Notice2022-22261
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
Primary source
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Published
October 14, 2022
Issuing agencies
Defense DepartmentNavy Department
Abstract
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. 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).
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 87 Issue 198 (Friday, October 14, 2022)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 198 (Friday, October 14, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 62399-62400]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2022-22261]
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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.
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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:
<bullet> November 15, 2022, 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.
<bullet> 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: <a href="https://ndw.cnic.navy.mil/WNY-Land-Acquisition/1/">https://ndw.cnic.navy.mil/WNY-Land-Acquisition/1/</a>.
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:
<bullet> Verbally during each of the two virtual public meetings.
<bullet> Electronically via email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#b1fff0e7f7f0f2e6d0c2d9fff4e1f080f1dfd0c7c89fdcd8dd"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="125c53445453514573617a5c57425323527c73646b3c7f7b7e">[email protected]</span></a>.
<bullet> 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, <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#1957584f5f585a4e786a71575c4958285977786f6037747075"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="440a05120205071325372c0a01140575042a25323d6a292d28">[email protected]</span></a>.
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: <a href="https://ndw.cnic.navy.mil/WNY-Land-Acquisition/1/">https://ndw.cnic.navy.mil/WNY-Land-Acquisition/1/</a>.
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
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