[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 198 (Friday, October 14, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 62399-62400]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-22261]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Navy


Notice of Availability and Virtual Public Meetings for the Draft 
Environmental Impact Statement for Proposed Land Acquisition at the 
Washington Navy Yard, Washington, District of Columbia

AGENCY: Department of the Navy (DoN), Department of Defense (DoD).

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 
1969, as implemented by the Council on Environmental Quality 
Regulations, the DoN prepared and filed with the United States 
Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA), a Draft Environmental 
Impact Statement (EIS) that evaluates the potential environmental 
effects associated with the acquisition of land at the Southeast 
Federal Center (SEFC), at the Washington Navy Yard (WNY), Washington, 
DC. The Navy proposes to obtain 6 acres of land on the SEFC (the SEFC E 
Parcels) to improve the overall Antiterrorism (AT) posture of the WNY.

[[Page 62400]]

By obtaining the SEFC E Parcels, the Navy would: (1) improve the WNY AT 
posture by reducing the encroachment threat posed by planned, private 
development on the SEFC E Parcels; (2) protect mission-critical 
activities conducted at the WNY from visual surveillance, and acoustic 
and electronic eavesdropping; and (3) enhance the overall safety of 
personnel, facilities, and infrastructure at the WNY.
    Should the Navy obtain ownership of the SEFC E Parcels, the Navy is 
considering three alternative uses for the acquired property: 
construction and operation of a relocated Navy Museum, construction of 
administrative facilities, or maintaining the status quo (no new 
development).

DATES: The DoN is initiating a public comment period beginning on 
October 14, 2022 and extending through December 2, 2022. Comments 
submitted during the public comment period, including comments on 
alternatives, information and analysis, and the summary thereof, will 
become part of the public record, and substantive comments will be 
considered in the Final EIS. All comments must be postmarked or 
received electronically by 11:59 p.m. eastern standard time (EST) on 
December 2, 2022, for consideration in the Final EIS. The Navy will 
hold two virtual public meetings to receive comments on the Draft EIS. 
In addition, per section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act 
(NHPA) (36 CFR part 800.2(5)(d)), this undertaking has the potential to 
have effects on historic resources associated with the WNY. The public 
will be able to submit comments on the analysis pursuant to section 106 
of the NHPA.
    The meetings will be held:
     November 15, 2022, 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.
     November 16, 2022, 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.

ADDRESSES: Information on how to participate in the virtual public 
meetings is available on the Navy project website at: https://ndw.cnic.navy.mil/WNY-Land-Acquisition/1/.
    Notices of the virtual public meetings will also be published in 
The Washington Post and through a press release.
    The Navy will receive comments on the Draft EIS and pursuant to 
section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act:
     Verbally during each of the two virtual public meetings.
     Electronically via email: [email protected].
     By mail, postmarked no later than December 2, 2022, to the 
following address: Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command 
Washington, Washington Navy Yard, ATTN: Navy EIS Project Manager, 1314 
Harwood Street SE, Washington, DC 20374.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Naval Facilities Engineering Systems 
Command Washington, Washington Navy Yard, ATTN: Nik Tompkins-Flagg, 
Navy EIS Project Manager, 1314 Harwood Street SE, Washington, DC 20374, 
202-685-8437, [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A Notice of Intent to prepare this EIS was 
published in the Federal Register on February 18, 2022 (Federal 
Register (FR) Document Number 2022-03632). The WNY continues to be the 
``Quarterdeck of the Navy'' and serves as the Headquarters for Naval 
District Washington, where it houses numerous support activities for 
fleet and aviation communities. The purpose of the Proposed Action is 
to improve the overall WNY AT posture (i.e., increase physical security 
and antiterrorism mitigation measures), as well as protect mission-
critical activities at the WNY from visual surveillance, and acoustic 
and electronic eavesdropping. The need for the Proposed Action is to 
protect the WNY from encroachment that would result from proposed 
private development located adjacent to the northwest perimeter of the 
WNY.
    The DoN is considering two action alternatives that meet the 
purpose of and need for the proposed action, as well as a no action 
alternative. The two action alternatives are: Alternative 1, Land 
Acquisition through Land Exchange, and Alternative 2, Direct Land 
Acquisition. Both action alternatives have the same three sub-
alternatives that address reuse of the acquired property. The three 
sub-alternatives are: (A) construct and operate a relocated National 
Museum of the United States Navy; (B) construct and operate Navy 
administrative facilities; and (C) bring property within the WNY fence 
line, but leave the parcels in their current underdeveloped state.
    Under the No Action Alternative, the Proposed Action would not 
occur. The Navy would not acquire or reuse the SEFC E Parcels. Instead, 
the private development on the SEFC E Parcels would proceed as planned. 
Private development on the SEFC E Parcels has already been approved by 
local government in accordance with zoning ordinances and is currently 
scheduled to begin construction as early as 2023.
    Under Alternative 1, the Navy would exchange certain underutilized 
properties within the WNY Southeast Corner with a private developer to 
obtain acquisition rights and ownership of the approximately 6-acre 
SEFC E Parcels. GSA would then transfer ownership of the SEFC E parcels 
to the Navy via a federal-to-federal transfer. In exchange for 
acquisition rights, the Navy would transfer and/or lease underutilized 
assets (approximately 15 acres) at the WNY Southeast Corner to the 
developer. Land exchange of the SEFC E Parcels for the WNY Southeast 
Corner would require relocation of functions, including the Hazardous 
Waste Storage Site from the WNY Southeast Corner to other areas on the 
WNY. This alternative would also include future development on the WNY 
Southeast Corner by the private developer, and in-kind considerations 
at the WNY to be provided by the developer.
    Under Alternative 2, the Navy would acquire the rights to the SEFC 
E Parcels from the developer through purchase or condemnation, and 
would receive the SEFC E Parcels from GSA through a federal-to-federal 
transfer. No WNY property would transfer to the developer, and no 
missions or tenants would need to be relocated under this alternative.
    In the EIS, the DoN analyzes potential environmental impacts of the 
alternatives. Additionally, the DoN will conduct all coordination and 
consultation activities required by the National Historic Preservation 
Act and other laws, regulations, and Executive Orders determined to be 
applicable to the project. The DoN could implement mitigation and 
monitoring measures to avoid or reduce environmental impacts, as 
determined in cooperation with the appropriate regulatory agencies and 
consulting parties.
    The DoN distributed the Draft EIS to federal agencies, other 
parties with which the DoN is consulting, and to other stakeholders, in 
accordance with 40 CFR 1503.1. Further, the DoN provided a press 
release to the local newspaper and distributed letters to stakeholders 
and other interested parties. The Draft EIS is also available for 
electronic viewing or download at: https://ndw.cnic.navy.mil/WNY-Land-Acquisition/1/.

    Dated: October 7, 2022.
B.F. Roach,
Commander, Judge Advocate General's Corps, U.S. Navy, Federal Register 
Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 2022-22261 Filed 10-13-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3810-FF-P