[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 243 (Wednesday, December 20, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Page 60382]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-27387]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Environmental Assessment (EA) for the Proposed New Space Lease 
for the Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory in Princeton, NJ

AGENCY: Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR), National 
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Department of Commerce 
(DOC).

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an EA; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: NOAA announces its intention to prepare an EA, in accordance 
with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, for a new space 
lease to be occupied by the NOAA/OAR Geophysical Fluid Dynamics 
Laboratory.

DATES: Written comments must be received on or before January 15, 2018.

ADDRESSES: Written comments on suggested alternatives and potential 
impacts should be sent to Stephen F. Mayle, Administrative Officer, 
NOAA/OAR/GFDL, 201 Forrestal Road, Princeton, NJ 08540. Comments may 
also be submitted via facsimile to 609-452-5395 or by email to 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The proposed action would involve a lease 
for space for the offices, seminar rooms, meeting rooms, etc. and 
computing facilities used by the Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory 
(GFDL). The current facilities, located in the Princeton, New Jersey 
area, are part of NOAA's Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research 
(OAR). Research conducted at this laboratory includes development and 
use of mathematical models and computer simulations to improve our 
understanding and prediction of the behavior of the atmosphere and the 
oceans. GFDL scientists focus on model-building relevant for society, 
such as hurricane research, weather and ocean prediction, and 
forecasting on the continuum of time and space scales. GFDL also 
collaborates with visiting scientists and students from academic and 
non-profit institutions with whom NOAA has partnered to further its 
mission goals. The current physical space for GFDL consists of two 
buildings that together provide office space, teaching/seminar space, 
high performance computing space, a command/control center, and 
mechanical and electrical plants. The current GFDL facilities are 
approximately 68,675 square feet. Current space can house up to 215 
staff, including full-time employees, visiting scientists and students, 
and contract employees.
    The current facilities are in need of repairs and renovations in 
order to continue to be effectively and safely occupied by GFDL. The 
existing space is also insufficient to accommodate visiting scientists 
and students, for example approximately 40 such staff utilize nearby 
overflow space, and to effectively store and stage necessary equipment 
for current levels of effort. It also does not allow space to expand to 
continue to meet NOAA's mission in collaboration with our institutional 
partners. NOAA is contracting with an architectural and engineering 
firm to conduct a space programming and planning study, or a Program of 
Requirements, that will more specifically identify GFDL's space needs. 
This study is expected to be completed on or about April 1, 2018, and 
will also inform the alternatives to be considered in an EA.
    The purpose of the public scoping process for this EA is to 
determine relevant issues that will influence the scope of the 
environmental analysis, including potential alternatives, and the 
extent to which those issues and impacts will be analyzed in the EA. 
Federal, state, and local agencies, along with other stakeholders that 
may be interested in or affected by NOAA's decision on this project are 
invited to participate in the scoping process and, if eligible, may 
request or be requested by NOAA to participate as a cooperating agency.

    Dated: November 28, 2017.
David Holst,
Chief Financial Officer/CAO, Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Research, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
[FR Doc. 2017-27387 Filed 12-19-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-KD-P