[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 131 (Monday, July 11, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 41116-41117]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-14726]
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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Office of the Secretary
Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for O'Brien
Road Access Modernization (ORAM), Within the Fort Meade Complex,
Maryland
AGENCY: National Security Agency, Department of Defense (DoD).
ACTION: Notice of intent; notice of public scoping; request for
comments.
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SUMMARY: The DoD announces its intent to prepare an Environmental
Impact Statement (EIS) to assess the potential effects associated with
proposed access and infrastructure upgrades at the National Security
Agency's (NSA) campus on Fort George G. Meade, Maryland (hereafter
referred to as Fort Meade). The purpose of the proposed project is to
increase efficiencies and capacity for required security processing of
deliveries and traffic entering the NSA campus. Additionally, major
construction projects have generated changes in Fort Meade traffic
distribution, resulting in extensive delays for inspection and access.
Publication of this notice begins a scoping process that identifies and
determines the scope of environmental issues to be addressed in the
EIS. This notice requests public participation in the scoping process
and provides information on how to participate.
DATES: The public is invited to provide comments on the scope of the
EIS during a 45-day public scoping period. Comments will be accepted
until August 25, 2022.
In light of changing public health requirements, a narrated
presentation will be made available in lieu of an in-person meeting.
Information will be made available on the project website at https://www.nab.usace.army.mil/oram. For further information, see ``Scoping
Process'' in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section below).
ADDRESSES: Written comments regarding the scope of the EIS and comments
on the scoping process may be submitted by any of the following
methods:
Mail: ORAM EIS, c/o: HDR 2650, Park Tower Drive, Suite 400, Vienna,
VA 22180;
Email: [email protected].
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Jeffrey Williams, Sr.
Environmental Engineer, [email protected] 301-688-2970.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background: NSA is a tenant DoD agency on Fort Meade, occupying
approximately 840 acres of the 5,107.7 acres of base property.
Renovation and upgrade of inspection and access facilities for NSA is
required to meet increased mission and security capacity. The existing
Vehicle Control Inspection Facility (VCIF) and Vehicle Control Point 5
(VCP5) represent two significant entry points for access to the NSA
campus. Both facilities require replacement due to process
inefficiencies and insufficient capacity to meet current and future
demand. Original sizing of the VCIF was to provide inspection
facilities only for NSA deliveries and traffic. Post 9/11, a decision
was made that NSA would inspect both Fort Meade and NSA deliveries.
Additionally, major construction activities on Fort Meade have
generated increases in traffic access and inspection throughout the
installation. These conditions have resulted in extensive delays at the
VCIF and traffic back-ups onto Maryland State Route 32. The design of
VCP5 on O'Brien Road is also outdated and provides insufficient access
capacity between the NSA campus and Fort Meade. Relocation of the Fort
Meade Access Control Facility (ACF) on Mapes Road was included to
facilitate the design and construction of the roadway system, as well
as minimize environmental impacts.
Proposed Action and Alternatives: The proposed action would consist
of: construction of a new VCIF with adjacent visitor control center;
construction of a new Mail Screening Facility (MSF) adjacent to the
VCIF; construction of a new VCP5; reconfiguration of the Mapes Road
ACF; roadway improvements to provide enhanced routing and separation of
traffic between NSA and Fort Meade; and associated infrastructure
including sidewalks, inspection canopies, dog kennels, surface parking
areas, stormwater management facilities, utilities, and related
infrastructure.
It is anticipated that two build alternatives will be analyzed in
detail through the EIS process that will involve distinct
configurations of
[[Page 41117]]
project elements within the same general area on the NSA campus and
Fort Meade. The No Action Alternative (not undertaking the proposed
improvements) will also be analyzed in detail to provide a baseline for
comparison with the action alternatives.
This notice of intent is required by 40 Code of Federal Regulations
(CFR) 1501.9 and briefly describes the Proposed Action and possible
alternatives and our proposed scoping process. The EIS will comply with
the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) (42 U.S.C. 4321 et
seq.), the Council on Environmental Quality regulations in 40 CFR parts
1500 through 1508, and DoD Instruction 4715.9 (Environmental Planning
and Analysis).
Significant Issues: Environmental issues to be analyzed in the EIS
will include potential effects on air quality, stream and wetland
resources, forests, cultural resources, hazardous waste and materials,
and transportation. Consultations to be incorporated into the
preparation of the Draft EIS will include, but are not necessarily
limited to, consultation under Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act
and Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act.
Scoping Process: Public scoping is an early and open process for
identifying and determining the scope of issues to be addressed in the
EIS. Scoping begins with this notice and continues through the 45-day
public comment period.
As part of the public scoping process, in lieu of a public scoping
meeting, a narrated presentation about the project and how to provide
scoping comments will be made available on August 3, 2022, for a two-
day period. The presentation will be made available on the project
website at https://www.nab.usace.army.mil/oram.
Upon completion of the scoping process, DoD will prepare a Draft
EIS, and will publish a Federal Register notice announcing its public
availability. The Draft EIS is anticipated to be available for public
review by mid-2023. If you want the notice to be sent to you, please
submit your request in writing (see ADDRESSES section in this notice).
There will also be an opportunity to review and comment on the Draft
EIS. Additionally, it is anticipated that a public meeting would be
held after publication of the Draft EIS to present the Draft EIS and
receive public comments regarding the document. NSA will consider all
comments received and then prepare a Final EIS. As with the Draft EIS,
NSA will announce the availability of the Final EIS and once again
provide an opportunity for review and comment. The Final EIS and a
Record of Decision on the Proposed Action are expected in late 2023.
Dated: June 30, 2022.
Aaron T. Siegel,
Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison Officer, Department of Defense.
[FR Doc. 2022-14726 Filed 7-8-22; 8:45 am]
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