Notice of Intent to Prepare a Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS) for the Fort Sam Houston Master Plan, Fort Sam Houston, Texas

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army

Notice of Intent to Prepare a Programmatic Environmental Impact

Statement (PEIS) for the Fort Sam Houston Master Plan, Fort Sam

Houston, Texas

AGENCY: Department of the Army, DOD.

ACTION: Notice of Intent.

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SUMMARY: The Department of the Army is updating components of the Real

Property Master Plan for Fort Sam Houston, Texas. This series of

documents is referred to in the aggregate as the Real Property Master

Plan or the installation Master Plan. As a part of its efforts to

manage the overall mission of Fort Sam Houston, the Army will prepare a

PEIS on proposed revisions resulting from master planning activities at

Fort Sam Houston in accordance with the National Environmental Policy

Act (NEPA), Public Law 91-190 (42 U.S.C. 4341). The PEIS will evaluate

potential impacts for Fort Sam Houston should the installation adopt

revisions to the installation's Master Plan.

ADDRESSES: Direct written questions or comments concerning the scope of

the Fort Sam Houston Master Plan PEIS to: Ms. Jackie Schlatter, PEIS

Project Manager, Environmental and Natural Resources Division, Fort Sam

Houston ATTN: MCGA-PW-ENR, 2202 15th Street (bldg. 4196), Fort Sam

Houston, Texas 78234-5007.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Jackie Schlatter at (210) 221-

5093.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Fort Sam Houston is an integral part of the

U.S. Army Medical Command (MEDCOM). Fort Sam Houston has approximately

31,000 acres distributed among the Fort Sam Houston Military

Reservation (3,150 acres), the Camp Bullis Military Reservation (CBMR)

(27,994 acres) and the Canyon Lake Recreation Area (CLRA) (110 acres).

The CBMR is located 18 miles northwest of Fort Sam Houston and provides

land for training areas and ranges. The CLRA is leased by Fort Sam

Houston from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) for the

recreation of its permanent and temporary duty personnel.

The overall mission of Fort Sam Houston includes several discrete

activities including the capacity to function as: a major U.S. Army

command and control operation; a center for premier medical training

facilities; Brooke Army Medical center (BAMC); a Garrison headquarters

providing administrative support for the installation and its tenants;

a major mobilization station for the U.S. Army in the event of a

national or regional emergency requiring a Reserve call-up; and an

established military complex with the capability to support other

unforeseen national contingencies.

The normal operations associated with the daily functions of Fort

Sam Houston and its associated properties are diverse and encompass

nearly all the activities of a small city, but with the addition of

military training functions. The broad categories of activities

associated with Fort Sam Houston can be broken down into the following

eight basic functions: administration and support; construction

(including demolition); operation and maintenance; light industry;

research, development, test and evaluation; medical services;

recreation; and training.

The largest organizational occupants of Fort Sam Houston include

five major tenants and the U.S. Army Garrison, Fort Sam Houston

(Garrison), which provides the headquarters function for the

installation itself. The five major tenants are: Headquarters, U.S.

Army MEDCOM; Brooke Army Medical Center, U.S. Army Medical Department

Center and School (AMEDDC&S); Headquarters, Fifth U.S. Army; and

Headquarters, U.S. Army 5th Recruiting Brigade. There are also numerous

other smaller tenants and service agencies located on or supported by

the post.

Alternatives: The PEIS will describe the master planning process,

existing master plan, and proposed revisions to the existing master

plan for Fort Sam Houston. The PEIS will describe the existing

environment, cultural and natural resources, social, economic, and

environmental justice conditions and impacts to those existing

conditions associated with the revised master plan for Fort Sam

Houston. The alternatives will wither be status quo, reuse through

Military Construction, Army project, reuse through leasing, sale for

off-site removal, or demolition.

A significant issue that will be addressed is the reuse and/or

disposition of property that may be eligible for listing in the

National Register of Historic Places.

Scoping: A public scoping meeting in connection with this PEIS will

be held at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, Texas. The meeting time and

location will be published in local newspapers. This meeting will

provide the opportunity for the public to become aware of the PEIS and

for the Army to gather public input regarding the scope of the study.

Those unable to attend the scheduled scoping meeting may submit written

comments regarding the scope of the PEIS throughout the scoping period.

A mailing list has been prepared for public scoping and review

throughout the preparation process of this PEIS. This list includes

local, state, and Federal agencies with jurisdictions or other

interests in the project. In addition, the mailing list includes all

adjacent property owners, affected municipalities and other interested

parties such as conservation organizations. Anyone wishing to be added

to the mailing list should contact the person identified above.

Dated: January 6, 2000.

Raymond J. Fatz,

Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army (Environment, Safety and

Occupational Health) (ASA(I&E).

[FR Doc. 00-704 Filed 1-11-00; 8:45 am]

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