[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 143 (Friday, July 24, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 44867-44868]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-16005]
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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of Army
Draft Environmental Impact Statement and Draft Finding of No
Practicable Alternative for Implementation of Area Development Plan at
Davison Army Airfield, Fort Belvoir, Virginia
AGENCY: Department of Army, DoD.
ACTION: Notice of Availability.
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SUMMARY: The Department of Army (Army) announces the availability of
the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the proposed
implementation of an Area Development Plan (ADP) for Davison Army
Airfield (DAAF) at Fort Belvoir, Virginia. In accordance with the
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the Draft EIS analyzes the
potential environmental impacts associated with implementing the
construction, modernization, and demolition projects at DAAF
recommended in the ADP (Proposed Action). A Draft Finding of No
Practicable Alternative (FONPA) addressing potential impacts on
floodplains and wetlands is also available for comment with the Draft
EIS.
DATES: Comments must be received by September 8, 2020.
ADDRESSES: Please send written comments to: Fort Belvoir Directorate of
Public Works, Environmental Division (DPW-ED), RE: DAAF ADP EIS 9430,
Jackson Loop, Suite 200, Fort Belvoir, Virginia 22060-5116. Comments
may also be provided via email to: usarmy.belvoir.imcom-atlantic.mbx.enrd@mail.mil
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Nicola Cowen via phone at (703) 806-
0054 or (703) 473-9231, during normal working business hours, Monday
through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Further information may also be
requested via email to: usarmy.belvoir.imcom-atlantic.mbx.enrd@mail.mil.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Proposed Action would be implemented
over an approximately 30-year time period to provide facilities and
infrastructure necessary to support the ongoing and future missions of
the airfield's tenants. The Proposed Action would improve the
airfield's functional layout, demolish and replace aging facilities and
infrastructure, and address multiple operational safety concerns along
the runway. The ADP is specific to DAAF and all projects would occur
entirely within its boundaries. No substantial changes in missions, air
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operations, or the number of aircraft and personnel at DAAF would occur
under the Proposed Action.
The Draft EIS analyzes the potential environmental impacts of the
Proposed Action, to implement the construction, modernization, and
demolition projects recommended in the ADP. The Proposed Action would
occur entirely within the 673-acre DAAF property on Fort Belvoir. Up to
24 ADP projects would be implemented in three sequential phases over
the course of an approximately 30-year time period, as follows: Short-
range (next 10 years), mid-range (11 to 20 years from now), and long-
range (21 to 30 years from now). No substantial changes in missions,
air operations, or the number of aircraft and personnel at DAAF would
occur under the Proposed Action. Operational noise levels following
implementation of the Proposed Action would remain similar to current
conditions.
The Proposed Action includes the construction of new hangars, and
administrative and operational facilities; the modernization of
existing facilities; the demolition of up to 37 existing buildings and
structures; and related infrastructure improvements. Demolition
activities would remove a number of facilities that partially obstruct
the airfield's Primary and Transitional Surfaces, which are required to
be free of obstructions in accordance with Department of Defense (DoD)
operational safety criteria. These facilities require temporary safety
waivers to operate.
The Draft EIS assesses the direct, indirect, and cumulative
potential environmental impacts associated with the Proposed Action.
The Army evaluated several alternatives for the Proposed Action before
selecting two alternatives for detailed analysis in the Draft EIS: The
Full Implementation Alternative and the Partial Implementation
Alternative. A No Action Alternative was also carried forward for
analysis in the Draft EIS.
The Full Implementation Alternative would implement the complete
suite of 24 projects recommended in the DAAF ADP. Up to 37 existing
buildings and structures on DAAF would be demolished to remove
facilities determined to be unnecessary, inadequate, or redundant. This
would include the demolition of all facilities partially obstructing
the airfield's Primary and Transitional Surfaces as described above.
The Full Implementation Alternative would accommodate the space and
functional needs of all DAAF tenants consistent with applicable DoD
requirements. It would also fulfill DAAF's vision to create a safe,
secure, sustainable, and consolidated aviation complex.
The Partial Implementation Alternative would implement a modified,
reduced program of 15 ADP projects at DAAF. This Alternative would
amount to implementing all of the short-range and most of the mid-range
projects; none of the long-range projects would be implemented. A total
of 24 existing buildings and structures at DAAF would be demolished,
including all but two facilities within the airfield's Primary and
Transitional Surfaces. These facilities would continue to operate under
temporary safety waivers for the foreseeable future. The Partial
Implementation Alternative would not address DAAF's tenants'
requirements in full, but would substantially improve conditions.
Under the No Action Alternative, the Army would not implement the
DAAF ADP; existing conditions at the airfield would continue for the
foreseeable future. None of the proposed construction, modernization,
demolition, and infrastructure improvement projects would occur.
Facilities within the airfield's Primary and Transitional Surfaces
would continue to require temporary safety waivers to operate. The No
Action Alternative did not meet the screening criteria developed by the
Army, but was carried forward for analysis in the Draft EIS to provide
a baseline against which impacts of the Full and Partial Implementation
Alternatives could be measured.
Natural resources on DAAF include those associated with Accotink
Creek, a tributary of the Potomac River that traverses the northern
side of the airfield property. Both the Full Implementation Alternative
and Partial Implementation Alternative would impact some environmental
resources at DAAF, including the 100-year floodplain, waters of the
U.S. (including wetlands), and Chesapeake Bay Resource Protection
Areas. Accordingly, the Army has also prepared a Draft Finding of No
Practicable Alternative (FONPA) to comply with Executive Order (E.O.)
11988, Floodplain Management and E.O. 11990, Protection of Wetlands. As
described in the Draft EIS, management measures would be implemented to
avoid or minimize less than significant adverse impacts on these
resources. The Draft EIS identifies ``significant'' adverse effects on
waters of the U.S., including wetlands from the Full and Partial
Implementation Alternatives. Adherence to applicable permitting
requirements would mitigate these impacts to the extent possible.
All government agencies, special interest groups, and individuals
are invited to participate in the Army's decision-making process for
the subject Proposed Action. A 45-day public review period for the
Draft EIS and Draft FONPA will begin on July 24, 2020. Interested
parties will also be invited to attend two public telephone meetings
scheduled for August 24, 2020. Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic and the
need to maintain social distancing, all public meeting materials will
be provided online, and the public meeting will be hosted by telephone.
The meeting materials can be found at https://home.army.mil/belvoir/index.php/about/Garrison/directorate-public-works/environmental-division. There will be two public telephone calls scheduled for August
24, 2020. The phone number for both meetings is 1-877-286-5733. The 1st
meeting will be from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m., and the passcode is
676543300#. The 2nd meeting will be from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., and
the passcode is 66866226#. If you cannot access the meeting materials
online, please submit a request for the meeting materials to:
usarmy.belvoir.imcom-atlantic.mbx.enrd@mail.mil. To submit a request by
mail, please submit it to see ADDRESSES. Mail must be postmarked not
later than August 10, 2020 so the meeting materials can be sent by
United States Postal Service. Notification of the public telephone
meeting will be announced in the local news media and on the Fort
Belvoir website listed below.
An electronic copy of the Draft EIS and Draft FONPA will be made
available for view or download online at: https://home.army.mil/belvoir/index.php/about/Garrison/directorate-public-works/environmental-division.
Brenda S. Bowen,
Army Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 2020-16005 Filed 7-23-20; 8:45 am]
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