[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 139 (Tuesday, July 21, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 43051-43052]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-17912]


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 Notices
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 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules 
 or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings 
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  Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 139 / Tuesday, July 21, 2015 / 
Notices  

[[Page 43051]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRIGULTURE

Agricultural Research Service


Availability of the Final Environmental Assessment and a Finding 
of No Significant Impact for the U.S. Department of Agriculture--
Agricultural Research Service Brooksville, Florida Land Transfer to 
Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University

AGENCY: Agricultural Research Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the U.S. Department of Agriculture 
(USDA) Agricultural Research Service (ARS) made a Finding of No 
Significant Impact (FONSI) for the transfer of land and facilities from 
USDA-ARS Subtropical Agricultural Research Station (STARS) in 
Brooksville, Florida, to the Florida Agricultural and Mechanical 
University (FAMU) for the purpose of agricultural research. The FONSI 
document is based on impact analysis documented in the Environmental 
Assessment (EA) that was available for public comment beginning 
February 25 through April 1, 2015, and finalized on June 30, 2015.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Cal Mather, Environmental Protection 
Specialist, USDA-ARS-SHEMB, NCAUR, 1815 North University Street, Room 
2060, Peoria, Illinois 61604, telephone: 309-681-6608, or email: 
[email protected]. Copies of the Final EA may also be available 
for public viewing during normal business hours at the following 
locations:

 Samuel H. Coleman Memorial Library (FAMU), 525 Orr Drive, 
Tallahassee, Florida 32307
 Istachatta Library Station, 16246 Lingle Road, Brooksville, 
Florida 34601
 East Hernando Branch Library, 6457 Windmere Road, Brooksville, 
Florida 34602
 Spring Hill Branch Library, 9220 Spring Hill Drive, Spring 
Hill, Florida 34608
 West Hernando Branch Library, 6335 Blackbird Avenue, 
Brooksville, Florida 34613
 Main Library/Brooksville, 238 Howell Avenue, Brooksville, 
Florida 34601

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In accordance with the National 
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, as amended, an EA was prepared 
to evaluate the proposed transfer of approximately 3,800 acres of land 
and facilities at the USDA-ARS STARS in Brooksville, Florida, to FAMU. 
The USDA-ARS signed a FONSI on June 30, 2015, based on the Final EA.
    The Final EA evaluated the proposed approximately 3,800 acres of 
land and facilities located on four separate properties at the USDA-ARS 
STARS in Brooksville, Florida to FAMU. The Final EA also evaluated 
future proposed uses of land and facilities to be transferred, 
according to FAMU's proposed Plan of Work. In accordance with the March 
1, 2014, Memorandum of Understanding executed between the United States 
Government, represented by the Secretary, and the University Board of 
Trustees, upon transfer to FAMU, the land will be used for agricultural 
and natural resources research for a period of no less than 25 years, 
supporting the 1890 land grant university mission, promoting education 
and community collaboration, and establishing a Beginning Farmers and 
Ranchers Program at the Property. FAMU would assume responsibility for 
management and maintenance of the constructed facilities and land to be 
conveyed from USDA-ARS.
    The USDA-ARS STARS was one of 10 units designated for closure in 
the fiscal year 2012 Presidential budget. The proposed transfer of land 
and facilities from USDA-ARS to FAMU would be in accordance with 
Section 732 of Public Law (P.L.) 112-55, as extended under P.L. 113-76, 
2014 Consolidated Appropriations Act, which authorizes the Secretary to 
convey, with or without consideration, certain USDA-ARS facilities to 
entities that are eligible to receive real property, including: Land-
grant colleges and universities (as defined in Section 1404(13) of the 
National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 
1977); 1994 Institutions (as defined in Section 532 of the Equity in 
Educational Land-Grant Status Act of 1994); and Hispanic-serving 
agricultural colleges and universities (as defined in Section 1404(10) 
of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy 
Act of 1977). Under P.L. 113-76, the conveyance authority expires on 
September 30, 2015, and all conveyances must be completed by that date.
    Two alternatives are analyzed in the Final EA, the Proposed Action 
Alternative and the No Action Alternative. The Final EA addresses 
potential impacts of these alternatives on the natural and human 
environment.
     Proposed Action Alternative--Under the proposed action 
alternative, the Secretary would transfer the USDA-ARS land and 
facilities to FAMU, and FAMU, its tenant(s), and/or its partner(s) 
would implement the Reasonably Foreseeable Future Actions described in 
the Final EA upon transfer of the land and facilities. The land would 
be used for agricultural and natural resources research for a period of 
no less than 25 years.
     No Action Alternative--Under the no action alternative, 
the USDA-ARS land and facilities would not be transferred to FAMU. It 
is assumed that under the no action alternative, USDA-ARS would have no 
resources to operate and/or maintain the properties and that the 
properties would fall into a state of disrepair.
    On February 25, 2015, USDA-ARS published a notice of availability 
(NOA) of the Draft EA and notified the public of a 30-day public review 
and comment period, scheduled to close on March 26, 2015. The February 
25, 2015, NOA was published in the two major newspapers serving the 
Brooksville/Hernando County, Florida area: The Tampa Bay Times and The 
Tampa Tribune. The Tampa Tribune NOA was published in both English and 
Spanish. On March 2, 2015, USDA-ARS published a NOA of the Draft EA in 
the Federal Register (FR) (80 FR 11155, March 2, 2015). To make the FR 
NOA public comment period concurrent with the local newspapers, the 
comment period was extended an additional 6 days in notices published 
in the same newspapers and

[[Page 43052]]

closed on April 1, 2015, instead of the originally scheduled March 26, 
2015.
    The USDA-ARS used and coordinated the NEPA commenting process to 
satisfy the public involvement process for Section 106 of the National 
Historic Preservation Act (16 U.S.C. 470(f) as provided for in 36 CFR 
800.2(d)(3)). During the public comment period, USDA-ARS received two 
public comments regarding the transfer of lands and facilities from 
USDA-ARS to FAMU. None of the public comments received identified any 
substantial evidence regarding significant environmental impacts 
resulting from the proposed land transfer.
    Based on its analysis of the Final EA for the property transfer, 
USDA-ARS has found that the transfer of properties could have adverse 
effects on previously identified historic properties. USDA-ARS, Florida 
Division of Historical Resources (FLDHR) and FAMU have signed a 
Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) to address the adverse effects from the 
proposed transfer and to avoid, minimize, or mitigate the adverse 
effects to any previously identified historic properties. The MOA also 
stipulates a Programmatic Agreement (PA) between FAMU and FLDHR for the 
long-term management of historic properties on the conveyed parcels; 
the PA will establish a consultation process that mirrors Section 106 
and continue consultations with the FLDHR and the Seminole Tribe of 
Florida on Native American sites located on the properties. With the 
implementation of the MOA to address adverse effects on historic 
properties, there would be no significant impact to the environment 
from transferring approximately 3,800 acres of land and facilities at 
the USDA-ARS STARS in Brooksville, Florida, to the Board of Trustees of 
the Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University, for use by FAMU. 
Therefore, USDA-ARS will not prepare an Environmental Impact Statement 
for this proposed action.

    Dated: July 13, 2015.
Chavonda Jacobs-Young,
Administrator, Agricultural Research Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-17912 Filed 7-20-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3410-03-P