[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 49 (Tuesday, March 13, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10842-10843]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-05055]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Office of the Secretary

[Docket ID: DOD-2016-OS-0086]


Notice of Availability for Finding of No Significant Impact for 
the Environmental Assessment Addressing Defense Logistics Agency 
Disposition Services Relocation and Expansion at Defense Supply Center 
Richmond, Virginia

AGENCY: Defense Logistics Agency (DLA), Department of Defense.

ACTION: Notice of availability (NOA).

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SUMMARY: On August 17, 2016, DLA published a NOA in the Federal 
Register announcing the publication of the Environmental Assessment 
(EA) Addressing Defense Logistics Agency Disposition Services 
Relocation and Expansion at Defense Supply Center Richmond, Virginia. 
The EA was available for a 30-day public comment period that ended 
September 16, 2016. DLA considered all comments prior to making the 
determination to proceed with this Finding of No Significant Impact 
(FONSI).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ira Silverberg at 703-767-0705 during 
normal business hours Monday through Friday, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 
p.m. (EST) or by email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The EA was prepared as required under the 
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969. In addition, the EA 
complied with DLA Regulation 1000.22. DLA completed an EA to address 
the potential environmental consequences associated with the Proposed 
Action at Defense Supply Center Richmond. This FONSI incorporates the 
EA by reference and summarizes the results of the analyses in the EA. 
Additionally, this FONSI documents the decision of DLA to implement the 
Proposed Action at Defense Supply Center Richmond. DLA has determined 
that the Proposed Action is not a major federal action significantly 
affecting the quality of the human environment within the context of 
NEPA and that no significant impacts on the human environment are 
associated with this decision.
    DLA received two comments during the 30-day public comment period. 
An anonymous comment, dated September 13, 2016, concurred with DLA that 
the Proposed Action would not result in a significant impact. The 
Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) coordinated review 
of the EA by state agencies, planning district commissions, and 
Chesterfield County and provided a consolidated comment letter dated 
September 15, 2016. The Virginia DEQ consolidated comment letter noted 
the EA did not address potential impacts to land analogous to 
Chesapeake Bay Preservation Areas. On September 22, 2017, DLA responded 
to the Virginia DEQ consolidated comment letter. DLA's response letter 
noted that DLA conducted a wetland delineation, stream assessment, and 
resource protection area (RPA) delineation and submitted a RPA 
Designation Application to Chesterfield County requesting redesignation 
of the RPA within a portion of the proposed 18.2-acre outdoor storage 
area on March 31, 2017. Chesterfield County confirmed DLA's perennial 
stream flow determination and RPA designations on April 14, 2017.
    DLA determined that the Proposed Action would be consistent, to the 
maximum extent practicable, with the enforceable policies of Virginia's 
Coastal Zone Management Program and submitted a coastal zone 
consistency determination for Virginia DEQ review on June 9, 2016. On 
August 16, 2016, Virginia DEQ concurred that the Proposed Action would 
be consistent with Virginia's Coastal Zone Management Program provided 
DLA obtains all applicable permits and approvals.
    The Proposed Action would take place within the Bellwood-Richmond 
Quartermaster Depot Historic District, which is eligible for listing in 
the National Register of Historic Places. Pursuant to the National 
Historic Preservation Act, DLA contacted the State Historic 
Preservation Officer to conduct Section 106 consultation for the 
Proposed Action on September 25, 2015. In a letter dated November 2, 
2015, the State Historic Preservation Office concurred that the 
Proposed Action would not adversely affect historic properties.
    The EA includes an appendix with the public's comments and DLA's 
response, coastal zone consistency documentation, and State Historic 
Preservation Office consultation documents. The revised EA is available 
electronically at the Federal eRulemaking Portal at http://www.regulations.gov within Docket ID: DOD-2016-OS-0086.
    Purpose and Need for Action: The purpose of the Proposed Action is 
to improve the efficiency of DLA Disposition Services operations in the 
Eastern United States. The Proposed Action is necessary, because the 
DLA Disposition Services disposal network in the Eastern United States 
has

[[Page 10843]]

experienced increased customer wait times, insufficient loading bays, 
workload and productivity imbalances between sites, aging facilities, 
and a lack of process optimization since DLA Distribution and DLA 
Disposition Services merged materiel receipt, storage, and distribution 
functions.
    Proposed Action and Alternatives: Under the Proposed Action, DLA 
would: (1) Redesign the DLA Disposition Services mid-Atlantic disposal 
network. This will divert incoming excess military property from DLA 
Disposition Services at Fort Meade, Fort Bragg, Norfolk, and 
Susquehanna to DLA Disposition Services at Richmond. (2) Expand DLA 
Disposition Services at Richmond to a full-service operation (i.e., 
receive, store, distribute, and sell excess military equipment; 
documentation of hazardous materials management; demilitarization; and 
scrap operations). The expansion increases the warehouse footprint from 
60,000 to 340,000 square feet (an addition of 280,000 square feet) and 
increases the outdoor storage area footprint from 34 to 60 acres (an 
addition of 26 acres). (3) Create an operational test bed for research, 
development, testing, and evaluation of standardized disposal practices 
at DLA Disposition Services at Richmond.
    Description of the No Action Alternative: The No Action Alternative 
avoids relocation, or expansion of DLA Disposition Services at 
Richmond. DLA Disposition Services would continue to operate with 
extensive customer wait times, insufficient loading bays, workload and 
productivity imbalances between sites, aging facilities, and a lack of 
process optimization. The No Action Alternative would not meet the 
purpose of and need for the Proposed Action.
    Potential Environmental Impacts: No significant effects on 
environmental resources are expected from the Proposed Action. 
Insignificant, adverse effects on land use, e.g., noise, air quality, 
geological resources, water resources, biological resources, cultural 
resources, infrastructure and transportation, hazardous materials and 
wastes, and health and safety are to be expected. Insignificant and 
beneficial effects on infrastructure and socioeconomics are also to be 
expected. The EA covers details of the environmental consequences, 
which is hereby incorporated by reference.
    Determination: DLA has determined that implementation of the 
Proposed Action will not have a significant effect on the human 
environment. DLA interprets the human environment as the natural and 
physical environment and the relationship of people with that 
environment. DLA based this determination on an analysis of uncertain 
or controversial impacts; unique or unknown risks; and cumulative 
impacts of the proposed action. Implementation of the Proposed Action 
will not violate any Federal, State, or local laws.
    Mr. Phillip R. Dawson, Acting Director, DLA Installation 
Management, concludes that implementing the Proposed Action at the 
Defense Supply Center Richmond does not constitute a major federal 
action that would significantly affect the quality of the environment 
within the context of NEPA. This decision is based on the results of 
the analyses performed during the EA preparation as well as comments 
received from the public.
    Therefore, an environmental impact statement for the Proposed 
Action is not required.

    Dated: March 8, 2018.
Aaron Siegel,
Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison Officer, Department of Defense.
[FR Doc. 2018-05055 Filed 3-12-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 5001-06-P