Notice of Availability for the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) on the Disposal and Reuse of the Former Fitzsimons Army Medical Center, Now U.S. Army Garrison-Fitzsimons (USAG-F), Aurora, Colorado

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army

Notice of Availability for the Draft Environmental Impact

Statement (DEIS) on the Disposal and Reuse of the Former Fitzsimons

Army Medical Center, Now U.S. Army Garrison-Fitzsimons (USAG-F),

Aurora, Colorado

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

USAG-F, Aurora, Colorado, in accordance with the Defense Base Closure

and Realignment Act of 1990, Public Law 101-510. The DEIS addresses the

environmental consequences of the disposal and subsequent reuse of the

577-acre installation except for a 21.8 acre enclave for the McWhethy

Army Reserve Center.

The DEIS analyzes three disposal alternatives: (1) The No Action

Alternative, which entails maintaining the property in caretaker status

after closure; (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; and

(3) the Unencumbered Disposal Alternative, which entails transferring

the property to future owners with fewer or no Army-imposed

limitations, or encumbrances, on the future use of the property. The

impacts of reuse are evaluated in terms of land use intensities. The

Fitzsimons Redevelopment Authority developed the reuse alternatives.

The resource 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; regulated substances; biological resources

and ecosystems; cultural resources; sociological environment; quality

of life; installation agreements, and permits and regulatory

authorizations.

A public scoping meeting was held at the Fitzsimons Community Club

on September 25, 1996. Public notices requesting input and comments

from

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the public were issued in the regional area surrounding the USAG-F.

Copies. Copies of the DEIS will be available for review at the

Aurora Central Public Library, Aurora, CO and USAG-F, Aurora, CO.

DATES: Written public comments and suggestions received within 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 DEIS can be obtained by writing to the U.S.

Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha District Office, ATTN: Mr. Gene Sturm,

215 North 17th Street, Omaha, NE 68102-4978, or by facsimile at (402)

221-4886. Written comments and suggestions should be sent to this

address.

Dated: August 8, 1997.

Richard E. Newsome,

Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army (Environment, Safety and

Occupational Health) OASA (I, L&E).

[FR Doc. 97-21442 Filed 8-13-97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3710-08-M