Notice2022-21858
Record of Decision Regarding Implementation of Area Development Plan at Davison Army Airfield, Fort Belvoir, Virginia
Primary source
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Published
October 7, 2022
Issuing agencies
Defense DepartmentArmy Department
Abstract
The Department of the Army (Army) announces the availability of a Record of Decision (ROD) regarding the proposed implementation of an Area Development Plan (ADP) for Davison Army Airfield (DAAF). DAAF is located at U.S. Army Garrison--Fort Belvoir, Virginia. In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the ROD identifies the Army's selected alternative, the basis for its selection, the environmentally preferred alternative, and the mitigation and protective measures the Army commits to implement with the selected alternative. The ROD is based on the results of the Army's Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), which analyzed the potential environmental impacts associated with the proposed construction, modernization, infrastructure, and demolition projects at DAAF. The Proposed Action (i.e., ADP implementation) consists of all these projects. The Proposed Action will 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 will occur entirely within its boundaries. The Proposed Action does not involve substantial changes in missions, air operations, the number of aircraft, or the workforce population at DAAF. The Army will implement the Proposed Action over approximately 30 years to provide the facilities and infrastructure necessary to support the ongoing and future missions of DAAF tenants.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 87 Issue 194 (Friday, October 7, 2022)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 194 (Friday, October 7, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 61002-61003]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2022-21858]
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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Army
Record of Decision Regarding Implementation of Area Development
Plan at Davison Army Airfield, Fort Belvoir, Virginia
AGENCY: Department of the Army, Department of Defense.
ACTION: Notice of availability.
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SUMMARY: The Department of the Army (Army) announces the availability
of a Record of Decision (ROD) regarding the proposed implementation of
an Area Development Plan (ADP) for Davison Army Airfield (DAAF). DAAF
is located at U.S. Army Garrison--Fort Belvoir, Virginia. In accordance
with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the ROD identifies
the Army's selected alternative, the basis for its selection, the
environmentally preferred alternative, and the mitigation and
protective measures the Army commits to implement with the selected
alternative. The ROD is based on the results of the Army's Final
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), which analyzed the potential
environmental impacts associated with the proposed construction,
modernization, infrastructure, and demolition projects at DAAF. The
Proposed Action (i.e., ADP implementation) consists of all these
projects. The Proposed Action will 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 will occur entirely within its
boundaries. The Proposed Action does not involve substantial changes in
missions, air operations, the number of aircraft, or the workforce
population at DAAF. The Army will implement the Proposed Action over
approximately 30 years to provide the facilities and infrastructure
necessary to support the ongoing and future missions of DAAF tenants.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Please contact the Fort Belvoir
Directorate of Public Works--Environmental Division (DPW-ED), Ms.
Wilamena Harback, via phone at (703) 806-3193 or (703) 806-0020, from
Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Further information may also be
requested via email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#e8ae879a9caa8d849e87819aa6a7a1a89d9b898b8dc6899a8591c6858184"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="fabc95888eb89f968c959388b4b5b3ba8f899b999fd49b889783d4979396">[email protected]</span></a>. The ROD, Final EIS,
and associated materials are available at the following website:
<a href="https://home.army.mil/belvoir/index.php/about/Garrison/directorate-public-works/environmental-division">https://home.army.mil/belvoir/index.php/about/Garrison/directorate-public-works/environmental-division</a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: DAAF has operated since 1951. It is a
logistically and operationally valuable location for Department of
Defense (DoD) units providing aviation support for federal activities
in the national capital region. Many facilities at DAAF date to the
1950s, 1960s, and 1970s. More than 40 percent of buildings at the
airfield are at least 50 years old, and an additional 25 percent are
between 30 and 49 years old. As a result, multiple DAAF facilities are
past their intended life cycle and are obsolete, undersized, and/or
inefficient. Their age results in unnecessarily high maintenance costs.
Several facilities at DAAF are located within safety zones associated
with the airfield's runway and require temporary safety waivers to
operate. Thus, they represent a danger to personnel that must be
eliminated. Given the above factors, the Army proposed to implement the
DAAF ADP over the next 30 years.
The Final EIS--published on 6 August 2021 and prepared in parallel
with federal consultation processes (e.g., section 106 of the National
Historic Preservation Act and section 7 of the Endangered Species
Act)--analyzed the potential environmental impacts associated with the
Proposed Action, including direct, indirect, and cumulative effects.
The Final EIS addressed comments received regarding the Draft EIS. The
Final EIS also identified mitigation measures the Army and Fort Belvoir
will implement to reduce potential adverse impacts.
The Army evaluated two alternatives that would meet the Proposed
Action's purpose and need:
1. Full Implementation Alternative (Preferred Alternative): This
alternative would implement the complete suite of 24 projects
recommended in the DAAF ADP. The Full Implementation Alternative would
accommodate the spatial 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.
2. Partial Implementation Alternative: This alternative would
implement a modified, reduced set of 15 ADP projects at DAAF. The
Partial Implementation Alternative would not address DAAF tenants'
requirements in full, but would substantially improve conditions.
Under the No-Action Alternative, the DAAF ADP would not be
implemented. While the No-Action Alternative would not satisfy the
Proposed Action's purpose and need, in accordance with the Council on
Environmental Quality's NEPA regulations, the No-Action Alternative
provides a comparative baseline for gauging the Action Alternatives'
potential effects.
The Final EIS determined the Full Implementation Alternative and
Partial Implementation Alternative would have potentially significant
adverse impacts on wetlands. The Army prepared a Finding of No
Practicable Alternative (FONPA) addressing potential impacts on
wetlands and floodplains. The approved FONPA is included as an appendix
to the Final EIS. The Final EIS concluded the adverse impacts on all
analyzed resources other than wetlands would be less than significant
under either action alternative.
Based on the analysis presented in the Final EIS, the No-Action
Alternative is the environmentally preferred alternative. The Full
Implementation Alternative is the Army's selected alternative because
it provides the facility and infrastructure upgrades necessary to
support DoD requirements and DAAF tenant missions.
The ROD adopts multiple mitigation and protective measures to
prevent or minimize the potential adverse environmental impacts of the
Full Implementation Alternative. The Army is using all practicable
means to avoid or minimize environmental harm caused by the selected
alternative. Fort Belvoir DPW-ED will review the planning documents for
each of the proposed ADP projects prior to initiation to ensure
compatibility with applicable regulatory requirements, best management
practices, and minimization measures. Additional
[[Page 61003]]
surveys, sampling, or testing may be required.
An electronic copy of the ROD is available for review and download
at: <a href="https://home.army.mil/belvoir/index.php/about/Garrison/directorate-public-works/environmental-division">https://home.army.mil/belvoir/index.php/about/Garrison/directorate-public-works/environmental-division</a>. A printed copy may be requested
from Fort Belvoir DPW-ED at the phone number or email address listed
above.
Publication of the ROD formally concludes the NEPA process for this
Proposed Action. The Army will proceed with the Full Implementation
Alternative described in the Final EIS and will execute the mitigation
and protective measures identified in the ROD.
James W. Satterwhite Jr.,
Army Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 2022-21858 Filed 10-6-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3711-02-P
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