80 FR 66978 - Notice of Availability of a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Reconfiguration of VA Black Hills Health Care System (BHHCS)

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 210 (October 30, 2015)

Page Range		66978-66979
FR Document		2015-27684

VA proposes to reconfigure health care services throughout the 100,000-square mile VA BHHCS service area, including the addition of purchased care for Veterans from community providers to improve geographic access to care. In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), VA has prepared a Draft EIS that analyzes the potential impacts of six alternatives for changes to VA's facilities in Hot Springs and Rapid City, South Dakota, to support the proposed services reconfiguration. The Draft EIS uses the substitution approach for integrating compliance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act into the EIS process. The Draft EIS is available for review on the agency Web site and at public libraries in the service area.

Federal Register, Volume 80 Issue 210 (Friday, October 30, 2015)

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 210 (Friday, October 30, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 66978-66979]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-27684]


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DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS


Notice of Availability of a Draft Environmental Impact Statement 
(EIS) for the Reconfiguration of VA Black Hills Health Care System 
(BHHCS)

AGENCY: Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: VA proposes to reconfigure health care services throughout the 
100,000-square mile VA BHHCS service area, including the addition of 
purchased care for Veterans from community providers to improve 
geographic access to care. In accordance with the National 
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), VA has prepared a Draft EIS that 
analyzes the potential impacts of six alternatives for changes to VA's 
facilities in Hot Springs and Rapid City, South Dakota, to support the 
proposed services reconfiguration. The Draft EIS uses the substitution 
approach for integrating compliance with Section 106 of the National 
Historic Preservation Act into the EIS process. The Draft EIS is 
available for review on the agency Web site and at public libraries in 
the service area.

DATES: Interested parties are invited to submit comments in writing on 
the VA BHHCS Reconfiguration Draft EIS by January 5, 2016.

ADDRESSES: Submit written comments on the VA BHHCS Reconfiguration 
Draft EIS online through www.blackhillseis.com, by email to 
vablackhillsfuture@va.gov, or by regular mail to Staff Assistant to the 
Director, VA Black Hills Health Care System, 113 Comanche Road, Fort 
Meade, SD 57741. Please refer to ``BHHCS Reconfiguration Draft EIS'' in 
any correspondence.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Staff Assistant to the Director, VA 
Black Hills Health Care System, 113 Comanche Road, Fort Meade, SD 57741 
or by email to vablackhillsfuture@va.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: VA proposes to reconfigure health care 
services throughout the VA BHHCS service area including, under 
Alternatives A through D, the addition of purchased care for Veterans 
from community providers; this reconfiguration would improve the 
system's compliance with VA's ``Geographic Access to Care'' guidelines.
    Six alternatives are considered in detail in the Draft EIS, as well 
as a supplement to four of the alternatives. The alternatives propose 
different locations and combinations of facilities serving as a 
community-based outpatient clinic (CBOC), a multi-specialty outpatient 
clinic (MSOC), and a residential rehabilitation treatment program 
(RRTP) facility; expanding, renovating, or vacating existing 
facilities; and taking no action:
    A. Hot Springs--new CBOC, cease services at existing VA campus; 
Rapid City--new MSOC (replacing leased CBOC) and 100-bed RRTP.
    B. Hot Springs--new CBOC and 100-bed RRTP, cease services at 
existing VA campus; Rapid City--new MSOC (replacing leased CBOC).
    C. Hot Springs--renovations for new CBOC in Building 12 and 100-bed 
RRTP in domiciliary at existing VA campus; Rapid City--new MSOC 
(replacing leased CBOC).
    D. Hot Springs--new CBOC and 24-bed RRTP, cease services at 
existing VA campus; Rapid City--new MSOC (replacing leased CBOC) and 
76-bed RRTP.
    E. Save the VA Proposal.
    Hot Springs--renovations and construction to continue and expand 
inpatient and outpatient services at existing VA campus, including 200-
bed RRTP; Rapid City--services from existing leased CBOC.
    F. No Action.
    G. Supplemental alternative to A, B, C, or D for re-use of part or 
all of existing Hot Springs campus.
    The analysis uses the substitution procedures defined in the 
regulations for implementing Section 106 of the National Historic 
Preservation Act, by which agencies can develop an integrated NEPA 
analysis to substitute the NEPA process for effects analysis and 
consultation under Section 106. Formal consultation and identification 
and resolution of effects to historic properties are documented 
throughout the EIS.
    Environmental topics that are addressed in the Draft EIS include 
aesthetics, air quality, cultural resources and historic properties, 
geology and soils, hydrology and water quality, wildlife and habitat, 
noise, land use, floodplains and wetlands, socioeconomics, community 
services, solid waste and hazardous materials, transportation and 
parking, utilities, and environmental justice. Best management 
practices and mitigation measures that could alleviate environmental 
effects

[[Page 66979]]

have been considered and are included where relevant within the Draft 
EIS.
    The VA BHHCS Reconfiguration Draft EIS is available for viewing on 
the VA BHHCS Web site www.blackhills.va.gov/vablackhillsfuture/ and at 
the Hot Springs, Rapid City Downtown, Sturgis, Chadron, Alliance, Lied 
Scottsbluff, and Pierre (Rawlins Municipal) public libraries; as well 
as in Pine Ridge at the Oglala Lakota College Pine Ridge Center library 
on the high school campus.
    Information related to the EIS process is also available for 
viewing on the VA BHHCS Web site www.blackhills.va.gov/vablackhillsfuture/.

Meetings

    Interested parties are invited to participate in any of six public 
meetings summarizing the results of the Draft EIS. These meetings will 
be held in Rapid City, SD; Hot Springs, SD; Pine Ridge, SD; Chadron, 
NE; Alliance, NE; and Scottsbluff, NE. The dates, times, and locations 
for these meetings will be published online at www.blackhills.va.gov/vablackhillsfuture/.
    At the public meetings, interested parties will also have the 
opportunity to comment regarding the National Historic Preservation Act 
Section 106 process, which has been integrated into this NEPA process.

Signing Authority

    The Secretary of Veterans Affairs, or designee, approved this 
document and authorized the undersigned to sign and submit the document 
to the Office of the Federal Register for publication electronically as 
an official document of the Department of Veterans Affairs. Robert L. 
Nabors II, Chief of Staff, Department of Veterans Affairs, approved 
this document on October 26, 2015, for publication.

    Dated: October 27, 2015.
Michael Shores,
Chief Impact Analyst, Office of Regulation Policy & Management, Office 
of the General Counsel, Department of Veterans Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2015-27684 Filed 10-29-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8320-01-P

Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 210 / Friday, October 30, 2015 / Notices 66979

have been considered and are included 730, Washington, DC 20420. The VAMC Activation Team Office, 800
where relevant within the Draft EIS. meeting will convene at 9:00 a.m. and Zorn Avenue, Louisville, KY 40206 or
The VA BHHCS Reconfiguration Draft end at 4:00 p.m., and is open to the by email to LouisvilleReplacement
EIS is available for viewing on the VA public. Anyone attending must show a HospitalComments@va.gov.
BHHCS Web site www.blackhills.va.gov/ valid photo ID to building security and SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: VA
vablackhillsfuture/ and at the Hot be escorted to the meeting. Please allow proposes to construct and operate a new
Springs, Rapid City Downtown, Sturgis, 15 minutes before the meeting begins for 104-bed hospital, which will include
Chadron, Alliance, Lied Scottsbluff, and this process. diagnostic and treatment facilities, a
Pierre (Rawlins Municipal) public The agenda will include a review of Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA)
libraries; as well as in Pine Ridge at the the Million Veteran Program and a joint regional office, and required site
Oglala Lakota College Pine Ridge Center meeting with the Association of amenities and improvements on a new
library on the high school campus. American Medical Colleges. campus. This proposed project would
Information related to the EIS process No time will be allocated at this replace the existing Robley Rex VA
is also available for viewing on the VA meeting for receiving oral presentations Medical Center (VAMC), three
BHHCS Web site www.blackhills.va.gov/ from the public. Members of the public community-based outpatient clinics,
vablackhillsfuture/. wanting to attend, or needing further and the existing VBA regional office
information may contact Pauline with new facilities of sufficient capacity
Meetings
Cilladi-Rehrer, Designated Federal to meet the current and projected future
Interested parties are invited to Officer, ORD (10P9), Department of healthcare needs of Veterans in the
participate in any of six public meetings Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue Louisville service area. The proposed
summarizing the results of the Draft EIS. NW., Washington, DC 20420, at (202) project is needed because the existing
These meetings will be held in Rapid 443–5607, or by email at pauline.cilladi- Louisville VAMC facilities on Zorn
City, SD; Hot Springs, SD; Pine Ridge, rehrer@va.gov, at least 5 days prior to Avenue have reached the end of their
SD; Chadron, NE; Alliance, NE; and the meeting date. serviceable lives. The building
Scottsbluff, NE. The dates, times, and
Dated: October 27, 2015. conditions and site configuration at the
locations for these meetings will be
Rebecca Schiller, existing 63-year old VAMC are
published online at www.blackhills.va.
Advisory Committee Management Officer. inadequate to effectively and efficiently
gov/vablackhillsfuture/.
meet the expanding needs of VA’s
At the public meetings, interested [FR Doc. 2015–27680 Filed 10–29–15; 8:45 am]
health care mission and VBA services in
parties will also have the opportunity to BILLING CODE 8320–01–P
the region. Within the Louisville service
comment regarding the National
area, 60,943 Veterans were enrolled to
Historic Preservation Act Section 106
DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS receive care in Fiscal Year 2014.
process, which has been integrated into
AFFAIRS Enrollment is expected to increase to
this NEPA process.
more than 68,000 by FY 2024. During
Signing Authority Notice of Intent To Prepare an this same time period, outpatient clinic
The Secretary of Veterans Affairs, or Environmental Impact Statement for a stops are expected to increase from
designee, approved this document and Replacement Robley Rex Veterans 763,104 to over 963,000. The existing
authorized the undersigned to sign and Affairs Medical Center, Louisville, Louisville VAMC facility is insufficient
submit the document to the Office of the Kentucky to meet the current and the increasing
Federal Register for publication future needs of VA’s health care mission
AGENCY: Department of Veterans Affairs. in the region. Therefore, VA conducted
electronically as an official document of
ACTION: Notice of intent. studies beginning in 2009 that
the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Robert L. Nabors II, Chief of Staff, recommended new facilities be
SUMMARY: Pursuant to the National
Department of Veterans Affairs, constructed on a new site that would be
Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42
approved this document on October 26, better suited to meet future needs.
U.S.C. 4321, et seq.), VA intends to
2015, for publication. VA has identified two potential action
prepare an Environmental Impact
alternatives to be analyzed in detail in
Dated: October 27, 2015. Statement (EIS) for constructing and
this EIS: Construction and operation of
Michael Shores, operating a new campus to replace the
a replacement VAMC campus at the
Chief Impact Analyst, Office of Regulation existing VA Medical Center, Veterans
‘‘Brownsboro Site’’ at 4906 Brownsboro
Policy & Management, Office of the General Benefits Administration office, and
Road, Louisville; and construction and
Counsel, Department of Veterans Affairs. three community-based outpatient
operation of a replacement VAMC
[FR Doc. 2015–27684 Filed 10–29–15; 8:45 am] clinics in Louisville, Kentucky. VA
campus at the ‘‘St. Joseph Site,’’ on a
seeks public scoping input on the EIS.
BILLING CODE 8320–01–P parcel located east of I–265 and south of
DATES: Interested parties are invited to Factory Lane in Louisville. The
submit scoping comments for the Brownsboro and St. Joseph Sites were
DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS Replacement Louisville VAMC EIS by identified through a site selection
AFFAIRS Monday, November 30, 2015. process conducted by VA in 2011. The
ADDRESSES: Submit scoping comments Brownsboro Site was acquired by VA in
National Research Advisory Council; online through www.Louisville-EIS.com, 2012 as the proposed location for the
Notice of Meeting by email to LouisvilleReplacement replacement VAMC. In addition to these
HospitalComments@va.gov, or by
tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES

The Department of Veterans Affairs two action alternatives, the EIS also will
(VA) gives notice under the Federal regular mail to Robley Rex VAMC, Attn: evaluate the impacts associated with No
Advisory Committee Act, 5 U.S.C., App. Replacement VAMC Activation Team Action or ‘‘status quo’’ as required by
2, that the National Research Advisory Office, 800 Zorn Avenue, Louisville, KY the National Environmental Policy Act
Council will hold a meeting on 40206. (NEPA) and its implementing
Wednesday, December 9, 2015, at 810 FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: regulations. The three community-based
Vermont Ave. NW., Conference Room Robley Rex VAMC, Attn: Replacement outpatient clinics and the existing VBA

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Document Created: 2015-12-14 15:29:01
Document Modified: 2015-12-14 15:29:01

Category		Regulatory Information
Collection		Federal Register
sudoc Class		AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106:
Publisher		Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
Section		Notices
Action		Notice of availability.
Dates		Interested parties are invited to submit comments in writing on the VA BHHCS Reconfiguration Draft EIS by January 5, 2016.
Contact		Staff Assistant to the Director, VA Black Hills Health Care System, 113 Comanche Road, Fort Meade, SD 57741 or by email to [email protected]
FR Citation		80 FR 66978