Notice of the Availability of the Environmental Assessment and Negative Declaration Regarding the Consolidation of the Defense Mapping Agency (DMA) Printing and Distribution Functions to St. Louis, MO

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Office of the Secretary

Notice of the Availability of the Environmental Assessment and

Negative Declaration Regarding the Consolidation of the Defense Mapping

Agency (DMA) Printing and Distribution Functions to St. Louis, MO

AGENCY: Defense Mapping Agency.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In July 1993, in response to a tasking by Major General

Raymund E. O'Mara, U.S. Air Force, the Director, DEFENSE MAPPING AGENCY

(DMA), 8613 Lee Highway, Fairfax, VA 22031-2137, and following the

disruption to DMA's operations in the St. Louis, MO area as a result of

the floods, a Study Team was established to consider the future of

DMA's printing and distribution operations. On 4 January 1994, the

Study Team reported to the Director, DMA, and made certain

recommendations calling for the streamlining of those operations to the

end of improving customer service, making better use of resources, and

realizing recurring cost savings. Among other things, the Study Team

recommended that a plan to consolidate the management of the DMA

printing and distribution operations and a detailed action plan for the

collocation of DMA's printing and distribution operations in a new

facility to be built in the St. Louis, MO area by 1998 be developed. In

an announcement made 7 January 1994, the Director approved the Study

Team's recommendations, including the recommendations to develop a plan

to consolidate the DMA printing and distribution operations and to

develop an action plan for the collocation of those operations in St.

Louis, MO. As part of that action plan, the U.S. Army Corps of

Engineers, Kansas City District, acting on behalf of the DMA,

contracted for an Environmental Assessment of the DMA proposal to

consolidate and collocate printing and distribution. The Environmental

Assessment was prepared to evaluate the relocation of a new site in the

St. Louis metropolitan area of certain elements of the DMA Aerospace

Center's printing operations conducted at 8900 South Broadway, St.

Louis, MO prior to the flooding and the consolidation to this proposed

new St. Louis location of current DMA printing and distribution

activities located at Philadelphia, PA, Bethesda, MD, and Riverdale,

MD.

Notice is hereby given, pursuant to section 102(2)(C) of the

National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, the Council on Environmental

Quality Guidelines (40 Code of Federal Regulations (C.F.R.) Part 1500)

and Department of Defense Regulation ``Environmental Effects in the

United States of DoD Actions'' (32 C.F.R. Part 188) that an

Environmental Impact Statement is not being prepared for the proposed

consolidation of the DMA printing and distribution operations and their

collocation in the St. Louis, MO area at the Richardson Road site

located near I-55 in northeast Jefferson County, MO. The Environmental

Assessment of this proposed action indicates that the proposed action

will not create any significant adverse impact on the physical

environment and that no significant controversy related to the natural

environment is associated therewith. As a result of these findings, the

Chief, Safety and Health Division, Human Resources Directorate, DMA,

has determined that the preparation of an Environmental Impact

Statement is not required in this case.

It is anticipated that approximately 250 positions Agency-wide will

be reduced as a result of this proposed action. Retraining, relocation

and retirement incentives will be used to minimize the impact of this

consolidation; however, pending a final agency decision, the specifics

of any such incentives have yet to be developed.

The Environmental Assessment and the Finding of No Significant

Impact are on file and may be reviewed by interested parties.

DATE: Administrative action on implementation of the decision will be

deferred for thirty (30) days from the date of publication, at which

time implementation will begin unless comments are received which

result in a contrary determination.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Ms. Barbara B. Engel, DMA HQ, Office of Human Resources, Safety &

Health Division, 8613 Lee Highway, Fairfax, VA 22031-2137, phone number

(703) 285-9161.

Dated: July 18, 1994.

Patricia L. Toppings,

Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison Officer, Department of Defense.

[FR Doc. 94-17884 Filed 7-21-94; 8:45 am]

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