Supplemental Environmental Assessment and Finding of no Significant Impact for the Relocation of the 1111th Signal Battalion, The 1108th Signal Brigade, Information Systems Engineering Command- Conus Elements, and Related Units (MP Company) and Discretionary Moves of Technical Applications Office and Information Mission Area BRAC Office From Fort Ritchie, Maryland, to Fort Detrick, Maryland

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army

Supplemental Environmental Assessment and Finding of no

Significant Impact for the Relocation of the 1111th Signal Battalion,

The 1108th Signal Brigade, Information Systems Engineering Command-

Conus Elements, and Related Units (MP Company) and Discretionary Moves

of Technical Applications Office and Information Mission Area BRAC

Office From Fort Ritchie, Maryland, to Fort Detrick, Maryland

AGENCY: Department of the Army, DoD.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with Public Law 101-510, the Defense Base

Closure and Realignment Act of 1990, the Defense Base Closure and

Realignment Commission recommended the relocation of the 1111th Signal

Battalion, the 1108th Signal Brigade, a portion of the Information

Systems Engineering Command-CONUS, and associated Base Operations

support personnel from Fort Ritchie, Maryland, to Fort Detrick,

Maryland. The Army will also relocate the Technical Applications Office

(TAO) and the Information Mission Area Base Realignment and Closure

Office (IMA BRAC Office) to Fort Detrick, Maryland, pursuant to this

recommendation.

An Environmental Assessment (EA) was prepared in June 1996

resulting in a Finding of No Significant Impact (FNSI). Since that EA

was prepared, the number of personnel affected by the realignment has

changed slightly for a net increase of 17 personnel (1,164 total).

Additionally, several new construction projects have been added

including a military police company operations building; a separate

storage facility as an addition to the administration building

described in the June 1996 EA; a physical fitness center; and a

proposed dining facility. Also, renovations to existing facilities will

accommodate the TAO secure administration space and administrative

space for the IMA BRACO. These changes resulted in the need for this

supplemental EA.

The supplemental EA identified no significant adverse environmental

impacts. There is a potential for only minor or insignificant impacts

in the areas of noise, water quality, stormwater, geology, soil,

asbestos management, radon management, and visual and aesthetic values.

Minor adverse impacts will be avoided by implementing best management

practices during construction, such as a stormwater management plan and

a soil erosion control plan and by restricting construction to the

hours of 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Potential asbestos, lead-based paint, or

radon impacts will be mitigated by conducting the proper testing before

renovation (for asbestos and lead-based paint) or after construction

(for radon) and taking mitigation actions as necessary. Geology and

soil impacts will be avoided by conducting geotechnical studies before

site development. Visual impacts will be avoided by grading and

landscaping the construction sites that may be visible from the Nallin

Farm complex and by turning off the lights on the physical fitness

center playing fields by 10 p.m. Therefore, based on the analysis found

in the supplemental EA, which is hereby incorporated into the Finding

of No Significant Impact (FNSI), it is determined the implementation of

the proposed action will not have significant individual or cumulative

impacts on the quality of the natural or the human environment. Because

no significant environmental impacts would result from implementation

of the proposed action, an Environmental Impact Statement is not

required and will not be prepared.

DATES: Public comments will be accepted on or before April 9, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the supplemental EA/FNSI may be obtained by

writing to, and any inquiries and comments concerning the same should

be addressed to, the Commander, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Baltimore

District, ATTN: CENAB-PL-EM (Ms. Elizabeth Quarrick), P.O. Box 1715,

Baltimore, Maryland 21203-1715, or by calling (410) 962-2886, or by

sending a telefax to 410-962-4698. Copies of the supplemental EA/FNSI

will also be available at the Fort Detrick Post Library

[[Page 10830]]

(Building 501) and the Fort Detrick U.S. Army Garrison Headquarters

Public Affairs Office (Building 810). There will be a 30-day comment

period on the supplemental EA/FNSI before the Army proceeds with the

proposed action.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Ms. Elizabeth Quarrick at 410-962-2886.

Dated: March 4, 1997.

Raymond J. Fatz,

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

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

[FR Doc. 97-5862 Filed 3-7-97; 8:45 am]

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