[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 22 (Friday, February 1, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 1068-1069]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-00633]
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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: This notice 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: Comments are due by March 4, 2019.
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 the
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.
[[Page 1069]]
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. During 2018, NOAA contracted with an architectural and
engineering firm to develop a space programming and planning study, or
a Program of Requirements, that identifies the full scope of GFDL's
space needs. The Program of Requirements is available upon request to
Mr. Mayle.
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: December 12, 2018.
David Holst,
Chief Financial Officer/Administrative Officer, Office of Oceanic and
Atmospheric Research, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
[FR Doc. 2019-00633 Filed 1-31-19; 8:45 am]
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