Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact for the BRAC 95 Realignment of Detroit Arsenal, Warren, MI

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army

Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact for

the BRAC 95 Realignment of Detroit Arsenal, Warren, MI

AGENCY: Department of the Army, DoD.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: The Department of the Army announces today the availability of

the Environmental Assessment (EA) and Finding of No Significant Impact

(FNSI) for the realignment of Detroit Arsenal, Warren, Michigan, in

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

Pub. L. 101-510, as amended. The 1995 Defense Base Closure and

Realignment Commission (BRAC) recommended the realignment of missions/

functions from Detroit Army Tank Plant (DATP) on the east side of

Detroit Arsenal to the west side of Detroit Arsenal.

The EA evaluates the environmental and socioeconomic effects

associated with the proposed action and the alternatives. The proposed

action is the relocation of personnel and functions from DATP on the

east of Detroit Arsenal to the west side of Detroit Arsenal. Functions

planned for the relocation within Detroit Arsenal would be combined

with similar functions already present to achieve maximum efficiency.

Due to a shortage of storage facilities to accommodate relocating and

continuing functions the Army proposes to construct a 50,000-square-

foot high-bay general-purpose warehouse on the west side of Detroit

Arsenal. Upon disposal of DATP, Detroit Arsenal will consist of the

western portion of the installation, plus Building 7 (research

facility) and Building 8 (warehouse) located on the eastern portion.

Alternatives examined in the Final EA include renovation of

existing facilities, construction of new facilities and the no action

alternative. The Army's preferred alternative is implementation of the

proposed action.

The EA, which is incorporated into the FNSI, examines potential

impacts of the proposed action and alternatives on 15 resource areas

and areas of environmental concern: land use, climate, air quality,

water resources, geology, infrastructure, hazardous and toxic

materials, permits and regulatory authorizations, biological resources,

ecosystems, cultural resources, the sociological environment, economic

development, quality of life and installation agreements.

The EA concludes that the implementation of the proposed action

will not have a significant impact on the human environment. Issuance

of a FNSI would be appropriate. An Environmental Impact Statement is

not required prior to implementation of the proposed actions.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before April 3, 1998.

ADDRESSES: A copy of the EA or inquiries into the FNSI may be obtained

by writing to Mr. Joe Hand, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Mobile

District, P.O. Box 2288, Mobile, Alabama 36628-0001, or by calling

(334) 694-3881, facsimile at (334) 690-2721.

Dated: February 27, 1998.

Raymond J. Fatz,

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

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

[FR Doc. 98-5589 Filed 3-3-98; 8:45 am]

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