Notice2021-23341
Record of Decision; 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
Primary source
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Published
October 27, 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 the Record of Decision (ROD) for the 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 acquisition and development will replace the former Lake Lynn Experimental Mine in Fayette County, Pennsylvania, and will support research programs focused on miner health and safety issues. The site to be acquired and developed includes 461.35 acres located off U.S. Route 219 in Randolph and Pocahontas Counties near Mace, West Virginia (Site).
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 86 Issue 205 (Wednesday, October 27, 2021)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 205 (Wednesday, October 27, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 59391-59392]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2021-23341]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
[Docket No. CDC-2018-0057]
Record of Decision; 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
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 the Record of Decision (ROD) for the 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
acquisition and development will replace the former Lake Lynn
Experimental Mine in Fayette County, Pennsylvania, and will support
research programs focused on miner health and safety issues. The site
to be acquired and developed includes 461.35 acres located off U.S.
Route 219 in Randolph and Pocahontas Counties near Mace, West Virginia
(Site).
ADDRESSES: The ROD is available for viewing on the Federal eRulemaking
Portal: <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">http://www.regulations.gov</a> (reference Docket No. CDC-2018-
0057).
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#a8cbcccb85c5c9cbcddfde85cdc1dbe8cbcccb86cfc7de"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="ed8e898ec0808c8e889a9bc088849ead8e898ec38a829b">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background: CDC is dedicated to protecting health and promoting
quality of life through the prevention and control of disease, injury,
and disability. NIOSH 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). The
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 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
[[Page 59392]]
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.
Under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), as implemented
by the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) Regulations (40 CFR parts
1500-1508), 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. In
compliance with NEPA, CDC published a Draft Environmental Impact
Statement (EIS) for the acquisition of the Site and construction of a
new underground safety research facility on February 14, 2019 and a
Final EIS on July 16, 2021. The Draft EIS was available for public
review and comment for 51 days. All comments received were considered
when preparing the Final EIS. The Draft and Final EIS analyzed two
alternatives: The Proposed Action Alternative (acquisition of the Site
and construction of a new underground safety research facility) and the
No Action Alternative. The Final EIS identified the Proposed Action
Alternative as CDC's Preferred Alternative.
After carefully considering the Final EIS and all comments
received, CDC has made the decision to implement the Proposed Action
Alternative. CDC's rationale for this decision is detailed in the ROD.
The ROD incorporates all the mitigation and minimization measures
described in the Final EIS.
Dated: October 21, 2021.
Angela K. Oliver,
Executive Secretary, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
[FR Doc. 2021-23341 Filed 10-26-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P
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