Notice2025-18925
Notice of Availability of the Record of Decision for the Final Environmental Impact Statement, Proposed Development of an Updated Facility for the National Wildlife Health Center, Madison, Wisconsin
Primary source
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Published
September 30, 2025
Effective
April 10, 2025
Issuing agencies
Interior DepartmentGeological Survey
Abstract
The U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI), U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), announces the availability of the record of decision (ROD) for the proposal to develop an updated facility for the National Wildlife Health Center (NWHC) in Madison, Wisconsin. This preferred alternative decision follows a comprehensive environmental review and considers input and feedback from Federal, State, and local agencies; Tribes; public officials; organizations; and the public.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 90 Issue 187 (Tuesday, September 30, 2025)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 187 (Tuesday, September 30, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 46914-46915]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2025-18925]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Geological Survey
[Docket No. USGS-2025-0270; GX23AE38EMBOE00]
Notice of Availability of the Record of Decision for the Final
Environmental Impact Statement, Proposed Development of an Updated
Facility for the National Wildlife Health Center, Madison, Wisconsin
AGENCY: U.S. Geological Survey, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability of record of decision.
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SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI), U.S. Geological
Survey (USGS), announces the availability of the record of decision
(ROD) for the proposal to develop an updated facility for the National
Wildlife Health Center (NWHC) in Madison, Wisconsin. This preferred
alternative decision follows a comprehensive environmental review and
considers input and feedback from Federal, State, and local agencies;
Tribes; public officials; organizations; and the public.
DATES: The ROD was signed and became effective April 10, 2025.
ADDRESSES: Obtaining Documents: You may obtain copies of the ROD and
additional project information on the USGS National Wildlife Health
Center website--<a href="https://www.usgs.gov/center/nwhc">https://www.usgs.gov/center/nwhc</a>. Copies of the Final
Environmental Impact Statement are available by request to the USGS
Information Contact below.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jordan Sizemore, National
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Project Manager, by phone at 360-929-
0783, or by email at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#751f061c0f10181a071035000612065b121a03"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="b6dcc5dfccd3dbd9c4d3f6c3c5d1c598d1d9c0">[email protected]</span></a>. Individuals in the United
States who are deaf, deafblind, hard of hearing, or have a speech
disability may dial 711 (TTY, TDD, or TeleBraille) to access
telecommunications relay services. Individuals outside the United
States should use the relay services offered within their country to
make international calls to the point-of-contact in the United States.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
(1) The ROD, pursuant to the NEPA of 1969, 42 U.S.C. 4321 et
seq.,\1\ completes the NEPA process and documents the decision
regarding the proposal by the USGS to develop an updated facility for
the NWHC, located on a 24-acre tract of Federal property in Madison,
Wisconsin (the Proposed Action).
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\1\ Executive Order 14154, Unleashing American Energy (Jan. 20,
2025), and a Presidential Memorandum, Ending Illegal Discrimination
and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity (Jan. 21, 2025), require the
Department to strictly adhere to NEPA, 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.
Further, such Order and Memorandum repeal Executive Orders 12898
(Feb. 11, 1994) and 14096 (Apr. 21, 2023). Because Executive Orders
12898 and 14096 have been repealed, complying with such Orders is a
legal impossibility. The USGS verifies that it has complied with the
requirements of NEPA, including the Department's regulations and
procedures implementing NEPA at 43 CFR part 46 and Part 516 of the
Departmental Manual, consistent with the President's January 2025
Order and Memorandum.
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(2) The decision is based on information and analysis contained in
the draft environmental impact statement (EIS) issued June 14, 2024,
and the final EIS issued November 22, 2024. These documents outline the
USGS's considerations and evaluation of the environmental consequences
in making a decision on the proposed action. The USGS considerations
were informed by comments and input received from elected and appointed
officials; Federal, State, county, and local agencies; federally
recognized Tribes; organizations; and individuals.
Background
The NWHC operates out of two primary buildings, the Main Building,
constructed in the 1960s and renovated in 1982, and the Tight Isolation
Building, constructed in 1985 and modified in 1989. Starting in 2008,
multiple studies of the current facilities found over-crowded
laboratories and administrative areas; inefficient infrastructure
(e.g., heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems) that does
not meet current standards for energy efficiency; and extensive wear
and tear due to the age of the buildings and associated equipment.
Efforts to repair systems and facilities have provided only short-term
relief.
The purpose of the proposed action is to update the aging NWHC
facility to incorporate technological advances in biosafety
engineering, building infrastructure, and mechanical systems and to add
additional space for enhanced animal care and research. The NWHC needs
modernized facilities with sufficient space and modern technologies to
support its mission of providing essential national research. The
existing facilities require ongoing maintenance and replacement of
aging building mechanical systems to maintain current operations.
Studies indicate that continuing to maintain and update the current
facility to meet the mission and function of the NWHC is cost
prohibitive and not effective.
The NWHC needs facilities that provide functional space for
administration and operations and meet
[[Page 46915]]
health and safety standards and regulatory requirements. Adequate space
is needed to conduct research into wildlife disease detection, enhance
animal-care conditions, and strengthen other programs that support the
NWHC mission. In addition, modernized infrastructure and mechanical
systems are needed to efficiently implement the latest operating and
management approaches for facility operations. These modernizations
would further enhance the NWHC's capability to safely conduct research
and diagnostics.
On September 5, 2023, the USGS initiated the NEPA process for the
proposed action with publication in the Federal Register of a notice of
intent (NOI) to prepare an EIS. The NOI began a 45-day public scoping
period.
The USGS hosted an in-person public scoping meeting in Madison,
Wisconsin, on September 21, 2023, and a virtual scoping meeting on
September 28, 2023. On June 14, 2024, the draft EIS notice of
availability was published in the Federal Register, initiating the 45-
day public comment period. During this time, the USGS hosted both a
virtual and in-person public meeting on July 18, 2024. On November 22,
2024, the final EIS was issued.
Throughout the NEPA process, the USGS invited Federal, State,
county, and local agencies; federally recognized Tribes; officials;
organizations; and the public to participate in the public involvement
process. The USGS also published information about how to participate
during public comment periods in the Wisconsin State Journal and
Capital Times, posted information on the project website, and emailed
such information to all elected and appointed officials; Federal,
State, county, and local agencies; federally recognized Tribes;
organizations; and individuals on the project contact list.
Additionally, USGS committed to an expansive public outreach process
that included engagement with the local community to gain insight into
community context.
Alternatives considered in the EIS were identified by the USGS
during previous studies, internal evaluations, and the public scoping
process. The preliminary alternatives were refined based on information
gained through the public scoping process. The preferred alternative in
the EIS is the development of a new NWHC on the existing property in
Madison, Wisconsin. The EIS also considered the no action alternative,
under which no updates would be completed to the existing facilities
and no new facilities would be developed. Other alternatives identified
during internal and public scoping were considered as outlined in
section 2.2 of the final EIS and eliminated because they did not
substantially meet the purpose of, and need for, the proposed action.
Decision and Rationale for Decision
The USGS decided to implement the preferred alternative,
development of a new NWHC on the existing NWHC property in Madison,
Wisconsin, as identified in the EIS. This selection was based on the
following detailed in the EIS:
<bullet> Consultations with Federal, State of Wisconsin, county,
and local agencies; Tribes, public officials, organizations, and the
public;
<bullet> Consideration of potential environmental consequences;
<bullet> Need for modernized facilities with sufficient space and
modern technologies to support the NWHC's mission of providing
essential national research;
<bullet> Public comments on received for the draft and final EISs;
and
<bullet> Material and information contained in previous planning
and technical studies.
Development of the new NWHC in Madison, Wisconsin, is contingent on
the availability of funding sufficient to proceed.
Authority: We provide this notice in accordance with the
requirements of NEPA, as amended and the Department's regulations and
procedures implementing NEPA at 43 CFR part 46 and part 516 of the
Departmental Manual.
Anne Barrett,
Acting Deputy Director for Administration and Policy, U.S. Geological
Survey.
[FR Doc. 2025-18925 Filed 9-29-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4338-11-P
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