Intent To Prepare Environmental Impact Statement

NATIONAL CAPITAL PLANNING COMMISSION

Intent To Prepare Environmental Impact Statement

AGENCY: National Capital Planning Commission.

ACTION: Proposed construction and operation of a sports and

entertainment arena in Washington, DC.

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SUMMARY: In a Notice of Intent published in the Federal Register on

January 13, 1995 (60 FR 3273), the National Capital Planning Commission

advised that in conjunction with the District of Columbia Government it

was conducting an Environmental Assessment for the proposed

construction and operation of a new sports and entertainment area in

Washington, DC. The Notice stated that if it became apparent, either

through the scoping process or during the analysis and documentation of

environmental impacts, that an Environmental Impact Statement was the

appropriate environmental document, a Supplemental Notice would be

issued.

A Draft Environmental Assessment was published on March 31, 1995,

with a comment period closing on May 1, 1995. The National Capital

Planning Commission (Commission) and the District of Columbia

Government now announce their intent to prepare an Environmental Impact

Statement (EIS) for the proposed D.C. Arena pursuant to Section

106(2)(c) of the National Environment Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, as

implemented by the Council on Environmental Quality regulations (40 CFR

Parts 1500-1508), and in accordance with the Environmental Policies and

Procedures implemented by the Commission.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: As indicated in the January 13, 1995 Notice,

all comments and responses on the scope of alternatives and potential

impacts received in response to that notice as well as those received

during the scoping process, the public meeting held February 13, 1995,

and in response to the Draft EA will be considered in the EIS. The

public is encouraged to provide additional comments once the Draft EIS

is released. The Commission anticipates that release date to be in mid-

June 1995.

The EIS will analyze the environmental impacts and mitigation

options associated with the construction and operation of a sports and

entertainment arena that would seat approximately 20,600 persons and

would be located in downtown Washington, DC. In addition, the EIS will

consider alternative actions. At present, those alternatives may

include (1) Construction of a new arena at the Gallery Place site which

includes the following: Square 455 which is bounded by G Street NW.,

6th Street NW., F Street NW. and 7th Street NW.; the 600 block of G

Street NW.; and approximately the southern fifth of Square 454 which is

bounded by H Street NW., 6th Street NW., G Street NW., and 7th Street

NW. (2) Construction of a new arena over the air rights behind Union

Station; (3) A No Action Alternative, which would result in no new

construction in Washington, DC. Topics for environmental analysis will

include short-term construction-related impacts; long-term effects on

historic resources, visual resources, public transportation, traffic

and parking, socio-economic conditions, land use, and physical-

biological resources within the project area, and the cumulative

impacts associated with this and other reasonably foreseeable projects.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT: National Capital Planning

Commission, 801 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., Suite 301, Washington, DC.

20576. Attention: Ms. Sandra H. Shapiro, General Counsel, Phone: (202)

724-0174.

Sandra H. Shapiro,

General Counsel, National Capital Planning Commission.

[FR Doc. 95-11898 Filed 5-12-95; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 7502-02-M