construction and operation of the new Master 
Plan and comply with applicable regulatory and NIH requirements. No 
additional mitigation measures have been identified.

Pollution Prevention

    Air quality permit standards will be met, as will all federal, 
state, and local requirements to protect the environment and public 
health.

Conclusion

    Based upon review and careful consideration, the NIH has decided to 
implement the Selected Alternative for a long-range physical Master 
Plan for NIH Animal Center located in Dickerson, Maryland. The decision 
accounts for potential growth at NIHAC personnel, and consequent 
construction of space over the planning period.
    The decision was based upon review and careful consideration of the 
impacts identified in the Final EIS and public comments received 
throughout the NEPA process.

    Dated: September 27, 2013.
Daniel G. Wheeland,
Director, Office of Research Facilities Development and Operations, 
National Institutes of Health.
[FR Doc. 2013-24205 Filed 10-2-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4140-01-P