[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 79 (Friday, April 24, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 23003-23004]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-09461]


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GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION

[Notice-PM-2015-02; Docket No. 2015-0002; Sequence No. 6]


Notice of Availability for the Final Environmental Impact 
Statement for the U.S. Department of State Foreign Affairs Security 
Training Center in Nottoway County, Virginia

AGENCY: General Services Administration (GSA).

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to the Council on Environmental Quality regulations 
implementing the procedural provisions of the National Environmental 
Policy Act, GSA has prepared and filed with the U.S. Environmental 
Protection Agency (EPA) a Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) 
for the proposed development of a U.S. Department of State (DOS), 
Bureau of Diplomatic Security (DS), Foreign Affairs Security Training 
Center (FASTC) in Nottoway County, Virginia. GSA is the lead agency; 
cooperating agencies are DOS, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, EPA, and 
National Guard Bureau. The Final EIS also documents compliance with the 
National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) of 1966.

DATES: The Final EIS is now available for review. The GSA Record of 
Decision will be released no sooner than 30 days after EPA publishes 
its Notice of Availability of the Final EIS in the Federal Register.

ADDRESSES: The Final EIS may be viewed online at http://www.state.gov/recovery/fastc. Paper copies may be viewed at the repositories listed 
under SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Abigail Low, GSA Project Manager; 20 N 
8th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107; 215-446-4815; or email 
FASTC.info@gsa.gov">FASTC.info@gsa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Background: The purpose of the proposed FASTC site in Nottoway 
County is to consolidate existing dispersed ``hard skills'' security 
training functions to provide effective, efficient training 
specifically designed to enable foreign affairs personnel to operate in 
today's perilous and dangerous overseas environment. Hard skills 
training is practical, hands-on training in firearms, explosives, anti-
terrorism driving techniques, defensive tactics, and security 
operations. Such training improves security and life safety for the 
protection of U.S. personnel operating abroad. The proposed FASTC would 
fill a critical need, identified in the 2008 report to the U.S. 
Congress, for a consolidated training facility. A central facility 
would improve training efficiency and provide priority access to 
training venues from which DS may effectively conduct hard skills 
training to meet the increased demand for well-trained personnel. The 
proposed FASTC would train 8,000 to 10,000 students annually.
    The Final EIS was prepared to evaluate the environmental 
consequences of site acquisition and development of FASTC on three 
adjacent land parcels at the Virginia Army National Guard Maneuver 
Training Center Fort Pickett (Fort Pickett) and Nottoway County's Local 
Redevelopment Authority (LRA) area in Nottoway County, Virginia.
    The proposed site is 1,350 acres with an additional 12 acres for 
relocation of an existing tank trail and scheduled use of a 19 acre 
Fort Pickett range. The site is surrounded by compatible land uses 
within Fort Pickett. The total area of disturbance for construction of 
driving tracks, mock urban environments, explosives and firearms 
ranges, and administrative and service areas would be 407 acres. 
Utilities would be installed or relocated along existing roadways or 
within areas planned for development.
    GSA published its Notice of Intent to prepare an EIS in the Federal 
Register at 76 FR 61360 on October 4, 2011. A public scoping meeting 
was held in October 2011 during the 30 day public scoping period. The 
Draft EIS was released on October 26, 2012, and a public information 
meeting was held on November 7, 2012 during the 45-day public comment 
period. The Draft EIS evaluated Build Alternatives 1 and 2 and the No 
Action Alternative.
    In early 2013, all efforts and work on the proposed site at Fort 
Pickett and Nottoway County's LRA area were put on hold pending 
additional due diligence and reviews at an existing federal training 
site in Georgia. As part of this due diligence effort, DOS conducted 
site visits to the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center in Glynco, 
Georgia. During this time period, DOS also assessed the scope and size 
of the FASTC project and determined a smaller platform was more 
fiscally prudent. In April 2014, the earlier DOS selection of the 
proposed site for FASTC at Fort Pickett and Nottoway County was 
reaffirmed by the Administration. A Master Plan Update was prepared in 
2014 to incorporate the adjustments in the FASTC program.
    A Supplemental Draft EIS was published in the Federal Register at 
80 FR 8311 on January 9, 2015, and a public information meeting was 
held January 26, 2015, during the 45-day public comment period. The 
Supplemental Draft EIS evaluated Build Alternative 3 and the No Action 
Alternative, and provided responses to public comments on the 2012 
Draft EIS. Build Alternative 3 was developed based on the 2014 Master 
Plan Update. Build Alternatives 1 and 2 were no longer feasible because 
of changes in the program and were eliminated from further evaluation.
    Current Efforts: The Final EIS designates Build Alternative 3 as 
the

[[Page 23004]]

Preferred Alternative. Build Alternative 3 would have direct, indirect, 
and cumulative environmental impacts, but the impacts are reduced as 
compared with the 2012 build alternatives. Changes between the 
Supplemental Draft EIS and Final EIS include the results of 
consultation with the State Historic Preservation Officer as required 
by Section 106 of the NHPA, and updates on consultation with the U.S. 
Fish and Wildlife Service pertaining to effects on northern long-eared 
bats under Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act. Section 7 
consultation will be concluded prior to the Record of Decision. The 
Final EIS also updates the proposed action to support emerging advanced 
tactical training needs and a change in the availability of existing 
facilities. The proposed action includes limited use of helicopters in 
training to approximately one or two days per month and the addition of 
an Ammunition Supply Point on the proposed site. The Final EIS 
addresses and responds to agency and public comments on the 
Supplemental Draft EIS.
    The Final EIS has been distributed to various federal, state, and 
local agencies, and interested individuals. The Final EIS is available 
for review on the project Web site http://www.state.gov/recovery/fastc. 
Printed copies are available for viewing at the following libraries:
     Nottoway County Library--Louis Spencer Epes Memorial 
Library, 415 South Main St., Blackstone, VA.
     Amelia County--James L. Hamner Public Library, 16351 Dunn 
St., Amelia, VA.
     Brunswick County--Brunswick County Library, 133 W. Hicks 
St., Lawrenceville, VA.
     Dinwiddie County--Dinwiddie Library, 14103 Boydton Plank 
Road, Dinwiddie, VA.
     Lunenburg County--Ripberger Library, 117 South Broad St., 
Kenbridge, VA.
     Prince Edward County--Prince Edward Community Library, 
1303 West 3rd St., Farmville, VA.
     Chesterfield County--Central Library, 9501 Lori Road, 
Chesterfield, VA.
     Mecklenburg County--Southside Regional Library, 1294 
Jefferson St., Boydton, VA.

    Dated: April 15, 2015.
Toby Tobin,
Director, Facilities Management & Services Programs Division, U.S. GSA, 
Mid-Atlantic Region.
[FR Doc. 2015-09461 Filed 4-23-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6820-89-P