Environmental Assessment and Finding of no Significant Impact for the Realignment of Missions and Personnel at Fort Meade, Maryland

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army

Environmental Assessment and Finding of no Significant Impact for

the Realignment of Missions and Personnel at Fort Meade, 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 relocating the Defense Investigative

Service (DIS) from Fort Holabird, Maryland, to a new facility to be

built on Fort Meade, Maryland, and closing the leased space at Crown

Ridge in Fairfax County, Virginia, and relocating the Information

Systems Software Center (ISSC) to Fort Meade. ISSC has two component

elements, the Software Development Center-Washington (SDC-W) and the

Executive Software Systems Directorate (ESSD). The Commission also

recommended realigning Fort Meade by eliminating inpatient services at

Kimbrough Army Community Hospital (KACH) and reducing the facility to a

clinic and outpatient surgical center.

An Environmental Assessment (EA) examined the proposed transfer of

personnel and missions to 445 civilian and 67 military positions and

Form 71 civilian and 57 military positions at Fort Meade, Maryland.

Plans for relocation include construction of a new facility for the DIS

in the Central Administrative Area and renovation of a portion of

Pershing Hall to house the ISSC elements of SDC-W and ESSD. This allows

for construction of DIS in a developed area and collocates the two ISSC

functions in the same building, enhancing mission effectiveness.

No significant adverse impacts are anticipated from any of the

alternatives analyzed in the EA. All of the alternatives, including the

Army's preferred alternative, could result in some minor adverse

impacts that can be avoided or minimized. Minor adverse impacts may

occur in the areas of noise, stormwater, soil, traffic and

transportation, and asbestos and lead-based paint management. Noise

will be minimized by limiting construction hours. Stormwater and soil

erosion control plans will minimize impacts to water resources.

Asbestos and lead-based paint, if encountered during renovation, will

be removed, encapsulated, or disposed of in accordance with all

applicable laws. Additionally, the Fort Meade Transportation Master

Plan will reduce impacts on traffic. Unsuitable soil, wetlands and

cultural resources are present only on the DIS Alternative B site and

would be avoided if that site were selected. Section 106 consultation

with the Maryland State Historic Preservation Office has been completed

for the preferred alternative sites.

Therefore, based on the analysis found in EA, which was

incorporated into the Finding of No Significant Impact (FNSI), it has

been determined that 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 will result from implementation of the proposed action, an

Environmental Impact Statement is not required and will not be

prepared.

DATES: Public comments must be submitted on or before June 22, 1998.

The Army will not initiate the proposed action for 30 days following

completion of the EA and publication of this Notice of Availability.

ADDRESSES: Individuals wishing to review the EA may obtain a copy and

may provide comments during this 30-day period by writing to the U.S.

Army Corps of Engineers, ATTN: Ms. Maria de la Torre (CENAB-PL-E), P.O.

Box 1715, Baltimore, Maryland 21203-1715 or by sending a telefax to

(410) 962-4698. Individuals wishing to review the EA may examine a copy

at the following locations: Fort George G. Meade Library, Building

4418, Fort Meade, Maryland; and the Provinces Library, 2624 Annapolis

Road, Severn, Maryland.

Dated: May 14, 1998.

Raymond J. Fatz,

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

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

[FR Doc. 98-13723 Filed 5-21-98; 8:45 am]

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