Final Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact for the Disposal and Reuse of Fort Pickett, Virginia, BRAC 95

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army

Final Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant

Impact for the Disposal and Reuse of Fort Pickett, Virginia, BRAC 95

AGENCY: Department of the Army, DoD.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with Public Law 101-510 (as amended), the

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

Closure and Realignment Commission recommended the closure, except

minimum essential ranges, facilities, and training areas as a Reserve

Component enclave, of Fort Pickett, VA. Land the Army deemed not

minimal essential was declared excess and made available for disposal

and reuse.

The Final Environmental Assessment (EA) evaluated the environmental

and sociological impacts of the disposal and subsequent reuse of the

3,474 acres. Alternatives examined in the EA include encumbered

disposal of the property and no action. Unencumbered disposal was not

evaluated since certain encumbrances exist which are either required by

law or cannot be practically removed. Under the no action alternative,

the Army would not dispose of the property but would maintain it in

caretaker status for an indefinite period.

DATES: Interested parties are invited to review and comment on the

Finding of No Significant Impact (FNSI) on or before October 22, 1998.

ADDRESSES: A copy of the Final EA and FNSI may be obtained by writing

to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, ATTN: Mr. Richard Muller, Project

Management Division, 803 Front Street, Norfolk, VA 23510-1096.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Mr. Richard Muller at (757) 441-7767 or by facsimile at (757) 441-7546.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The EA addressed the environmental and

socioeconomic effects associated with an action directed by the 1995

Base Closure and Realignment Commission: disposal of approximately

3,474 acres of property at Fort Pickett, Virginia. The EA also analyzed

reuse of the installation by the local community, as planned by the

Fort Pickett Local Reuse Authority. The Reuse Authority has prepared a

reuse plan, which was the primary factor in development of the reuse

scenarios analyzed in this EA. One disposal alternative (encumbered)

was presented and evaluated in this environmental analysis, as are

three reuse scenarios representing low, medium-low and medium intensity

reuse. In addition to the proposed action, a no action alternative,

with the property remaining in caretaker status, was evaluated. Other

alternatives are discussed but not analyzed because they were

considered infeasible. Implementation of the preferred alternative

(encumbered disposal) would be expected to result in minor beneficial

and minor adverse effects on several environmental conditions.

A Notice of Intent (NOI) declaring the Army's intent to prepare an

EA for the disposal and reuse of Fort Pickett was published in the

Federal Register on September 22, 1995 (60 FR 49264).

Dated: September 16, 1998.

Richard E. Newsome,

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

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

[FR Doc. 98-25301 Filed 9-21-98; 8:45 am]

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