[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 143 (Friday, July 24, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 44867-44868]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-16005]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of Army


Draft Environmental Impact Statement and Draft Finding of No 
Practicable Alternative for Implementation of Area Development Plan at 
Davison Army Airfield, Fort Belvoir, Virginia

AGENCY: Department of Army, DoD.

ACTION: Notice of Availability.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Army (Army) announces the availability of 
the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the proposed 
implementation of an Area Development Plan (ADP) for Davison Army 
Airfield (DAAF) at Fort Belvoir, Virginia. In accordance with the 
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the Draft EIS analyzes the 
potential environmental impacts associated with implementing the 
construction, modernization, and demolition projects at DAAF 
recommended in the ADP (Proposed Action). A Draft Finding of No 
Practicable Alternative (FONPA) addressing potential impacts on 
floodplains and wetlands is also available for comment with the Draft 
EIS.

DATES: Comments must be received by September 8, 2020.

ADDRESSES: Please send written comments to: Fort Belvoir Directorate of 
Public Works, Environmental Division (DPW-ED), RE: DAAF ADP EIS 9430, 
Jackson Loop, Suite 200, Fort Belvoir, Virginia 22060-5116. Comments 
may also be provided via email to: [email protected]

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Nicola Cowen via phone at (703) 806-
0054 or (703) 473-9231, during normal working business hours, Monday 
through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Further information may also be 
requested via email to: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Proposed Action would be implemented 
over an approximately 30-year time period to provide facilities and 
infrastructure necessary to support the ongoing and future missions of 
the airfield's tenants. The Proposed Action would improve the 
airfield's functional layout, demolish and replace aging facilities and 
infrastructure, and address multiple operational safety concerns along 
the runway. The ADP is specific to DAAF and all projects would occur 
entirely within its boundaries. No substantial changes in missions, air

[[Page 44868]]

operations, or the number of aircraft and personnel at DAAF would occur 
under the Proposed Action.
    The Draft EIS analyzes the potential environmental impacts of the 
Proposed Action, to implement the construction, modernization, and 
demolition projects recommended in the ADP. The Proposed Action would 
occur entirely within the 673-acre DAAF property on Fort Belvoir. Up to 
24 ADP projects would be implemented in three sequential phases over 
the course of an approximately 30-year time period, as follows: Short-
range (next 10 years), mid-range (11 to 20 years from now), and long-
range (21 to 30 years from now). No substantial changes in missions, 
air operations, or the number of aircraft and personnel at DAAF would 
occur under the Proposed Action. Operational noise levels following 
implementation of the Proposed Action would remain similar to current 
conditions.
    The Proposed Action includes the construction of new hangars, and 
administrative and operational facilities; the modernization of 
existing facilities; the demolition of up to 37 existing buildings and 
structures; and related infrastructure improvements. Demolition 
activities would remove a number of facilities that partially obstruct 
the airfield's Primary and Transitional Surfaces, which are required to 
be free of obstructions in accordance with Department of Defense (DoD) 
operational safety criteria. These facilities require temporary safety 
waivers to operate.
    The Draft EIS assesses the direct, indirect, and cumulative 
potential environmental impacts associated with the Proposed Action. 
The Army evaluated several alternatives for the Proposed Action before 
selecting two alternatives for detailed analysis in the Draft EIS: The 
Full Implementation Alternative and the Partial Implementation 
Alternative. A No Action Alternative was also carried forward for 
analysis in the Draft EIS.
    The Full Implementation Alternative would implement the complete 
suite of 24 projects recommended in the DAAF ADP. Up to 37 existing 
buildings and structures on DAAF would be demolished to remove 
facilities determined to be unnecessary, inadequate, or redundant. This 
would include the demolition of all facilities partially obstructing 
the airfield's Primary and Transitional Surfaces as described above. 
The Full Implementation Alternative would accommodate the space and 
functional needs of all DAAF tenants consistent with applicable DoD 
requirements. It would also fulfill DAAF's vision to create a safe, 
secure, sustainable, and consolidated aviation complex.
    The Partial Implementation Alternative would implement a modified, 
reduced program of 15 ADP projects at DAAF. This Alternative would 
amount to implementing all of the short-range and most of the mid-range 
projects; none of the long-range projects would be implemented. A total 
of 24 existing buildings and structures at DAAF would be demolished, 
including all but two facilities within the airfield's Primary and 
Transitional Surfaces. These facilities would continue to operate under 
temporary safety waivers for the foreseeable future. The Partial 
Implementation Alternative would not address DAAF's tenants' 
requirements in full, but would substantially improve conditions.
    Under the No Action Alternative, the Army would not implement the 
DAAF ADP; existing conditions at the airfield would continue for the 
foreseeable future. None of the proposed construction, modernization, 
demolition, and infrastructure improvement projects would occur. 
Facilities within the airfield's Primary and Transitional Surfaces 
would continue to require temporary safety waivers to operate. The No 
Action Alternative did not meet the screening criteria developed by the 
Army, but was carried forward for analysis in the Draft EIS to provide 
a baseline against which impacts of the Full and Partial Implementation 
Alternatives could be measured.
    Natural resources on DAAF include those associated with Accotink 
Creek, a tributary of the Potomac River that traverses the northern 
side of the airfield property. Both the Full Implementation Alternative 
and Partial Implementation Alternative would impact some environmental 
resources at DAAF, including the 100-year floodplain, waters of the 
U.S. (including wetlands), and Chesapeake Bay Resource Protection 
Areas. Accordingly, the Army has also prepared a Draft Finding of No 
Practicable Alternative (FONPA) to comply with Executive Order (E.O.) 
11988, Floodplain Management and E.O. 11990, Protection of Wetlands. As 
described in the Draft EIS, management measures would be implemented to 
avoid or minimize less than significant adverse impacts on these 
resources. The Draft EIS identifies ``significant'' adverse effects on 
waters of the U.S., including wetlands from the Full and Partial 
Implementation Alternatives. Adherence to applicable permitting 
requirements would mitigate these impacts to the extent possible.
    All government agencies, special interest groups, and individuals 
are invited to participate in the Army's decision-making process for 
the subject Proposed Action. A 45-day public review period for the 
Draft EIS and Draft FONPA will begin on July 24, 2020. Interested 
parties will also be invited to attend two public telephone meetings 
scheduled for August 24, 2020. Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic and the 
need to maintain social distancing, all public meeting materials will 
be provided online, and the public meeting will be hosted by telephone. 
The meeting materials can be found at https://home.army.mil/belvoir/index.php/about/Garrison/directorate-public-works/environmental-division. There will be two public telephone calls scheduled for August 
24, 2020. The phone number for both meetings is 1-877-286-5733. The 1st 
meeting will be from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m., and the passcode is 
676543300#. The 2nd meeting will be from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., and 
the passcode is 66866226#. If you cannot access the meeting materials 
online, please submit a request for the meeting materials to: 
[email protected]. To submit a request by 
mail, please submit it to see ADDRESSES. Mail must be postmarked not 
later than August 10, 2020 so the meeting materials can be sent by 
United States Postal Service. Notification of the public telephone 
meeting will be announced in the local news media and on the Fort 
Belvoir website listed below.
    An electronic copy of the Draft EIS and Draft FONPA will be made 
available for view or download online at: https://home.army.mil/belvoir/index.php/about/Garrison/directorate-public-works/environmental-division.

Brenda S. Bowen,
Army Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 2020-16005 Filed 7-23-20; 8:45 am]
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