# Release of the Notice of Availability of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) on the Disposal and Reuse of Fort Ritchie, Maryland

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URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/documents/fr%3A97-19915

## Record

- **Collection:** Federal Register
- **Document type:** Notice
- **Published:** August 1, 1997
- **Citation:** 62 FR 41372

## Text

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army

Release of the Notice of Availability of the Draft Environmental
Impact Statement (DEIS) on the Disposal and Reuse of Fort Ritchie,
Maryland

AGENCY: Department of the Army, DoD.

ACTION: Notice of Availability.

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SUMMARY: The proposed action evaluated by this DEIS is the disposal of

[[Page 41373]]

Fort Ritchie, Maryland, in accordance with the Defense Base Closure and
Realignment Act of 1990, Pub. L. 101-510. The DEIS addresses the
environmental consequences of the disposal and subsequent reuse of the
638 acres.
The DEIS analyzes two disposal alternatives: (1) the No Action
Alternative, which entails maintaining the property in caretaker status
after closure; and (2) the Encumbered Disposal Alternative, which
entails transferring the property to future owners with Army-imposed
limitations, or encumbrances, on the future use of the property.
Additionally, this DEIS analyzes the potential environmental and
socioeconomic consequences of three reuse alternatives: (1) Low
Intensity Reuse Alternative; (2) Low-Medium Intensity Reuse
Alternative; and (3) Medium Intensity Reuse Alternative. Disposal
alternatives were developed by the Army. Reuse alternatives were
developed by the Fort Ritchie Local Redevelopment Authority. The
resources areas evaluated for potential impacts by the proposed action
(disposal) and the secondary action (reuse) include; land use; climate;
air quality; noise; geology, soils, and topography; water resources;
infrastructure; hazardous and toxic substances; biological resources
and ecosystems; cultural resources; legacy resources; sociological
environment; economic development; quality of life; installation
agreements, and permits and regulatory authorizations.
A scoping meeting was held at Smithsburg High School on October 10,
1996. Public notices requesting input and comments from the public were
issued in the regional area surrounding Fort Ritchie.

COPIES: Copies of the DEIS will be available for review at the
following locations: Adams County Library, Gettysburg, PA; Alexander
Hamilton Library, Waynesboro, PA; Blue Ridge Summit Library, Blue Ridge
Summit, PA; C. Burr Artz Central Library, Fredreick, MD; Robert F.
Barrick Library, Fort Ritchie, MD; and the Washington County Free
Library, Hagerstown, MD.

DATES: Written public comments and suggestions received 45 days of the
publication of the Environmental Protection Agency's Notice of
Availability for this action will be addressed in the Final
Environmental Impact Statement.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement can be
obtained by writing to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, ATTN: Mr.
Clifford Kidd (CENAB-PL-EM), Baltimore District, P.O. Box 1715,
Baltimore, Maryland 21203-1715, or calling direct to (410) 962-3199.

Dated: July 23, 1997.
Raymond J. Fatz,
Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army, (Environment, Safety and
Occupational Health) OASA (I, L&E).
[FR Doc. 97-19915 Filed 7-31-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3710-08-M

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/documents/fr%3A97-19915. Public record. Not legal advice.