[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 6 (Thursday, January 9, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Page 1632]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-00153]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army


Record of Decision for the Presidio of Monterey Real Property 
Master Plan Environmental Impact Statement, Monterey, CA

AGENCY: Department of the Army, DoD.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: The Department of the Army and the Presidio of Monterey (POM) 
announce the decision to proceed with the Proposed Alternative 
contained in the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) for the 
POM Real Property Master Plan (RPMP), which allows for timely 
implementation of the POM RPMP, providing the necessary facilities and 
infrastructure upgrades to meet DoD requirements. Specific details of 
the decision are captured in the Army's Record of Decision (ROD) for 
this action. This ROD explains the potential environmental and 
socioeconomic impacts associated with proposed development at two 
properties: The POM and the Ord Military Community (OMC). This 
alternative provides the proper balance of initiatives for the 
protection of environmental resources and mission essential actions. 
The ROD also identifies mitigation that will reduce or eliminate 
adverse impacts.

ADDRESSES: Written requests to obtain a copy of the ROD can be 
addressed to: U.S. Army Garrison, Directorate of Public Works, Master 
Planning Division (Attention: Mr. Robert Guidi), P.O. Box 5004, 
Presidio of Monterey, CA 93944-5004 or send email requests to: 
[email protected]. For media inquiries, please contact Mr. 
Daniel Carpenter, Presidio of Monterey Public Affairs, at 
[email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Please contact Mr. John Elliot at 
(831) 242-7777 or by email at [email protected]. Additional 
information may be found at the POM Directorate of Public Works Web 
site at: http://www.monterey.army.mil/DPW/env_assessment.html.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The POM is located on the Monterey Peninsula 
between the Cities of Monterey and Pacific Grove and the OMC is located 
approximately eight miles northeast of the POM and situated within the 
former Fort Ord military installation adjacent to the City of Seaside. 
Both properties, collectively referred to as the POM Installation, are 
located within Monterey County and are in proximity to the Pacific 
Ocean.
    The DoD Foreign Language Proficiency Enhancement Program changes 
the student-to-instructor ratio and will result in a greater population 
of students and instructors. The POM needs to train more linguists for 
deployment throughout the world because current projections indicate a 
shortfall in personnel properly trained to interface with people of 
other nations. The existing facilities at the POM neither met current 
needs nor the projected requirements at the DLIFLC. This fact, coupled 
with anti-terrorism/force protection requirements, resulted in the need 
to change the physical landscape at the POM and the OMC.
    The ROD incorporates analyses contained in the FEIS for the RPMP, 
including comments provided during formal comment and review periods. 
The ROD selects facility improvements and phased construction to 
maintain and enhance the professional standards established by the 
Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center (DLIFLC). 
Modernization of classrooms, living quarters, and support facilities 
will help ensure a sustainable mission throughout the foreseeable 
future.
    Under the selected alternative, the majority of new construction 
and development will be located within the existing central campus at 
the POM. The POM Barracks Complex Phase I and Phase IV will be 
constructed. This action places future development of primary and 
support facilities for the DLIFLC at the POM. The two new barracks and 
three additional general instruction buildings will be sited to 
preserve the centralized location of the DLIFLC. No new barracks or 
instructional buildings are designated for the OMC.
    Implementation of this decision is expected to result in direct, 
indirect, and cumulative impacts to the POM Installation. Environmental 
impacts are expected to occur as a result of facilities construction 
and changes in operations. The potential for significant environmental 
impacts is greatest for aesthetic resources, endangered plant species 
and associated critical habitat, cultural resources, housing and 
population, public services (schools), traffic circulation, and water 
usage. The POM will mitigate adverse effects through a variety of 
strategies, as described in the FEIS. All practicable means to avoid or 
minimize environmental harm from the selected alternative have been 
adopted and a monitoring and enforcement program will be adopted.
    The environmentally preferred alternative is the ``no action'' 
alternative, but this alternative would not have met mission 
requirements.
    The selected alternative allows for timely implementation of the 
POM RPMP while providing the necessary facilities and infrastructure 
upgrades to meet the DoD requirements. This decision provides the 
proper balance of initiatives for the protection of the environment and 
supports the U.S. Army's effort to fulfill its mandated mission 
requirements and provide an exceptional learning environment.
    A summary of environmental impacts and rationale for the decision 
can be found in the ROD, which is available along with the FEIS at 
http://www.monterey.army.mil/DPW/env_assessment.html.

Brenda S. Bowen,
Army Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 2014-00153 Filed 1-8-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3710-08-P