[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 229 (Thursday, November 30, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 56848-56849]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-25788]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice: 10214]


Notice of Availability of the Final Environmental Impact 
Statement for the Foreign Missions Center at the Former Walter Reed 
Army Medical Center, Washington, DC

AGENCY: Department of State.

ACTION: Notice of Availability.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of State (DOS) announces the availability 
of the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) on the master plan 
for the long-term development of a Foreign Missions Center, under 
authorities of the Foreign Missions Act of 1982, on the site of the 
former Walter Reed Army Medical Center (WRAMC) in the District of 
Columbia. Actions evaluated in the master plan consist of assignment of 
federal land to foreign missions for the purpose of constructing and 
operating new chancery facilities. DOS has prepared this FEIS on 
Alternative 7 as its Selected Action Alternative for the master plan, 
consistent with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, 
as amended, regulations developed by the Council on Environmental 
Quality, and DOS regulations for implementing NEPA.

DATES: Following this thirty (30) day notice in the Federal Register, 
DOS will issue a Record of Decision (ROD) at which time its 
availability will be announced in the Federal Register and local media. 
Please note that the public review period will close on December 31, 
2017.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Geoffrey Hunt, Department of State, A/
OPR/RPM, Room 1264, 2201 C St. NW., Washington, DC 20520-1264, or (202) 
647-7530, or FMC.info@state.gov">FMC.info@state.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The master plan is intended to guide the 
development of a cohesive campus by establishing design and land-use 
planning principles for the construction of new buildings, roadways, 
open green space, and utilities, while minimizing environmental 
impacts. The FEIS analyzes the potential impacts associated with 
Alternative 7 that could satisfy the purpose and need defined in the 
FEIS and master plan. Additionally, the FEIS addresses substantive 
comments submitted by the public and other stakeholders during the 
public comment period for the Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact 
Statement (SDEIS).
    The SDEIS was previously circulated publicly in April 2017 and 
Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) was previously circulated 
publicly in February 2014. Subsequent to the publication of the DEIS, 
the total acreage of the land available for transfer from the Army to 
DOS was reduced from 43.5 to 31.7 acres through the National Defense 
Authorization Act of 2015. Because of the change in the proposed 
action, DOS prepared the SDEIS to describe the new preferred 
alternative, and evaluate any change in potential impacts from the 
reduction in size of the proposed action.
    In addition, DOS is carrying out the Section 106 review process 
under the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, through which it 
consults with interested parties on the potential effect of the 
proposed undertaking on identified historic properties.
    A ``chancery'' is the principal office of a foreign mission used 
for diplomatic or related purposes, and annexes to such offices 
(including ancillary offices and support facilities), and includes the 
site and any buildings on the site which are used for such purposes. A 
``foreign mission'' is any mission to or agency or entity in the United 
States which is involved in diplomatic, consular or other activities 
of, or which is substantially owned or effectively controlled by, a 
foreign government; or an organization representing a territory or 
political entity which has been granted diplomatic or other official 
privileges and immunities under the laws of the United States or which 
engages in some aspect of the conduct of international affairs of such 
territory or political entity, including any real property of such a 
mission and the personnel of such a mission.
    The need for the project is based on increased and high demand for 
foreign mission facilities in the District of Columbia, a lack of large 
sites for foreign mission development or redevelopment in the District 
of Columbia, and the need for land to use in property exchanges with 
other countries. The proposed Foreign Missions Center is needed to 
primarily address the increasing scarcity of

[[Page 56849]]

suitable properties within the District of Columbia to locate the 
operations of foreign missions. This scarcity has impacted, in certain 
cases, DOS's ability to acquire properties of considerable size in 
foreign nations.

Master Plan Description

Alternatives Considered

    DOS identified, developed, and analyzed the No Action Alternative 
and seven action alternatives that could potentially satisfy the 
proposed action's purpose and need. Alternative 7 and the No Action 
Alternative were retained for detailed study within the FEIS. 
Alternative 7 would provide up to 15 lots for chancery development, 
retain the historic Memorial Chapel building for adaptive reuse, and 
potentially retain other buildings for adaptive reuse, depending on 
marketability. Dahlia Street and 14th Street would be developed as 
connections to the surrounding neighborhoods. The existing historic 
perimeter fence along 16th Street and Alaska Avenue would remain. The 
existing landscape on the western boundary of the site would be 
enhanced to create a 50-foot vegetated buffer, maximizing the tree 
canopy in that area. Access to individual lots would be internal to the 
former WRAMC campus.
    The No Action Alternative was included to provide a basis for 
comparison to the action alternative described above as required by the 
NEPA regulations. DOS has identified Alternative 7 as its Selected 
Action Alternative because it best satisfies the study purpose and 
needs, would fulfill their statutory mission and responsibilities, and 
has the least adverse environmental impact.

Distribution

    The FEIS is available to the public at the Web site: http://www.state.gov/ofm/property/fmc/index.htm. DOS sends information related 
to this environmental review to individuals, organizations, and 
government entities interested in and/or potentially affected by the 
proposed project and maintains a distribution list for this purpose. 
The distribution list includes: Federal, state, and local government 
representatives and agencies; elected officials; environmental and 
public interest groups; other interested parties; and local libraries 
and newspapers. Copies are being distributed at the Advisory 
Neighborhood Commission 4A and 4B offices, the Juanita E. Thornton-
Shepherd Park Library, the Takoma Park Neighborhood Library, and the 
Petworth Neighborhood Library.

 Cliff C. Seagroves,
Director of the Office of Foreign Missions, Acting Department of State.
[FR Doc. 2017-25788 Filed 11-29-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4710-43-P