80_FR_56652 80 FR 56471 - Bethesda Campus Chilled Water System Improvements Record of Decision

80 FR 56471 - Bethesda Campus Chilled Water System Improvements Record of Decision

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
National Institutes of Health

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 181 (September 18, 2015)

Page Range56471-56474
FR Document2015-23487

The Department of Health and Human Services, the National Institutes of Health (NIH), has decided, after completion of a Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) and a thorough consideration of the public comments on the Draft EIS, to implement the Proposed Action, referred to as the Proposed Action in the Final EIS. This action is to install a Thermal Energy Storage System and an Industrial Water Storage System to provide sufficient storage capacity to meet two days of chilled water demand and two days of industrial water demand should an outside disturbance interrupt the water supply.

Federal Register, Volume 80 Issue 181 (Friday, September 18, 2015)
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 181 (Friday, September 18, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 56471-56474]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-23487]


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

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

National Institutes of Health


Bethesda Campus Chilled Water System Improvements Record of 
Decision

SUMMARY: The Department of Health and Human Services, the National 
Institutes of Health (NIH), has decided, after completion of a Final 
Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) and a thorough consideration of 
the public comments on the Draft EIS, to implement the Proposed Action, 
referred to as the Proposed Action in the Final EIS. This action is to 
install a Thermal Energy Storage System and an Industrial Water Storage 
System to provide sufficient storage capacity to meet two days of 
chilled water demand and two days of industrial water demand should an 
outside disturbance interrupt the water supply.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Valerie Nottingham, Deputy Director, 
DEP, ORF, NIH, Building 13, Room 2S11, 9000 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, 
MD 20892, Phone 301-496-7775, [email protected]. Responsible 
Official: Daniel G. Wheeland, Director, Office of Research Facilities 
(ORF) Development and Operations, NIH.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Decision

    After careful review of the environmental consequences in the Final 
Environmental Impact Statement for the Chilled Water System 
Improvements, National Institutes of Health, and consideration of 
public comment throughout the NEPA process, the NIH has decided to 
implement the Proposed Action described below as the Selected 
Alternative.

Selected Alternative

    The Selected Alternative would implement chilled water system 
improvements that would enable the NIH to adequately accomplish the 
project goals. This would include sufficient storage capacity to meet 
two days of chilled water demand and two days of industrial water 
demand should an outside disturbance interrupt the normal supply of 
water by the WSSC.
    Elements of the Chilled Water System Improvements project that the 
NIH would implement under the Proposed Action include the following:

Thermal Energy Storage System

    This system would be located at the Building 34 site and would 
store up to approximately nine million gallons of chilled water. 
Components of the system would include a storage tank, at or partially 
below-grade, with a footprint of approximately 12,000 SF; a pump house 
building with a footprint of approximately 5,000 SF or less; support 
equipment, such as pumps, valves, piping, controls, and an emergency 
generator; and security fencing, lighting, and other site improvements. 
The NIH would use this system to meet chilled water demands within the 
Campus.

Industrial Water Storage System

    This system would be located at the Parking Lot 41 site and would 
store up to approximately five million gallons of industrial water. 
Industrial water is water that the CUP utilizes to generate steam or 
chilled water. Components of the system would include a storage tank, 
partially below-grade; a pump house building with a footprint of 
approximately 5,000 SF; support equipment, such as pumps, valves, 
variable frequency drivers, electrical equipment, switchgear, piping, 
controls, instrumentation, and an emergency generator; and security 
fencing, lighting, and other site improvements. The NIH would use this 
system to ensure an adequate supply of water to the chillers.

Other Supporting Infrastructure

    The Thermal Energy Storage System and the Industrial Water Storage 
System

[[Page 56472]]

would each require new or upgraded utility infrastructure at locations 
outside the limit of disturbance for each system. Potential locations 
for many components of this infrastructure have been identified during 
the planning process. However, precise details including piping 
locations and sizes are not fully developed. Examples of the types of 
infrastructure that the NIH may install or upgrade include additional 
equipment (e.g., pumps, variable frequency drives, electrical 
equipment, switchgear, emergency generator, control valves, backflow 
preventers, pressure reducing valves, controls, and instrumentation); 
other utility buildings; aboveground or buried piping; aboveground or 
buried utilities; and site improvements (e.g., repairs to existing 
features, new concrete slabs).

Alternatives Considered

    The Proposed Action, Alternative Action and No Action Alternative 
were the three alternatives analyzed in the Final EIS. The Alternative 
Action would implement water infrastructure improvements that would 
enable the NIH to adequately accomplish the project goals. The 
characteristics, features, and location of the Thermal Energy Storage 
System would be identical to the Proposed Action. What separates the 
Alternative Action from the Proposed is the proposal of the Potable 
Water Storage System. The Potable Water Storage System would store up 
to nine million gallons of potable water to ensure an adequate supply 
of industrial water to the chillers and for potable water requirements 
on the Campus. The proposed location for the Potable Water Storage 
System would be the same as that described for the Industrial Water 
Storage System under the Proposed Action. The characteristics and 
components of the Potable Water Storage System would be similar to the 
Industrial Water Storage System, except that the storage tank would be 
larger. The tank would be about 90 feet in height, which is similar to 
the planned height of MLP-12 once fully built. The pump house, support 
equipment, and utilities and site improvements would otherwise be 
identical to the described features of the Industrial Water Storage 
Tank.

Factors Involved in the Decision

    The NIH prefers the Proposed Action over the Alternative Action 
because the Alternative Action would require the NIH to become a 
continuous water source, which would incur more upfront and ongoing 
costs for treatment, maintenance, and monitoring of the campus potable 
water system. Additionally, relative to the Alternative Action, the 
Proposed Action would retain more connections to WSSC water mains (for 
redundancy), would not require installation and operation of pumps to 
maintain adequate pressure for fire service, would maintain existing 
flow dynamics of potable water within the Campus, and would require 
less construction (and therefore pose less potential for construction-
related impacts to campus neighbors).

Resources Impacted

    The Final EIS describes potential environmental effects of the 
Selected Alternative. These potential effects are documented in Chapter 
3 of the Final EIS. Any potential adverse environmental effects will be 
avoided or mitigated through design elements, procedures, and 
compliance with regulatory and NIH requirements. Potential impacts on 
air quality are all within government standards (federal, state, and 
local). NIH does not expect significant negative effects on the 
environment or on the citizens of Bethesda from construction and 
operation at NIH.

Summary of Impacts

    The following is a summary of potential impacts resulting from the 
Selected Alternative that the NIH considered when making its decision. 
No adverse cumulative effects have been identified during the NEPA 
process. Likewise, no unavoidable or adverse impacts from 
implementation of the Selected Action have been identified. The 
Selected Action will be beneficial to the long-term productivity of the 
national and world health communities. Biomedical research conducted at 
the NIH facility will have the potential to advance techniques in 
disease prevention, develop disease immunizations, and prepare defenses 
against naturally emerging and re-emerging diseases and against 
bioweapons. Additionally, the local community will benefit from 
increased employment, income and, government and public finance.

Housing

    Implementation of the Selected Alternative would result in 
temporary minor impacts on the population and the availability of 
housing, due to construction workers who might temporarily relocate to 
the area.

Education

    Educational resources in the area surrounding the Campus include 
public schools, the Uniformed Services University of the Health 
Sciences (located on NSA Bethesda), and the Foundation for Advanced 
Education in the Sciences (located at 9109 Old Georgetown Road). Public 
schools near the Campus include three high schools, five middle 
schools, and nineteen elementary schools. Implementation of the 
Selected Alternative will not have a significant impact to education.

Transportation

    Implementation of the Selected Alternative would result in minor 
temporary impacts to off-campus roads, transit, and traffic due to 
construction activities. This would include additional traffic due to 
construction vehicles as well as shifts in employee traffic patterns. 
Implementation of the Selected Alternative would involve the 
construction of approximately 1-3 parking spaces to accommodate access 
for operation or maintenance vehicles. The construction of the 
Industrial Water Storage System would reduce parking capacity at 
Parking Lot 41 by approximately 90 parking spaces. In total, this will 
lead to a net decrease of approximately 90 parking spaces.

Security

    Implantation of the Selected Alternative may have the NIH install 
security fencing to prevent unauthorized access to the tanks. There 
would be no significant impacts to security.

Employment

    The Selected Alternative would result in minor benefits to the 
local economy during construction activities (e.g., meals and 
incidentals for construction workers). The Proposed Action would not 
result in a permanent change in job availability at the Campus or 
associated effects on the local economy.

Environmental Justice

    Bethesda as a whole has relatively low proportions of minority, or 
low-income populations. Although there are areas of higher minority 
populations (30 to 35 percent) adjacent to the Campus, the percent 
minority is still low relative to Montgomery County (40.5 percent) and 
Maryland (37.9 percent). Impacts to social resources such as population 
and housing would be minor and temporary.

Visual Quality

    The Selected Alternative would result in minor adverse impacts to 
external viewscapes. Existing topographical features and vegetation 
that largely block many potential views from adjacent neighborhoods 
would not be significantly altered as a result of the Selected 
Alternative.

[[Page 56473]]

    The Selected Alternative would result in minor to moderate adverse 
impacts to internal viewscapes. The construction of the Industrial 
Water Storage System would require removal of a grassy area with trees. 
This would result in a minor negative impact to the visual character of 
that area of the Campus. The construction of the Thermal Energy Storage 
System would have a moderate adverse impact, as the associated tank 
would be viewable from the central part of the Campus. Also, 
implementation of the Selected Alternative could result in removal of 
existing trees and vegetation from the Building 34 site that currently 
reduces views from the north. The scale of this potential impact is 
somewhat tempered as the tank would be adjacent to a parking garage and 
the CUP, so it would not be entirely out of character with surrounding 
structures.
    Under the Selected Alternative, all structures would be constructed 
to a height that does not exceed the Master Plan building height 
guidance. Construction of the Industrial Water Storage System into the 
hillside slope near Parking Lot 41 would be consistent with Master Plan 
guidance for minimizing the visual impact of new construction.

Noise

    Implementation of the Selected Alternative would result in 
temporary minor noise impacts due to construction activities as well as 
long-term moderate noise impacts due to operational changes at the CUP.

Air Quality

    Implementation of the Selected Alternative would result in minor 
direct and indirect impacts to air quality.

Greenhouse Gas Emissions

    Construction and demolition activities would generate temporary 
greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, while periodic emergency generator use, 
would generate recurring GHG emissions. Current GHG methodologies 
outlined in the TSD do not describe how to account for construction 
activities; therefore, they are not included in the current NIH GHG 
inventory. NIH would strive to minimize GHG emissions by implementing 
construction, renovation, and demolition best practices.

Stormwater

Temporary Construction Impacts
    Implementation of the Selected Alternative would result in minor 
temporary impacts to stormwater quantity and quality due to earth 
disturbances during construction activities. The Limit of Disturbance 
(LOD) for the Selected Alternative would be approximately 467,000 SF of 
earth during construction activities.
    Potential erosion and sediment runoff impacts would be mitigated 
through stormwater management, including the development of an erosion 
and sediment control plan that is approved by MDE. The construction of 
the Thermal Energy Storage System and Industrial Water Storage System 
would each disturb more than one acre and therefore would obtain 
coverage under the MDE 2014 General Permit for Stormwater Associated 
with Construction Activity. As a result, construction activities under 
the Proposed Action would have a minor impact on stormwater quality.
Long-Term Stormwater Management
    Implementation of the Selected Alternative would result in minor 
long-term stormwater management impacts. The Selected Alternative would 
increase impervious surface at the Campus by approximately 153,000 SF, 
which would increase runoff within the Rock Creek Watershed relative to 
baseline conditions. However, the construction of the Thermal Energy 
Storage System and Industrial Water Storage System would each disturb 
greater than 5,000 SF, and therefore site design would be required to 
meet The Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (EISA 2007) 
Section 438 requirements to restore each site to predevelopment 
conditions. This requirement would minimize hydrologic impacts 
resulting from increased stormwater runoff volumes, such as damage to 
storm sewer infrastructure, increased likelihood of flooding, and 
increased erosion.
    The Selected Alternative would require permanent site stormwater 
management to control runoff and provide water quality treatment per 
federal and Maryland stormwater regulations. Long-term stormwater 
management facilities would be designed and installed per an MDE 
approved stormwater management plan. The NIH would incorporate 
appropriate and feasible Environmental Site Design (ESD) practices into 
the project designs to restore the predevelopment hydrology to the 
maximum extent technically feasible. Overall, these ESD practices would 
reduce runoff volume and rate, disperse flow, remove pollutants, and 
provide for groundwater recharge by facilitating infiltration into the 
soil.
    Construction of the Industrial Water Storage System and Thermal 
Energy Storage System would likely incorporate bioretention areas 
including stormwater planter boxes. These vegetated areas would 
infiltrate runoff from impervious surfaces at the site, reducing the 
quantity of stormwater runoff and improving the water quality.
    The Selected Alternative would not impact coverage under the 
Campus's Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System, MS4 permit.

Historic Resources

    Construction of the Thermal Energy Storage System and associated 
infrastructure would result in temporary construction impacts (e.g., 
noise) and a permanent change in the appearance of the Building 34 
site. These impacts would be perceptible from the rear of the historic 
Biologics Standards Laboratory and Annex (Buildings 29 and 29A), 
located north of the project site. The new infrastructure would also 
result in a minor change in the appearance of the Campus when viewed 
from the historic National Library of Medicine (NLM) complex (Buildings 
38 and 38A). Additionally, construction of the Industrial Water Storage 
System may result in a minor change in the appearance of the Campus 
when viewed from the upper levels of Building 38A. Construction of 
these new facilities, however, would not affect the integrity of 
setting of these historic properties; would not obscure or compromise 
their original design intent; and would not otherwise affect the 
characteristics that qualify these historic properties for listing in 
the National Register.
    Based on this analysis, the NIH has determined that the Selected 
Alternative would not adversely affect any historic properties or MIHP-
listed properties. Pursuant to Section 106 of the NHPA, the NIH 
initiated consultation with the MD SHPO to obtain their concurrence 
with this finding. MD SHPO's concurrence of no adverse effect was 
received on 20 April 2015.

Practicable Means To Avoid or Minimize Potential Environmental Harm 
From the Selected Alternative

    All practicable means to avoid or minimize adverse environmental 
effects from the Selected Alternative have been identified and 
incorporated into the action. The proposed Chilled Water System 
Improvement construction will be subject to the existing NIH pollution 
prevention, waste management, and safety, security, and emergency 
response procedures as well as existing environmental permits. Best 
management practices, spill prevention and control, and stormwater 
management plans will be followed to appropriately address the 
construction and operation of the new Chilled Water

[[Page 56474]]

System and comply with applicable regulatory and NIH requirements. No 
additional mitigation measures have been identified.

Pollution Prevention

    Air quality permit standards will be met, as will all federal, 
state, and local requirements to protect the environment and public 
health.

Conclusion

    Based upon review and careful consideration, the NIH has decided to 
implement the Selected Alternative for a Chilled Water System 
Improvement System located in Bethesda, Maryland. The decision accounts 
for a potential outside disturbance interrupting the campus water 
supply. The system will provide sufficient storage capacity to meet two 
days of chilled water demand and two days of industrial water demand 
should an interruption occur.
    The decision was based upon review and careful consideration of the 
impacts identified in the Final EIS and public comments received 
throughout the NEPA process.

    Dated: September 8, 2015.
Daniel G. Wheeland,
Director, Office of Research Facilities Development and Operations, 
National Institutes of Health.
[FR Doc. 2015-23487 Filed 9-17-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4140-01-P



                                                                                    Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 181 / Friday, September 18, 2015 / Notices                                                                                               56471

                                              agreement) to conduct research                                              This form was modified in 2009 to be                                        States that review clinical investigations
                                              involving human subjects submit to                                          consistent with IRB registration                                            regulated by FDA under sections 505(i)
                                              HHS assurances satisfactory to the                                          requirements, 45 CFR 46, subpart E and                                      or 520(g) of the Federal Food, Drug and
                                              Secretary that it has established an                                        21 CFR 56.106 that were adopted in July                                     Cosmetic Act; and, IRBs in the United
                                              institutional review board (IRB) to                                         2009 OHRP and FDA, respectively.                                            States that review clinical investigations
                                              review the research in order to ensure                                        Need and Proposed Use of the                                              that are intended to support
                                              protection of the rights and welfare of                                     Information: The information collected                                      applications for research or marketing
                                              the human research subjects. IRBs are                                       through the Institutional Review Board                                      permits for FDA-regulated products.
                                              boards, committees, or groups formally                                      registration collection requirements is
                                                                                                                          the minimum necessary to satisfy the                                          Burden Statement: The burden
                                              designated by an entity to review,                                                                                                                      estimates for the IRB registration form
                                              approve, and have continuing oversight                                      registration requirements of Section
                                                                                                                          491(a) of the Public Health Service Act,                                    include those approved by OMB in
                                              of research involving human subjects.                                                                                                                   March 2015 under Control Number
                                                                                                                          45 CFR part 46, subpart E and 21 CFR
                                                The Office for Human Research                                             56.106.                                                                     0990–0263, the Assurance
                                              Protections (OHRP) and the Food and                                           Likely Respondents: Institutions or                                       Identification/IRB Certification/
                                              Drug Administration (FDA) are                                               organizations operating IRBs that review                                    Declaration of Exemption form (former
                                              requesting a three-year extension of the                                    human subjects research conducted or                                        Optional Form 310). Those burden
                                              OMB No. 0990–0279, Institutional                                            supported by HHS, or, in the case of                                        estimates are not included as part of the
                                              Review Board (IRB) Registration Form.                                       FDA’s regulations, IRBs in the United                                       burden estimate presented below.

                                                                                                                         ESTIMATED ANNUALIZED BURDEN TABLE
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Average
                                                                                                                                                                                                    Number of
                                                                                                                                                                         Number of                                              burden per                  Total
                                                                                               Form name                                                                                          responses per
                                                                                                                                                                        respondents                                              response               burden hours
                                                                                                                                                                                                    respondent                   (in hours)

                                              IRB Registration 0990–0279 ...........................................................................                                  5,900                             2                         1           11,800
                                              New Registratration .........................................................................................                             500                             2                         1            1,000

                                                    Total ..........................................................................................................   ........................   ........................   ........................         12,800



                                              Darius Taylor,                                                              nihnepa@mail.nih.gov. Responsible                                           approximately nine million gallons of
                                              Information Collection Clearance Officer.                                   Official: Daniel G. Wheeland, Director,                                     chilled water. Components of the
                                              [FR Doc. 2015–23453 Filed 9–17–15; 8:45 am]                                 Office of Research Facilities (ORF)                                         system would include a storage tank, at
                                              BILLING CODE 4150–28–P                                                      Development and Operations, NIH.                                            or partially below-grade, with a
                                                                                                                          SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:                                                  footprint of approximately 12,000 SF; a
                                                                                                                                                                                                      pump house building with a footprint of
                                              DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND                                                    Decision                                                                    approximately 5,000 SF or less; support
                                              HUMAN SERVICES                                                                After careful review of the                                               equipment, such as pumps, valves,
                                                                                                                          environmental consequences in the                                           piping, controls, and an emergency
                                              National Institutes of Health                                               Final Environmental Impact Statement                                        generator; and security fencing, lighting,
                                                                                                                          for the Chilled Water System                                                and other site improvements. The NIH
                                              Bethesda Campus Chilled Water                                               Improvements, National Institutes of                                        would use this system to meet chilled
                                              System Improvements Record of                                               Health, and consideration of public                                         water demands within the Campus.
                                              Decision                                                                    comment throughout the NEPA process,
                                                                                                                                                                                                      Industrial Water Storage System
                                              SUMMARY:   The Department of Health and                                     the NIH has decided to implement the
                                                                                                                          Proposed Action described below as the                                        This system would be located at the
                                              Human Services, the National Institutes
                                                                                                                          Selected Alternative.                                                       Parking Lot 41 site and would store up
                                              of Health (NIH), has decided, after
                                                                                                                                                                                                      to approximately five million gallons of
                                              completion of a Final Environmental                                         Selected Alternative                                                        industrial water. Industrial water is
                                              Impact Statement (FEIS) and a thorough
                                                                                                                            The Selected Alternative would                                            water that the CUP utilizes to generate
                                              consideration of the public comments
                                                                                                                          implement chilled water system                                              steam or chilled water. Components of
                                              on the Draft EIS, to implement the
                                                                                                                          improvements that would enable the                                          the system would include a storage
                                              Proposed Action, referred to as the
                                                                                                                          NIH to adequately accomplish the                                            tank, partially below-grade; a pump
                                              Proposed Action in the Final EIS. This
                                                                                                                          project goals. This would include                                           house building with a footprint of
                                              action is to install a Thermal Energy
                                                                                                                          sufficient storage capacity to meet two                                     approximately 5,000 SF; support
                                              Storage System and an Industrial Water
                                                                                                                          days of chilled water demand and two                                        equipment, such as pumps, valves,
                                              Storage System to provide sufficient
                                                                                                                          days of industrial water demand should                                      variable frequency drivers, electrical
                                              storage capacity to meet two days of
                                                                                                                          an outside disturbance interrupt the                                        equipment, switchgear, piping, controls,
                                              chilled water demand and two days of
                                                                                                                          normal supply of water by the WSSC.                                         instrumentation, and an emergency
                                              industrial water demand should an
                                                                                                                            Elements of the Chilled Water System                                      generator; and security fencing, lighting,
                                              outside disturbance interrupt the water
tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES




                                                                                                                          Improvements project that the NIH                                           and other site improvements. The NIH
                                              supply.
                                                                                                                          would implement under the Proposed                                          would use this system to ensure an
                                              FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:                                            Action include the following:                                               adequate supply of water to the chillers.
                                              Valerie Nottingham, Deputy Director,
                                              DEP, ORF, NIH, Building 13, Room                                            Thermal Energy Storage System                                               Other Supporting Infrastructure
                                              2S11, 9000 Rockville Pike, Bethesda,                                          This system would be located at the                                         The Thermal Energy Storage System
                                              MD 20892, Phone 301–496–7775,                                               Building 34 site and would store up to                                      and the Industrial Water Storage System


                                         VerDate Sep<11>2014        18:47 Sep 17, 2015          Jkt 235001       PO 00000        Frm 00035        Fmt 4703       Sfmt 4703      E:\FR\FM\18SEN1.SGM               18SEN1


                                              56472                       Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 181 / Friday, September 18, 2015 / Notices

                                              would each require new or upgraded                      Additionally, relative to the Alternative             (located on NSA Bethesda), and the
                                              utility infrastructure at locations outside             Action, the Proposed Action would                     Foundation for Advanced Education in
                                              the limit of disturbance for each system.               retain more connections to WSSC water                 the Sciences (located at 9109 Old
                                              Potential locations for many                            mains (for redundancy), would not                     Georgetown Road). Public schools near
                                              components of this infrastructure have                  require installation and operation of                 the Campus include three high schools,
                                              been identified during the planning                     pumps to maintain adequate pressure                   five middle schools, and nineteen
                                              process. However, precise details                       for fire service, would maintain existing             elementary schools. Implementation of
                                              including piping locations and sizes are                flow dynamics of potable water within                 the Selected Alternative will not have a
                                              not fully developed. Examples of the                    the Campus, and would require less                    significant impact to education.
                                              types of infrastructure that the NIH may                construction (and therefore pose less
                                              install or upgrade include additional                                                                         Transportation
                                                                                                      potential for construction-related
                                              equipment (e.g., pumps, variable                        impacts to campus neighbors).                            Implementation of the Selected
                                              frequency drives, electrical equipment,                                                                       Alternative would result in minor
                                              switchgear, emergency generator,                        Resources Impacted                                    temporary impacts to off-campus roads,
                                              control valves, backflow preventers,                      The Final EIS describes potential                   transit, and traffic due to construction
                                              pressure reducing valves, controls, and                 environmental effects of the Selected                 activities. This would include
                                              instrumentation); other utility buildings;              Alternative. These potential effects are              additional traffic due to construction
                                              aboveground or buried piping;                           documented in Chapter 3 of the Final                  vehicles as well as shifts in employee
                                              aboveground or buried utilities; and site               EIS. Any potential adverse                            traffic patterns. Implementation of the
                                              improvements (e.g., repairs to existing                 environmental effects will be avoided or              Selected Alternative would involve the
                                              features, new concrete slabs).                          mitigated through design elements,                    construction of approximately 1–3
                                                                                                      procedures, and compliance with                       parking spaces to accommodate access
                                              Alternatives Considered
                                                                                                      regulatory and NIH requirements.                      for operation or maintenance vehicles.
                                                The Proposed Action, Alternative                      Potential impacts on air quality are all              The construction of the Industrial Water
                                              Action and No Action Alternative were                   within government standards (federal,                 Storage System would reduce parking
                                              the three alternatives analyzed in the                  state, and local). NIH does not expect                capacity at Parking Lot 41 by
                                              Final EIS. The Alternative Action would                 significant negative effects on the                   approximately 90 parking spaces. In
                                              implement water infrastructure                          environment or on the citizens of                     total, this will lead to a net decrease of
                                              improvements that would enable the                      Bethesda from construction and                        approximately 90 parking spaces.
                                              NIH to adequately accomplish the                        operation at NIH.
                                              project goals. The characteristics,                                                                           Security
                                              features, and location of the Thermal                   Summary of Impacts                                      Implantation of the Selected
                                              Energy Storage System would be                            The following is a summary of                       Alternative may have the NIH install
                                              identical to the Proposed Action. What                  potential impacts resulting from the                  security fencing to prevent
                                              separates the Alternative Action from                   Selected Alternative that the NIH                     unauthorized access to the tanks. There
                                              the Proposed is the proposal of the                     considered when making its decision.                  would be no significant impacts to
                                              Potable Water Storage System. The                       No adverse cumulative effects have been               security.
                                              Potable Water Storage System would                      identified during the NEPA process.
                                              store up to nine million gallons of                     Likewise, no unavoidable or adverse                   Employment
                                              potable water to ensure an adequate                     impacts from implementation of the                       The Selected Alternative would result
                                              supply of industrial water to the chillers              Selected Action have been identified.                 in minor benefits to the local economy
                                              and for potable water requirements on                   The Selected Action will be beneficial                during construction activities (e.g.,
                                              the Campus. The proposed location for                   to the long-term productivity of the                  meals and incidentals for construction
                                              the Potable Water Storage System would                  national and world health communities.                workers). The Proposed Action would
                                              be the same as that described for the                   Biomedical research conducted at the                  not result in a permanent change in job
                                              Industrial Water Storage System under                   NIH facility will have the potential to               availability at the Campus or associated
                                              the Proposed Action. The characteristics                advance techniques in disease                         effects on the local economy.
                                              and components of the Potable Water                     prevention, develop disease
                                              Storage System would be similar to the                                                                        Environmental Justice
                                                                                                      immunizations, and prepare defenses
                                              Industrial Water Storage System, except                 against naturally emerging and re-                      Bethesda as a whole has relatively
                                              that the storage tank would be larger.                  emerging diseases and against                         low proportions of minority, or low-
                                              The tank would be about 90 feet in                      bioweapons. Additionally, the local                   income populations. Although there are
                                              height, which is similar to the planned                 community will benefit from increased                 areas of higher minority populations (30
                                              height of MLP–12 once fully built. The                  employment, income and, government                    to 35 percent) adjacent to the Campus,
                                              pump house, support equipment, and                      and public finance.                                   the percent minority is still low relative
                                              utilities and site improvements would                                                                         to Montgomery County (40.5 percent)
                                              otherwise be identical to the described                 Housing                                               and Maryland (37.9 percent). Impacts to
                                              features of the Industrial Water Storage                  Implementation of the Selected                      social resources such as population and
                                              Tank.                                                   Alternative would result in temporary                 housing would be minor and temporary.
                                                                                                      minor impacts on the population and
                                              Factors Involved in the Decision                                                                              Visual Quality
                                                                                                      the availability of housing, due to
                                                The NIH prefers the Proposed Action                   construction workers who might                          The Selected Alternative would result
tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES




                                              over the Alternative Action because the                 temporarily relocate to the area.                     in minor adverse impacts to external
                                              Alternative Action would require the                                                                          viewscapes. Existing topographical
                                              NIH to become a continuous water                        Education                                             features and vegetation that largely
                                              source, which would incur more                            Educational resources in the area                   block many potential views from
                                              upfront and ongoing costs for treatment,                surrounding the Campus include public                 adjacent neighborhoods would not be
                                              maintenance, and monitoring of the                      schools, the Uniformed Services                       significantly altered as a result of the
                                              campus potable water system.                            University of the Health Sciences                     Selected Alternative.


                                         VerDate Sep<11>2014   18:47 Sep 17, 2015   Jkt 235001   PO 00000   Frm 00036   Fmt 4703   Sfmt 4703   E:\FR\FM\18SEN1.SGM   18SEN1


                                                                          Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 181 / Friday, September 18, 2015 / Notices                                         56473

                                                 The Selected Alternative would result                activities. The Limit of Disturbance                  planter boxes. These vegetated areas
                                              in minor to moderate adverse impacts to                 (LOD) for the Selected Alternative                    would infiltrate runoff from impervious
                                              internal viewscapes. The construction of                would be approximately 467,000 SF of                  surfaces at the site, reducing the
                                              the Industrial Water Storage System                     earth during construction activities.                 quantity of stormwater runoff and
                                              would require removal of a grassy area                    Potential erosion and sediment runoff               improving the water quality.
                                              with trees. This would result in a minor                impacts would be mitigated through                      The Selected Alternative would not
                                              negative impact to the visual character                 stormwater management, including the                  impact coverage under the Campus’s
                                              of that area of the Campus. The                         development of an erosion and                         Municipal Separate Storm Sewer
                                              construction of the Thermal Energy                      sediment control plan that is approved                System, MS4 permit.
                                              Storage System would have a moderate                    by MDE. The construction of the
                                                                                                                                                            Historic Resources
                                              adverse impact, as the associated tank                  Thermal Energy Storage System and
                                              would be viewable from the central part                 Industrial Water Storage System would                    Construction of the Thermal Energy
                                              of the Campus. Also, implementation of                  each disturb more than one acre and                   Storage System and associated
                                              the Selected Alternative could result in                therefore would obtain coverage under                 infrastructure would result in temporary
                                              removal of existing trees and vegetation                the MDE 2014 General Permit for                       construction impacts (e.g., noise) and a
                                              from the Building 34 site that currently                Stormwater Associated with                            permanent change in the appearance of
                                              reduces views from the north. The scale                 Construction Activity. As a result,                   the Building 34 site. These impacts
                                              of this potential impact is somewhat                    construction activities under the                     would be perceptible from the rear of
                                              tempered as the tank would be adjacent                  Proposed Action would have a minor                    the historic Biologics Standards
                                              to a parking garage and the CUP, so it                  impact on stormwater quality.                         Laboratory and Annex (Buildings 29
                                              would not be entirely out of character                                                                        and 29A), located north of the project
                                                                                                      Long-Term Stormwater Management                       site. The new infrastructure would also
                                              with surrounding structures.
                                                 Under the Selected Alternative, all                     Implementation of the Selected                     result in a minor change in the
                                              structures would be constructed to a                    Alternative would result in minor long-               appearance of the Campus when viewed
                                              height that does not exceed the Master                  term stormwater management impacts.                   from the historic National Library of
                                              Plan building height guidance.                          The Selected Alternative would increase               Medicine (NLM) complex (Buildings 38
                                              Construction of the Industrial Water                    impervious surface at the Campus by                   and 38A). Additionally, construction of
                                              Storage System into the hillside slope                  approximately 153,000 SF, which                       the Industrial Water Storage System
                                              near Parking Lot 41 would be consistent                 would increase runoff within the Rock                 may result in a minor change in the
                                              with Master Plan guidance for                           Creek Watershed relative to baseline                  appearance of the Campus when viewed
                                              minimizing the visual impact of new                     conditions. However, the construction                 from the upper levels of Building 38A.
                                              construction.                                           of the Thermal Energy Storage System                  Construction of these new facilities,
                                                                                                      and Industrial Water Storage System                   however, would not affect the integrity
                                              Noise                                                   would each disturb greater than 5,000                 of setting of these historic properties;
                                                Implementation of the Selected                        SF, and therefore site design would be                would not obscure or compromise their
                                              Alternative would result in temporary                   required to meet The Energy                           original design intent; and would not
                                              minor noise impacts due to construction                 Independence and Security Act of 2007                 otherwise affect the characteristics that
                                              activities as well as long-term moderate                (EISA 2007) Section 438 requirements to               qualify these historic properties for
                                              noise impacts due to operational                        restore each site to predevelopment                   listing in the National Register.
                                              changes at the CUP.                                     conditions. This requirement would                       Based on this analysis, the NIH has
                                                                                                      minimize hydrologic impacts resulting                 determined that the Selected Alternative
                                              Air Quality
                                                                                                      from increased stormwater runoff                      would not adversely affect any historic
                                                Implementation of the Selected                        volumes, such as damage to storm sewer                properties or MIHP-listed properties.
                                              Alternative would result in minor direct                infrastructure, increased likelihood of               Pursuant to Section 106 of the NHPA,
                                              and indirect impacts to air quality.                    flooding, and increased erosion.                      the NIH initiated consultation with the
                                              Greenhouse Gas Emissions                                   The Selected Alternative would                     MD SHPO to obtain their concurrence
                                                                                                      require permanent site stormwater                     with this finding. MD SHPO’s
                                                Construction and demolition                           management to control runoff and                      concurrence of no adverse effect was
                                              activities would generate temporary                     provide water quality treatment per                   received on 20 April 2015.
                                              greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, while                   federal and Maryland stormwater
                                              periodic emergency generator use,                       regulations. Long-term stormwater                     Practicable Means To Avoid or
                                              would generate recurring GHG                            management facilities would be                        Minimize Potential Environmental
                                              emissions. Current GHG methodologies                    designed and installed per an MDE                     Harm From the Selected Alternative
                                              outlined in the TSD do not describe                     approved stormwater management plan.                     All practicable means to avoid or
                                              how to account for construction                         The NIH would incorporate appropriate                 minimize adverse environmental effects
                                              activities; therefore, they are not                     and feasible Environmental Site Design                from the Selected Alternative have been
                                              included in the current NIH GHG                         (ESD) practices into the project designs              identified and incorporated into the
                                              inventory. NIH would strive to                          to restore the predevelopment                         action. The proposed Chilled Water
                                              minimize GHG emissions by                               hydrology to the maximum extent                       System Improvement construction will
                                              implementing construction, renovation,                  technically feasible. Overall, these ESD              be subject to the existing NIH pollution
                                              and demolition best practices.                          practices would reduce runoff volume                  prevention, waste management, and
                                              Stormwater                                              and rate, disperse flow, remove                       safety, security, and emergency
tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES




                                                                                                      pollutants, and provide for groundwater               response procedures as well as existing
                                              Temporary Construction Impacts                          recharge by facilitating infiltration into            environmental permits. Best
                                                Implementation of the Selected                        the soil.                                             management practices, spill prevention
                                              Alternative would result in minor                          Construction of the Industrial Water               and control, and stormwater
                                              temporary impacts to stormwater                         Storage System and Thermal Energy                     management plans will be followed to
                                              quantity and quality due to earth                       Storage System would likely incorporate               appropriately address the construction
                                              disturbances during construction                        bioretention areas including stormwater               and operation of the new Chilled Water


                                         VerDate Sep<11>2014   18:47 Sep 17, 2015   Jkt 235001   PO 00000   Frm 00037   Fmt 4703   Sfmt 4703   E:\FR\FM\18SEN1.SGM   18SEN1


                                              56474                       Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 181 / Friday, September 18, 2015 / Notices

                                              System and comply with applicable                         Agenda: To review and evaluate grant                NINDS/NIH/DHHS/Neuroscience Center,
                                              regulatory and NIH requirements. No                     applications.                                         6001 Executive Boulevard, Suite 3204, MSC
                                              additional mitigation measures have                       Place: Hyatt Regency Bethesda, One                  9529, Bethesda, MD 20892–9529, 301–496–
                                                                                                      Bethesda Metro Center, 7400 Wisconsin                 0660, benzingw@mail.nih.gov.
                                              been identified.
                                                                                                      Avenue, Bethesda, MD 20814.                           (Catalogue of Federal Domestic Assistance
                                              Pollution Prevention                                      Contact Person: Raul A. Saavedra, Ph.D.,            Program Nos. 93.853, Clinical Research
                                                                                                      Scientific Review Officer, Scientific Review          Related to Neurological Disorders; 93.854,
                                                Air quality permit standards will be                  Branch, Division of Extramural Research,              Biological Basis Research in the
                                              met, as will all federal, state, and local              NINDS/NIH/DHHS/Neuroscience Center,                   Neurosciences, National Institutes of Health,
                                              requirements to protect the environment                 6001 Executive Boulevard, Suite 3208, MSC             HHS)
                                              and public health.                                      9529, Bethesda, MD 20892–9529, 301–496–
                                                                                                      9223, saavedrr@ninds.nih.gov.                           Dated: September 14, 2014.
                                              Conclusion                                                Name of Committee: Neurological Sciences            Carolyn Baum,
                                                Based upon review and careful                         Training Initial Review Group, NST–2                  Program Analyst, Office of Federal Advisory
                                              consideration, the NIH has decided to                   Subcommittee.                                         Committee Policy.
                                              implement the Selected Alternative for                    Date: October 26–27, 2015.                          [FR Doc. 2015–23444 Filed 9–17–15; 8:45 am]
                                              a Chilled Water System Improvement                        Time: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.                              BILLING CODE 4140–01–P
                                                                                                        Agenda: To review and evaluate grant
                                              System located in Bethesda, Maryland.                   applications.
                                              The decision accounts for a potential                     Place: Hotel Monaco Alexandria, 480 King
                                              outside disturbance interrupting the                                                                          DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND
                                                                                                      Street, Alexandria, VA 22314.
                                              campus water supply. The system will                      Contact Person: Elizabeth A. Webber Ph.D.,
                                                                                                                                                            HUMAN SERVICES
                                              provide sufficient storage capacity to                  Scientific Review Officer, Scientific Review
                                                                                                      Branch, Division of Extramural Research,
                                                                                                                                                            National Institutes of Health
                                              meet two days of chilled water demand
                                              and two days of industrial water                        NINDS/NIH/DHHS/Neuroscience Center,
                                                                                                      6001 Executive Boulevard, Suite 3208, MSC
                                                                                                                                                            National Institute of Mental Health;
                                              demand should an interruption occur.                                                                          Notice of Closed Meetings
                                                The decision was based upon review                    9529, Bethesda, MD 20892–9529, 301–496–
                                                                                                      1917, webbere@mail.nih.gov.                             Pursuant to section 10(d) of the
                                              and careful consideration of the impacts
                                              identified in the Final EIS and public                    Name of Committee: National Institute of            Federal Advisory Committee Act, as
                                                                                                      Neurological Disorders and Stroke Initial             amended (5 U.S.C. App.), notice is
                                              comments received throughout the                        Review Group; Neurological Sciences and
                                              NEPA process.                                                                                                 hereby given of the following meetings.
                                                                                                      Disorders A.
                                                                                                                                                              The meetings will be closed to the
                                                Dated: September 8, 2015.                               Date: October 27–28, 2015.
                                                                                                        Time: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.                              public in accordance with the
                                              Daniel G. Wheeland,                                                                                           provisions set forth in sections
                                                                                                        Agenda: To review and evaluate grant
                                              Director, Office of Research Facilities                                                                       552b(c)(4) and 552b(c)(6), Title 5 U.S.C.,
                                                                                                      applications.
                                              Development and Operations, National                                                                          as amended. The grant applications and
                                                                                                        Place: Admiral Fell Inn, 888 South
                                              Institutes of Health.
                                                                                                      Broadway, Baltimore, MD 21231.                        the discussions could disclose
                                              [FR Doc. 2015–23487 Filed 9–17–15; 8:45 am]               Contact Person: Natalia Strunnikova,                confidential trade secrets or commercial
                                              BILLING CODE 4140–01–P                                  Ph.D., Scientific Review Officer, Scientific          property such as patentable material,
                                                                                                      Review Branch, Division of Extramural                 and personal information concerning
                                                                                                      Research, NINDS/NIH/DHHS/Neuroscience
                                                                                                                                                            individuals associated with the grant
                                              DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND                                Center, 6001 Executive Boulevard, Suite
                                                                                                      3208, MSC 9529, Bethesda, MD 20892–9529,              applications, the disclosure of which
                                              HUMAN SERVICES                                                                                                would constitute a clearly unwarranted
                                                                                                      301–402–0288, natalia.strunnikova@nih.gov.
                                              National Institutes of Health                             Name of Committee: National Institute of            invasion of personal privacy.
                                                                                                      Neurological Disorders and Stroke Initial               Name of Committee: National Institute of
                                              National Institute of Neurological                      Review Group; Neurological Sciences and               Mental Health Special Emphasis Panel;
                                              Disorders and Stroke; Notice of Closed                  Disorders B.                                          Research Education Programs (R25).
                                              Meetings                                                  Date: October 29, 2015.                               Date: October 9, 2015.
                                                                                                        Time: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.                                Time: 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
                                                Pursuant to section 10(d) of the                        Agenda: To review and evaluate grant                  Agenda: To review and evaluate grant
                                              Federal Advisory Committee Act, as                      applications.                                         applications.
                                              amended (5 U.S.C. App.), notice is                        Place: Hotel Monaco Alexandria, 480 King              Place: National Institutes of Health,
                                              hereby given of the following meetings.                 Street, Alexandria, VA 22314.                         Neuroscience Center, 6001 Executive
                                                                                                        Contact Person: Birgit Neuhuber, Ph.D.,             Boulevard, Rockville, MD 20852 (Telephone
                                                The meetings will be closed to the
                                                                                                      Scientific Review Officer, Scientific Review          Conference Call).
                                              public in accordance with the                           Branch, Division of Extramural Research,                Contact Person: Aileen Schulte, Ph.D.,
                                              provisions set forth in sections                        NINDS/NIH/DHHS/Neuroscience Center,                   Scientific Review Officer, Division of
                                              552b(c)(4) and 552b(c)(6), Title 5 U.S.C.,              6001 Executive Boulevard, Suite 3208, MSC             Extramural Activities, National Institute of
                                              as amended. The grant applications and                  9529, Bethesda, MD 20892–9529, 301–496–               Mental Health, NIH, Neuroscience Center,
                                              the discussions could disclose                          3562, neuhuber@ninds.nih.gov.                         6001 Executive Blvd., Room 6140, MSC 9608,
                                              confidential trade secrets or commercial                  Name of Committee: National Institute of            Bethesda, MD 20892–9608, 301–443–1225,
                                              property such as patentable material,                   Neurological Disorders and Stroke Initial             aschulte@mail.nih.gov.
                                              and personal information concerning                     Review Group; Neurological Sciences and                 Name of Committee: National Institute of
                                              individuals associated with the grant                   Disorders C.                                          Mental Health Special Emphasis Panel;
                                              applications, the disclosure of which                     Date: November 5–6, 2015.                           Confirmatory Efficacy Clinical Trials of Non-
                                                                                                        Time: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.                              Pharmacological Interventions for Mental
tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES




                                              would constitute a clearly unwarranted
                                                                                                        Agenda: To review and evaluate grant                Disorders.
                                              invasion of personal privacy.                           applications.                                           Date: October 14, 2015.
                                                Name of Committee: Neurological Sciences                Place: Embassy Suites Alexandria, 1900                Time: 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
                                              Training Initial Review Group, NST–1                    Diagonal Road, Alexandria, VA 22314.                    Agenda: To review and evaluate grant
                                              Subcommittee.                                             Contact Person: William C. Benzing, Ph.D.,          applications.
                                                Date: October 13–14, 2015.                            Scientific Review Officer, Scientific Review            Place: National Institutes of Health,
                                                Time: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.                                Branch, Division of Extramural Research,              Neuroscience Center, 6001 Executive



                                         VerDate Sep<11>2014   18:47 Sep 17, 2015   Jkt 235001   PO 00000   Frm 00038   Fmt 4703   Sfmt 4703   E:\FR\FM\18SEN1.SGM   18SEN1



Document Created: 2015-12-15 09:27:55
Document Modified: 2015-12-15 09:27:55
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionNotices
ContactValerie Nottingham, Deputy Director, DEP, ORF, NIH, Building 13, Room 2S11, 9000 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD 20892, Phone 301-496-7775, [email protected] Responsible Official: Daniel G. Wheeland, Director, Office of Research Facilities (ORF) Development and Operations, NIH.
FR Citation80 FR 56471 

2025 Federal Register | Disclaimer | Privacy Policy
USC | CFR | eCFR