Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement on the Proposed Realignment of the Naval Surface Warfare Center, White Oak Detachment, Silver Spring, MD

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Navy

Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement on the

Proposed Realignment of the Naval Surface Warfare Center, White Oak

Detachment, Silver Spring, MD

Pursuant to section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental Policy

Act (NEPA) of 1969 as implemented by the Council on Environmental

Quality regulations (40 CFR parts 1500-1508), the Department of the

Navy announces its intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement

(EIS) to evaluate the environmental effects of the realignment of the

Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC), White Oak Detachment, Silver

Spring, Maryland. This action is being conducted in accordance with the

Defense Base Closure and Realignment Act of 1990 (Pub. L. 101-510) and

the specific 1993 base closure and realignment decisions which became

effective in September 1993.

The proposed action involves the relocation of personnel and

activities from Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEASYSCOM) Headquarters,

Arlington, Virginia, to NSWC White Oak.

In order to meet the facility and operational requirements of

NAVSEASYSCOM, the realignment will require 900,000 to 1,300,000 square

feet of facilities at NSWC White Oak. These facility and operational

requirements will be met through the utilization of existing space

(renovation of buildings) and/or new construction of facilities, such

as administrative buildings, parking areas, and other support

facilities. Approximately 4,000 employees will be relocated to NSWC

White Oak.

Alternatives addressed in the EIS will focus on means of meeting

realignment requirements at NSWC White Oak, including alternative

construction site locations. The EIS will discuss environmental impacts

resulting from the construction and operation of facilities as well as

expected associated impacts to the local communities resulting from the

relocation of military/civilian personnel. Major environmental issues

that will be addressed in the EIS will include, but not be limited to,

impacts on cultural resources, terrestrial and aquatic habitats, storm

water runoff, noise, and air quality. Other impacts to be considered

will include impacts to community services, such as school capacity,

infrastructure, and traffic. Cumulative impacts associated with the

realignment of personnel and activities to the region around NSWC White

Oak will be considered.

The Navy will initiate a scoping process for the purpose of

determining the scope of issues to be addressed and for identifying the

significant issues related to this action. The Navy will hold a public

scoping meeting on March 31, 1994, beginning at 7:30 p.m. at the

auditorium in the main building complex at Naval Surface Warefare

Center, White Oak, Silver Spring, Maryland. This meeting will be

advertised in local and regional newspapers.

A brief presentation will precede requests for public comment and

identification of additional scoping items. Navy representatives will

be available at this meeting to receive comments from the public

regarding issues of concern. It is important that federal, state, and

local agencies and interested individuals take this opportunity to

identify environmental concerns that should be addressed during

preparation of the EIS. In the interest of available time, each speaker

will be asked to limit his/her oral comments to five minutes.

Agencies and the public are also invited and encouraged to provide

written comments in addition to, or in lieu of, oral comments at the

public meeting. To be most helpful, scoping comments should clearly

describe specific issues or topics which the commentor believes the EIS

should address. Written statements and or questions regarding the

scoping process should be mailed to: Commanding Officer, Engineering

Field Activity Chesapeake, Naval Facility Engineering Command, Building

212, Washington Navy Yard, Washington, DC 20374-5018, (Attn: Mike Bryan

Code 20N), telephone (202) 433-3387. All comments must be received no

later than April 16, 1994.

Dated: March 4, 1994.

Michael P. Rummel,

LCDR, JAGC, USN, Federal Register Liaison Officer.

[FR Doc. 94-5403 Filed 3-8-94; 8:45 am]

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