Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Disposal and Reuse of Naval Hospital Philadelphia, PA

DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY

Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the

Proposed Disposal and Reuse of Naval Hospital Philadelphia, PA

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

Act of 1969, as implemented by the Council on Environmental Quality

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

its intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to

evaluate the potential environmental effects of the disposal and reuse

of the Naval Hospital (NAVHOSP) Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

In accordance with recommendations of the Department of Defense

Secretary's 1988 Commission on Base Realignment and Closure, the Navy

has disestablished NAVHOSP Philadelphia. The proposed action to be

analyzed in the EIS involves the disposal of land, buildings, and

infrastructure of NAVHOSP Philadelphia for subsequent reuse. NAVHOSP

Philadelphia consists of approximately 49 acres and a total of 56

buildings, and structures, including 47 permanent, eight semi-

permanent, and one temporary facility. NAVHOSP Philadelphia is located

in the southern portion of the City of Philadelphia, north of the

Philadelphia Naval Base, in the County of Philadelphia.

The reuse of NAVHOSP Philadelphia has been studied by the Mayor of

Philadelphia's Commission on Defense Conversion. The redevelopment/

reuse plan developed by the Commission will be the basis for the EIS.

The reuse plan proposes a 15 acre area for market rate housing, a five

acre nursing home/assisted living facility, and a 30 acre addition to

Philadelphia's Fairmount Park. The Park area would include 13 acres of

passive recreation, four acres of active recreation, and 13 acres for

parking. The ``no action'' alternative, Navy retention of NAVHOSP

Philadelphia land and infrastructure in caretaker status, will be

addressed in the EIS. However, because of the process mandated by the

Base Closure and Realignment Act, selection of the ``no action''

alternative would be considered outside the jurisdiction of the Navy.

The EIS to be prepared by the Navy will address the following known

areas of concern: effects of new development at the Hospital on the

natural and socioeconomic environments, effects of future growth on

area schools, recreations facilities and transportation systems, and

the effects of reuse on any historic properties on-site. Preliminary

studies indicate the most of NAVHOSP Philadelphia is eligible for

listing on the National Register of Historic Places as a historic

district, with many of the buildings and structures contributing to the

district's significance. Major environmental issues that will be

addressed in the EIS included, but are not limited to, air quality,

water quality, wetlands, endangered species, transportation, and

socioeconomic impacts.

The Navy will initiate a scoping process for the purposes of

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

significant issues related to the proposed reuse alternatives. A pubic

scoping meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, April 6, 1994, beginning at

7:30 p.m., at the Holy Spirit Church, in the Church Hall, 1835

Hartranft Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. This meeting will be

announced in the local papers.

A brief presentation will precede request for public comment. Navy

representatives will be available at this meeting to receive comments

from the public regarding issues of concern to the public. It is

important that federal, state, and local agencies and interested

individuals take this opportunity to identify environmental concerns

that should be addressed during the preparation of the EIS. In the

interest of available time, each speaker will be asked to limit their

oral comments to five minutes.

Agencies and the public are also invited and encouraged to provide

written comment 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 no later than April 29, 1994, to:

Commanding Officer, Northern Division, Naval Facilities Engineering

Command, 10 Industrial Highway, Lester, Pennsylvania 19113 (Attn: Mr.

Robert Ostermueller, Code 202), telephone (610) 595-0759.

Dated: March 18, 1994.

Patrick W. Kelley,

CAPT, JAGC, USN, Alternate Federal Register Liaison Officer.

[FR Doc. 94-6792 Filed 3-22-94; 8:45 am]

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