[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 176 (Thursday, September 11, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54269-54270]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-21663]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army


Draft Environmental Impact Statement for Short-Term Projects and 
Real Property Master Plan Update for Fort Belvoir, Virginia

AGENCY: Department of the Army, DoD.

ACTION: Notice of Availability.

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SUMMARY: The Department of the Army announces the availability of the 
Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the proposed update of 
the Real Property Master Plan (RPMP) for Fort Belvoir, Virginia, which 
includes proposed short-term projects and long-term development. In 
accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the DEIS 
analyzes the environmental impacts associated with the proposed short-
term projects, long-term development, and anticipated land use changes 
designated in an updated RPMP. The short-term projects are proposed for 
implementation by 2017. The long-term development projects are proposed 
for implementation by 2030. The DEIS assesses potential environmental 
impacts associated with future development and management of land, 
facilities, resources, and infrastructure. The updated RPMP 
incorporates adjustments to the land use plan in the RPMP that were 
made in the Final EIS for the Implementation of 2005 Base Realignment 
and Closure (BRAC) Recommendations and Related Army Actions at Fort 
Belvoir, Virginia (2007) and BRAC-related changes made since 2007.

DATES: The public comment period will end 60 days after publication of 
the NOA in the Federal Register by the U.S. Environmental Protection 
Agency.

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

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Please contact: Fort Belvoir 
Directorate of Public Works, Environmental and Natural Resources 
Division, (703) 806-3193 or (703) 806-0020, during normal working 
business hours, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.; or by email 
to [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The RPMP and the DEIS 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 RPMP update 
does not cover Fort Belvoir property at Rivanna Station in 
Charlottesville, VA; the Mark Center in Alexandria, VA; or the 
Humphreys Engineer Center, adjacent to Main Post.
    The DEIS analyzes the environmental impacts of the short-term 
projects currently programmed for construction in fiscal years 2013 to 
2017. These projects include new office buildings, community and 
recreational facilities, a Fisher House, industrial and maintenance 
facilities, roads, a new gate, and the National Museum of the U.S. 
Army. Some projects have already begun or have been completed; the 
cumulative impacts of these projects are analyzed in the DEIS.
    The Army is also updating its RPMP for Fort Belvoir by analyzing 
the off-post and on-post environmental impacts of reasonably 
foreseeable future development. The DEIS assesses the potential direct, 
indirect, and cumulative environmental impacts associated with updating 
the RPMP to meet the Army's current and future planning needs. 
Additional site-specific NEPA analyses will be prepared, as required, 
for the short-term and long-term projects identified in the RPMP.
    Four alternatives are analyzed in this DEIS: No Action, Full 
Implementation, Modified Long-Term, and Modified Short-Term. The 
alternatives reflect various scenarios for short-term and long-term 
development. Other alternatives are considered in the DEIS, but they 
were determined not to be reasonable and therefore not subject to 
further analysis.
    (1) The No Action Alternative proposes maintaining current 
conditions and the 1993 RPMP (as amended in the 2007 BRAC EIS) would 
remain in effect. The workforce would remain near the post-BRAC, 
September,

[[Page 54270]]

2011 workforce of approximately 39,000.
    (2) The Full Implementation Alternative (the Preferred Alternative) 
would implement the revised RPMP and all short-term and long-term 
projects. If the proposed short-term projects were completed as 
proposed under this alternative, approximately 5,000 employees would be 
added to the post's workforce by 2017. If the long-term development 
projects were completed as proposed under this alternative, an 
additional 12,000 employees would be added, bringing the total 2030 
workforce to approximately 56,000.
    (3) The Modified Long-Term Alternative proposes implementing the 
revised RPMP, all but two short-term projects proposed under the Full 
Implementation Alternative, and all but one of the long-term projects 
proposed under the Full Implementation Alternative. A proposed secure 
administrative campus on the Fort Belvoir North Area would not be 
built. Two of the short-term projects would be delayed to 2018 or 
later. Under this alternative, the total 2030 workforce would be 
approximately 50,000.
    (4) The Modified Short-Term Alternative proposes implementing the 
revised RPMP, most of the short-term projects, and all of the long-term 
projects but most short-term projects would be delayed until after 
2017. Under this alternative, the total 2030 workforce would be 
approximately 55,000.
    Following issuance of the EIS Notice of Intent in September 2012, 
``Short-Range Projects'' in the EIS title changed to ``Short-Term 
Projects'' to align with Unified Facilities Criteria 2-100-
01,Installation Master Planning.
    The DEIS evaluates the impacts of the alternatives on land use; 
socioeconomics, community facilities, and environmental justice; 
cultural resources; transportation and traffic; air quality; noise; 
geology, topography, and soils; water resources; biological resources; 
hazardous materials; utilities; and energy use and sustainability. The 
only resource that would sustain significant adverse impacts is 
transportation and traffic; impacts would be significant under all 
three action alternatives. Mitigation is identified for traffic impacts 
on Fort Belvoir and roadways in the vicinity of Fort Belvoir. While no 
significant adverse impacts are expected to biological resources, 
mitigations are proposed for tree removal.
    All government agencies, special interest groups, and individuals 
are invited to attend the public meeting and/or submit their comments 
in writing. Information on the date, time and location of the public 
meeting will be published locally.
    Copies of the DEIS are available at the: Van Noy Library, Fort 
Belvoir; John Marshall Library, Alexandria, VA; Sherwood Regional 
Library, Alexandria, VA; Chinn Park Library, Woodbridge, VA; Kingstowne 
Library, Alexandria, VA; and Lorton Library, Lorton, VA. The DEIS can 
also be viewed at the following Web site: https://www.belvoir.army.mil/environdocssection9.asp.

Brenda S. Bowen,
Army Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 2014-21663 Filed 9-10-14; 8:45 am]
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