Final Environmental Assessment for BRAC 95 Disposal and Reuse of Hingham Cohasset (Hingham Training Annex), Massachusetts

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army

Final Environmental Assessment for BRAC 95 Disposal and Reuse of

Hingham Cohasset (Hingham Training Annex), Massachusetts

AGENCY: Deaprtment 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 of Hingham

Cohasset (Hingham Training Annex), MA.

The Final Environmental Assessment (EA) evaluates the environmental

impacts of the disposal and subsequent reuse of the 125 acres.

DATES: Written public comments received by November 19, 1998 will be

considered by the Army prior to initiating action.

ADDRESSES: A copy of the Final EA may be obtained by writing to Ms.

Susan Holtham, Corps of Engineers, New England District, 696 Virginia

Road, Concord, MA 01742-2751.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Ms. Susan Holtham at (978) 318-8536 or fax at (978) 318-8560.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Alternatives examined in the EA include

encumbered disposal of the property, unencumbered disposal of the

property, and no action. Encumbered disposal refers to transfer or

conveyance of property having restrictions on subsequent use as a

result of any Army-imposed or legal restraint. Under the no action

alternative, the Army would not dispose of the property but would

maintain it in caretaker status for an indefinite period.

While disposal of Hingham Cohasset (Hingham Training Annex) is the

Army's primary action, the EA also analyzes the potential environmental

effects of reuse as a secondary action by means of evaluating

intensity-based reuse scenarios. The Army's preferred alternative for

disposal of Hingham Cohasset (Hingham Training Annex) is encumbered

disposal, with encumbrances pertaining to the possible presence of

lead-based paint and asbestos-containing material, and the requirement

for a right of reentry for environmental clean-up.

The Final EA will be made available for public comment during a 30-

day waiting period after publication. A Notice of Intent (NOI)

declaring the Army's intent to prepare an EA for the disposal and reuse

of Hingham Cohasset was published in the Federal Register on September

22, 1995 (60 FR 49264).

Copies of the Final EA are available for review at the Hingham

Library, 7 East Street, Hingham, Massachusetts and at the Paul Pratt

Memorial Library, 106 South Main Street, Cohasset, Massachusetts.

Dated: October 14, 1998.

Raymond J. Fatz,

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

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

[FR Doc. 98-28071 Filed 10-19-98; 8:45 am]

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