Notice2021-15139
Final Environmental Impact Statement; Acquisition of Site for Development of a Replacement Underground Safety Research Program Facility for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention/National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (CDC/NIOSH) in Mace, West Virginia; Availability and Public Information Meeting
Primary source
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Published
July 16, 2021
Issuing agencies
Health and Human Services DepartmentCenters for Disease Control and Prevention
Abstract
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), in cooperation with the General Services Administration (GSA), announces the availability of a Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) for the proposed acquisition of a site in Mace, West Virginia, and the development of this site into a replacement for the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Underground Safety Research Program facility (Proposed Action). The proposed acquisition and development would replace the former Lake Lynn Experimental Mine in Fayette County, Pennsylvania and would support research programs focused on miner health and safety issues. The site being considered for acquisition and development includes 461.35 acres located off U.S. Route 219 in Randolph and Pocahontas Counties near Mace, West Virginia (Site). The Final EIS and this notice are published pursuant to the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) as implemented by the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) Regulations (40 CFR parts 1500-1508). In parallel with the NEPA process, CDC also completed consultation with the West Virginia State Historic Preservation Office under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act to evaluate the potential effects, if any, of the Proposed Action on historic properties.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 86 Issue 134 (Friday, July 16, 2021)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 134 (Friday, July 16, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 37755-37756]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2021-15139]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
[Docket No. CDC-2018-0057]
Final Environmental Impact Statement; Acquisition of Site for
Development of a Replacement Underground Safety Research Program
Facility for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention/National
Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (CDC/NIOSH) in Mace, West
Virginia; Availability and Public Information Meeting
AGENCY: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Department of
Health and Human Services (HHS).
ACTION: Notice of availability.
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SUMMARY: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) within
the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), in cooperation with
the General Services Administration (GSA), announces the availability
of a Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) for the proposed
acquisition of a site in Mace, West Virginia, and the development of
this site into a replacement for the National Institute for
Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Underground Safety Research
Program facility (Proposed Action). The proposed acquisition and
development would replace the former Lake Lynn Experimental Mine in
Fayette County, Pennsylvania and would support research programs
focused on miner health and safety issues. The site being considered
for acquisition and development includes 461.35 acres located off U.S.
Route 219 in Randolph and Pocahontas Counties near Mace, West Virginia
(Site). The Final EIS and this notice are published pursuant to the
requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) as
implemented by the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) Regulations
(40 CFR parts 1500-1508). In parallel with the NEPA process, CDC also
completed consultation with the West Virginia State Historic
Preservation Office under Section 106 of the National Historic
Preservation Act to evaluate the potential effects, if any, of the
Proposed Action on historic properties.
DATES:
Public Information Meeting: The public meeting will be held on
August 5, 2021 from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. The meeting will be held via
Zoom. See the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for more information.
If you have any questions or comments that you would like to see
addressed during the virtual information meeting, please email those to
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#e5868186c8888486809293c8808c96a5868186cb828a93"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="b4d7d0d799d9d5d7d1c3c299d1ddc7f4d7d0d79ad3dbc2">[email protected]</span></a> no later than July 26, 2021.
Deadline for Requests for Special Accommodations: Persons wishing
to participate in the public meeting who need special accommodations
should contact Sam Tarr at 770-488-8170 by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time, July
26, 2021.
CDC will issue a final decision on the Proposed Action on or after
August 16, 2021.
ADDRESSES:
Copies of the Final EIS can be obtained at:
<bullet> Federal eRulemaking Portal: <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">http://www.regulations.gov</a>
(reference Docket No. CDC-2018-0057)
<bullet> Linwood Community Library, 72 Snowshoe Drive, Slatyfork,
West Virginia 26291.
<bullet> Elkins Randolph County Public Library, 416 Davis Ave,
Elkins, WV 26241.
<bullet> By written request (electronic copies only) to: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#462522256b2b27252331306b232f350625222568212930"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="d3b0b7b0febeb2b0b6a4a5feb6baa093b0b7b0fdb4bca5">[email protected]</span></a>.
An electronic copy of the public information meeting materials can
be obtained after 6:00 p.m., July 30, 2021 at:
<bullet> <a href="https://gsa.gov/about-us/regions/welcome-to-the-midatlantic-region-3/buildings-and-facilities/west-virginia/cdc-niosh-mine-site-selection-acquisition-environmental-impact-statement">https://gsa.gov/about-us/regions/welcome-to-the-midatlantic-region-3/buildings-and-facilities/west-virginia/cdc-niosh-mine-site-selection-acquisition-environmental-impact-statement</a>.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sam Tarr, Office of Safety, Security,
and Asset Management (OSSAM), Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road NE, H20-4, Atlanta, Georgia 30329-4027,
phone: (770) 488-8170, or email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#137077703e7e72707664653e767a60537077703d747c65"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="640700074909050701131249010d17240700074a030b12">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Public Information Meeting:
Public participation is an essential part of the NEPA process.
Therefore, although CDC has fulfilled the public meeting requirements
under NEPA, due to the changes in the Final EIS that have resulted from
stakeholder input and to ensure that the stakeholders have the
opportunity to learn of the changes and mitigation measures, CDC is
holding an information meeting to discuss the key changes in the Final
EIS. The information meeting will be virtual due to COVID-19
restrictions. The virtual information meeting will be held on:
August 5, 2021 from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Zoom Webinar: <a href="https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83943045020">https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83943045020</a> Or Telephone: +1 312 626 6799, Webinar
ID: 839 4304 5020.
CDC has taken into consideration the limited internet availability
in the project vicinity. The PowerPoint presentation will be available
for download in advance of the meeting here: [<a href="https://gsa.gov/about-us/regions/welcome-to-the-midatlantic-region-3/buildings-and-facilities/west-virginia/cdc-niosh-mine-site-selection-acquisition-environmental-impact-statement">https://gsa.gov/about-us/regions/welcome-to-the-midatlantic-region-3/buildings-and-facilities/west-virginia/cdc-niosh-mine-site-selection-acquisition-environmental-impact-statement</a>]. Those with limited internet connectivity can
download the presentation in advance and then call into the meeting
using the Zoom phone number. Electronic materials will be available for
download by close of business on July 30, 2021.
Should you need a hardcopy of the PowerPoint presentation, please
email your request, including name and address, to <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#c1a2a5a2ecaca0a2a4b6b7eca4a8b281a2a5a2efa6aeb7"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="ef8c8b8cc2828e8c8a9899c28a869caf8c8b8cc1888099">[email protected]</span></a> no later than July 26, 2021. Representatives of CDC and GSA
will not be taking questions during the meeting and request questions
be submitted in advance of the meeting so the agencies can incorporate
those questions into the presentation so that all participants receive
the same hardcopy information. If you have any questions or comments
that you would like to see addressed during the virtual information
meeting, please email those to <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#533037307e3e32303624257e363a20133037307d343c25"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="4a292e2967272b292f3d3c672f23390a292e29642d253c">[email protected]</span></a> no later than
July 26, 2021.
Background: CDC is dedicated to protecting health and promoting
quality of life through the prevention and control of disease, injury,
and disability. NIOSH, one of CDC's Centers, Institute, and Offices,
was established by the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970.
NIOSH plans, directs, and coordinates a national program to develop and
establish recommended occupational safety and health standards, conduct
research and training, provide technical assistance, and perform
related activities to ensure safe and healthful working conditions for
every working person in the United States.
In 1997, when the mine safety and health function was transferred
from the Bureau of Mines (BOM) to NIOSH, NIOSH took over the lease for
a facility referred to as the Lake Lynn Experimental Mine (LLEM). BOM
had leased the LLEM facility since 1982. The LLEM is located 60 miles
south of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The LLEM and its aboveground fire
testing facility were primarily used for studies and research on mine
explosions, mine seals, mine rescue, ventilation, diesel exhaust, new
health and safety technologies, ground control, and fire suppression.
After December 2012, the
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property was no longer available for long-term leasing. CDC attempted
to purchase the underlying property on which LLEM is located, but NIOSH
vacated the LLEM after market-based purchase offers were rejected by
the property owners.
In 2013, CDC completed a Project Development Study to outline a
design solution to replace the LLEM. The study presented the facility
and site requirements and design concepts for the replacement
facilities. In 2016, to identify potentially available locations that
could accommodate the space requirements defined in the 2013 study, GSA
issued (on behalf of CDC) two separate Requests for Expressions of
Interest (REOI) for a site, developed or undeveloped, that could be
used for the new underground safety research facility. The first REOI,
advertised in June 2016, contained a limited delineated area within a
200-mile radius of the LLEM. The REOI set forth criteria that would be
used to evaluate the suitability of the submitted sites. One expression
of interest that had the potential to meet the minimum criteria was
received. After further evaluation, however, the site was found to be
non-viable.
The second REOI was issued in October 2016 and expanded the
delineated area to the entire contiguous United States. Three
expressions of interest were received for sites in Kentucky, Missouri,
and West Virginia. The Kentucky site did not meet the minimum criteria,
and the Missouri site expression of interest did not contain all
necessary information to evaluate. The offeror of the Missouri site did
not respond to subsequent GSA inquiries.
The potential site in West Virginia met the minimum criteria and
was determined to be a viable site. The site is located near Mace, West
Virginia, and straddles the Randolph and Pocahontas County lines.
In accordance with NEPA, as implemented by the CEQ regulations (40
CFR parts 1500-1508), with GSA as a cooperating agency, CDC prepared a
Draft EIS for the proposed acquisition of the Site and construction of
a new underground safety research facility on the Site. Under NEPA,
federal agencies are required to evaluate the environmental effects of
their proposed actions and a range of reasonable alternatives to the
proposed action before making a decision. On February 14, 2019, in
accordance with NEPA, CDC published a Notice of Availability announcing
that a Draft EIS for the proposed acquisition and development had been
prepared. The Draft EIS evaluated two alternatives: The Proposed Action
Alternative (acquisition of the Site and construction of a new
underground safety research facility) and the No Action Alternative. No
other alternatives were considered because only one qualifying site was
identified through the site selection process discussed above.
Publication of the Draft EIS notice initiated a 51-day review
period, which ended on April 5, 2019. During this period, CDC received
comments from government agencies, a Native American tribe, and the
public. These comments pertained to the proposed action in general,
including the purpose and need; water quality/groundwater impacts;
traffic impacts; tourism impacts; noise and vibration impacts; viewshed
impacts; and wildlife impacts.
All comments were considered when preparing the Final EIS and
responses to the comments are provided in the Final EIS. The Final EIS
identifies the Proposed Action Alternative as CDC's Preferred
Alternative.
CDC will make a decision on whether to proceed with the Proposed
Action on or after August 16, 2021. At that time, CDC will issue a
Record of Decision documenting and explaining its decision based on the
Final EIS.
Dated: July 13, 2021.
Sandra Cashman,
Executive Secretary, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
[FR Doc. 2021-15139 Filed 7-15-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P
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