Environmental Assessment (EA) on the Disposal and Reuse of the BRAC Parcels at Sierra Army Depot (SIAD), California

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army

Environmental Assessment (EA) on the Disposal and Reuse of the

BRAC Parcels at Sierra Army Depot (SIAD), California

AGENCY: Department of the Army, DoD.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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

Environmental Assessment (EA) and Finding of No Significant Impact

(FNSI) for the proposed action evaluated by this EA to dispose of

property made available by the realignment of Sierra Army Depot (SIAD),

California, in accordance with the Defense Base Closure and Realignment

Act of 1990, Public Law 101-510, as amended. The EA addresses the

environmental consequences of the disposal and subsequent reuse of

approximately 4,397 acres at SIAD. The Army will negotiate the transfer

of 2,688 acres to the Lassen County Local Redevelopment Authority

(LRA), transfer 1,037 acres to the U.S. Department of Health and Human

Services, and 600 acres to the U.S. Department of Justice. Seventy-two

acres have transferred to the U.S. Department of Interior which were

the subject of a separate environmental analysis but the impacts of

disposal are also analyzed in the cumulative effectives section of this

EA. Three alternative methods of disposal were analyzed: Encumbered

disposal, unencumbered disposal and retention of the property in

caretaker status (i.e., no action alternative). The Army's preferred

alternative for dipsosal of the SIAD BRAC parcels is encumbered

disposal which involves conveying the property with conditions imposed

on easements and rights-of-ways, remedial activities, unexploded

ordnance restriction, noise advisory, wetlands, threatened and

endangered species habitat, archaeological site protection and

utilities dependencies.

The EA, which is incorporated into the Finding of No Significant

Impact (FNSI), examines potential effects of the proposed action and

alternatives on 15 resources areas and areas of environmental concern:

Land use, climate, air quality, noise, geology, and water resources

infrastructure, hazardous and toxic substances, permits and regulatory

authorizations, biological resources and ecosystems, cultural

resources, economic development, socioeconomics and quality of life.

The cumulative effects analysis of the EA determined that one

resource category, (socioeconomic impacts), would have significant

adverse impacts. A significant impact to sociological affects, in and

of itself, does not give rise to an EIS pursuant to 40 CFR 1508.14.

Accordingly, a FNSI is appropriate and an EIS will not be prepared.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before April 24, 1998.

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

by writing to Mr. Glen Coffee at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers,

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

facsimile at (334) 690-2721.

[[Page 14431]]

Dated: March 13, 1998.

Raymond J. Fatz,

Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army (Environment, Safety and

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

[FR Doc. 98-7698 Filed 3-24-98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3710-08-M