[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 242 (Tuesday, December 18, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 64811-64813]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-27347]
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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Office of the Secretary
[Docket ID: DOD-2018-OS-0033]
Notice of Availability for Finding of No Significant Impact for
the Environmental Assessment Addressing Construction and Operation of a
Fiscal Year 2019 General Purpose Warehouse at Defense Logistics Agency
Distribution Red River, Red River Army Depot, Texas
AGENCY: Defense Logistics Agency (DLA), Department of Defense.
[[Page 64812]]
ACTION: Notice of availability (NOA).
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SUMMARY: On June 8, 2018, DLA published an NOA in the Federal Register
announcing the publication of the Environmental Assessment (EA)
Addressing Construction and Operation of a Fiscal Year 2019 (FY19)
General Purpose Warehouse (GPW) at DLA Distribution Red River, Red
River Army Depot, Texas. The EA was available for a 30-day public
comment period that ended July 9, 2018. The EA was prepared as required
under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969. In
addition, the EA complied with DLA and Army NEPA regulations. No
comments from the public were received during the EA public comment
period.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ira Silverberg at 571-767-0705 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: DLA and Red River Army Depot (RRAD)
consulted with the Texas State Historic Preservation Officer (SHPO) at
the Texas Historical Commission; the Texas Parks and Wildlife
Department (TPWD); the Tribal Historic Preservation Officers of the
Caddo Nation; the Comanche Nation; the Kiowa Tribe of Oklahoma; and the
Wichita and Affiliated Tribes for this Proposed Action. The Texas SHPO
stamped the Request for State Historic Preservation Office Consultation
with a determination that no historic properties would be affected by
the Proposed Action. The TPWD provided comments regarding state-listed
species. DLA addressed TPWD's comments in the EA, as appropriate, and
responded to the TPWD with an acknowledgment letter. The Kiowa Tribe of
Oklahoma provided an approval to proceed with the Proposed Action with
the understanding that the Kiowa Tribe Office of Historic Preservation
be notified should any undiscovered properties be encountered. DLA and
RRAD did not receive responses to the consultation requests with the
other tribes. An appendix to the EA includes the agency and tribal
consultation documents and the responses from the SHPO, the TPWD, and
the Kiowa Tribe of Oklahoma. The revised EA is available electronically
at the Federal eRulemaking Portal at http://www.regulations.gov within
Docket ID: DOD-2018-OS-0033.
This Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) documents the
decision of DLA to construct and operate an FY19 GPW at DLA
Distribution Red River, Texas. DLA has determined the Proposed Action
is not a major federal action the significantly affects the quality of
the human environment within the context of NEPA, and no significant
impacts on the human environment are associated with this decision.
DLA completed an EA to address the potential environmental
consequences associated with the proposed construction and operation of
an FY19 GPW at DLA Distribution Red River, Texas. This FONSI
incorporates the EA by reference and summarizes the results of the
analyses in the EA.
Purpose of and Need for Action: The purpose of the Proposed Action
is to provide DLA Distribution Red River with sufficient warehouse
space so that vehicle parts and other materiel can be stored in an
appropriate manner. The Proposed Action is needed because DLA
Distribution Red River has an immediate and long-term requirement for
additional warehousing space. The shortfall of warehouse space has
resulted in critical supplies being stored in unprotected outdoor
settings. Storage of materiel outdoors has led to new and otherwise
serviceable equipment being weathered and, in some cases, deteriorating
to the point of inoperability. Additionally, placement of materiel
adjacent to buildings also prevents fire fighting equipment from fully
accessing the exterior of buildings.
Proposed Action and Alternatives: Under the Proposed Action, DLA
would construct and operate an FY19 GPW. The 445,500-square foot
(ft\2\) GPW would include a 5,500-ft\2\ administrative area with an
employee break room, locker rooms, restrooms, administrative offices,
and mechanical and utility service areas. Other features of the
proposed FY19 GPW include Early Suppression Fire Response fire
protection, site information systems, weather sealed truck doors,
loading docks, site lighting, storm drainage, paving (i.e., access
roadways, aprons, parking, and walkways), and related site improvements
such as landscaping. Additionally, all necessary utilities, including
electric, water, wastewater, natural gas, and communication services,
would be extended to the proposed FY19 GPW. Construction of the
proposed FY19 GPW would disturb approximately 1,460,000 ft\2\ of
currently undeveloped land.
The proposed FY19 GPW would not eliminate the entire shortfall of
GPW space at DLA Distribution Red River. Therefore, once constructed,
DLA would transfer only the most sensitive and valuable materiel from
the existing outdoor storage areas on the installation into the FY19
GPW. Operation of the FY19 GPW would be consistent with existing and
foreseeable future uses within RRAD as well as all applicable
environmental policies and regulations.
Description of the No Action Alternative: Under the No Action
Alternative, DLA would not construct a new FY19 GPW at DLA Distribution
Red River, Texas. No changes to materiel storage conditions would
result. Critical materiel that should be stored in warehouses would
continue to be stored outdoors, which would result in equipment and
other materiel deteriorating from exposure to weather and installation
personnel being exposed to safety hazards. 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 would be expected from the Proposed Action.
Insignificant adverse effects on land use and recreation, noise, air
quality, geological resources, water resources, biological resources,
infrastructure and transportation, and hazardous materials and wastes
would be expected. Insignificant, beneficial effects on land use,
geological resources, water resources, and infrastructure and
transportation also would be expected. Details of the environmental
consequences are discussed in the EA, 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. Human environment was interpreted comprehensively to
include the natural and physical environment and the relationship of
people with that environment. Specifically, no highly uncertain or
controversial impacts, unique or unknown risks, or cumulatively
significant effects were identified. Implementation of the Proposed
Action will not violate any federal, state, or local laws. Based on the
results of the analyses performed during preparation of the EA and
consideration of comments received during the public comment period,
Mr. Gordon B. Hackett III, Director, DLA Installation Management,
concludes that construction and operation of a FY19 GPW at DLA
Distribution Red River, Texas, does not constitute a major federal
action significantly affecting the quality of the human environment
within the context of NEPA. Therefore, an environmental impact
statement for the Proposed Action is not required.
[[Page 64813]]
Dated: December 13, 2018.
Shelly E. Finke,
Alternate OSD Federal Register, Liaison Officer, Department of Defense.
[FR Doc. 2018-27347 Filed 12-17-18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 5001-06-P