Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Construction of the Headquarters for the Food and Drug Administration

GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION

Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for

the Construction of the Headquarters for the Food and Drug

Administration

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), and the General Services

Administration (GSA) guidelines PBS1095.4B, GSA and the Food and Drug

Administration (FDA) announce their intent to prepare an Environmental

Impact Statement (EIS) to determine the feasibility of consolidating

the FDA on the site of the Naval Surface Warface Center in White Oak,

Maryland. The consolidation would consist of the construction of

approximately 2 million square feet of office and laboratory space to

house approximately 5,900 FDA employees.

GSA will open a formal scoping period for this project from October

20 to November 20, 1995. This scoping period will be used to identify

the issues to be addressed in the EIS. A

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public scoping meeting will be held at 7:30 p.m. on November 7, 1995 at

the Naval Surface Warfare Center at White Oak, 10901 New Hampshire

Avenue, in Silver Spring, Maryland. A short formal presentation will

precede the request for public comments.

GSA and FDA representatives will be available at this meeting to

receive comments from the public regarding issues of concern. It is

important that Federal, State, and County Agencies, interested

individuals and groups take this opportunity to identify environmental

concerns and significant issues that should be addressed in the EIS. In

the interest of available time each speaker will be asked to limit oral

comments to five minutes.

Agencies and general public are also invited and encouraged to

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

public scoping meeting. Scoping comments should clearly describe

specific issues or topics regarding the FDA Headquarters development,

which the commentator believes the EIS should address. Written

statements concerning the alternatives should be post-marked no later

than November 20, 1995, to Ms. Eva Hegedus, Portfolio Management

(WPTP), National Capital Region, General Services Administration, 7th

and D streets SW, Washington, DC 20407, Telephone (202) 708-8591; Fax

(202) 708-7671.

Dated: October 16, 1995.

Jack Finberg,

Branch Chief, Portfolio Management (WPT).

[FR Doc. 95-26264 Filed 10-20-95; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6820-23-M