80 FR 57156 - Final Environmental Impact Statement for Short-Term Projects and Real Property Master Plan Update for Fort Belvoir, VA

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Army

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 183 (September 22, 2015)

The Department of the Army announces the availability of the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) for the proposed update of the Real Property Master Plan (RPMP) for Fort Belvoir, VA, which includes proposed short-term projects and long-term development. In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the FEIS analyzes the environmental impacts associated with the proposed short- term projects, long-term development, and anticipated land use changes designated in an updated RPMP. The short-term projects are proposed for implementation through 2017. The long-term development projects, which currently are not fully defined, are proposed for implementation between 2018 and 2030. The FEIS assesses potential environmental impacts associated with future development and management of land, facilities, resources and infrastructure based on the population capacity identified in the updated RPMP. The only area for which significant adverse impacts are identified is traffic and transportation. The updated RPMP incorporates adjustments to the land use plan in the RPMP that were made in the Final EIS for the Implementation of Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) Recommendations and Related Army Actions at Fort Belvoir, VA (2007) and BRAC-related changes made since 2007.

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 183 (Tuesday, September 22, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 57156-57157]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-23601]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army


Final Environmental Impact Statement for Short-Term Projects and 
Real Property Master Plan Update for Fort Belvoir, VA

AGENCY: Department of the Army, DoD.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: The Department of the Army announces the availability of the 
Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) for the proposed update of 
the Real Property Master Plan (RPMP) for Fort Belvoir, VA, which 
includes proposed short-term projects and long-term development. In 
accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the FEIS 
analyzes the environmental impacts associated with the proposed short-
term projects, long-term development, and anticipated land use changes 
designated in an updated RPMP. The short-term projects are proposed for 
implementation through 2017. The long-term development projects, which 
currently are not fully defined, are proposed for implementation 
between 2018 and 2030. The FEIS assesses potential environmental 
impacts associated with future development and management of land, 
facilities, resources and infrastructure based on the population 
capacity identified in the updated RPMP. The only area for which 
significant adverse impacts are identified is traffic and 
transportation. The updated RPMP incorporates adjustments to the land 
use plan in the RPMP that were made in the Final EIS for the 
Implementation of Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) Recommendations 
and Related Army Actions at Fort Belvoir, VA (2007) and BRAC-related 
changes made since 2007.

DATES: The FEIS will be available for 30 days following publication of 
the NOA in the Federal Register by the U.S. Environmental Protection 
Agency.

ADDRESSES: A copy of the FEIS may be obtained by contacting: Fort 
Belvoir Directorate of Public Works at Environmental and Natural 
Resources Division, Re: Real Property Master Plan EIS, 9430 Jackson 
Loop, Suite 200, Fort Belvoir, VA 22060-5116; or by email to 
[email protected]. The FEIS can be viewed 
at the following Web site: https://www.belvoir.army.mil/environdocssection9.asp.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Please contact Fort Belvoir 
Directorate of Public Works, Environmental and Natural Resources 
Division, at 703-806-3193 or 703-806-0020, during normal working 
business hours Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.; or by email 
to [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The RPMP and the FEIS focus on Fort 
Belvoir's Main Post (7,700 acres) and the Fort Belvoir North Area (800 
acres, formerly called the Engineer Proving Ground). The RPMP update 
does not cover Fort Belvoir property at Rivanna Station in 
Charlottesville, VA; the Mark Center in Alexandria, VA; or the 
Humphreys Engineer Center, adjacent to Main Post.
    The FEIS analyzes the environmental impacts of the short-term 
projects currently programmed for construction through 2017. These 
projects include new office buildings, community and recreational 
facilities, a Fisher House (provides free or low cost lodging to 
veterans and military families receiving treatment at military medical 
centers), industrial and maintenance facilities, roads, a new gate, and 
the National Museum of the U.S. Army.
    The Army is also updating its RPMP for Fort Belvoir by analyzing 
the off-post and on-post environmental impacts of reasonably 
foreseeable future development and management of real property (land 
uses, facilities, resources, infrastructure, and population capacity). 
The FEIS assesses the potential direct, indirect, and cumulative 
environmental impacts associated with updating the RPMP to meet the 
Army's current and future planning needs. Additional site-specific NEPA 
analyses will be prepared for the long-term projects identified in the 
RPMP, as appropriate.

[[Page 57157]]

    Four alternatives are analyzed in the FEIS: No Action, Full 
Implementation, Modified Long-Term, and Modified Short-Term. The 
alternatives reflect various scenarios for short-term and long-term 
development. Other alternatives are briefly considered in the FEIS but 
were determined not to require further analysis.
    (1) The No Action Alternative proposes maintaining the current 
conditions and not proceeding with any new short-term projects or long-
term development. The approved 1993 RPMP (as amended in the 2007 BRAC 
EIS) would remain in effect.
    (2) The Full Implementation Alternative (the Preferred Alternative) 
proposes implementing the revised RPMP, all short-term projects, and 
all long-term projects.
    (3) The Modified Long-Term Alternative proposes implementing the 
revised RPMP, all but two short-term projects proposed under the Full 
Implementation Alternative, and all but one of the long-term projects 
proposed under the Full Implementation Alternative.
    (4) The Modified Short-Term Alternative proposes implementing the 
revised RPMP, most of the short-term projects, and all of the long-term 
projects. Construction of most of the short-term projects proposed 
under the Full Implementation Alternative would be delayed until after 
2017.
    The FEIS evaluates the impacts of the alternatives on land use; 
socioeconomics, community facilities, and environmental justice; 
cultural resources; transportation and traffic; air quality; noise; 
geology, topography, and soils; water resources; biological resources; 
hazardous materials; utilities; and energy use and sustainability. The 
only resource that could sustain significant adverse impacts is 
transportation and traffic; impacts would be significant under all 
three action alternatives. The RPMP would include short-term and long-
term transportation projects. As development is proposed for Fort 
Belvoir, appropriate transportation measures would be identified from 
those in the RPMP, as well as any appropriate site-specific mitigation 
measures. While no significant adverse impacts are expected on 
biological or water resources, mitigations are proposed for tree 
removal for certain projects and for cumulative impacts.
    Comments received on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement 
(DEIS) are addressed in the FEIS. Changes made to the text of the DEIS 
include factual corrections and minor additions or edits only. No 
substantive changes to the alternatives considered or the findings of 
the impact analysis were required or made.

Brenda S. Bowen,
Army Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 2015-23601 Filed 9-21-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3710-08-P