81 FR 42338 - Notice of Public Meeting on the Environmental Assessment Addressing the Consolidation and Renovation at Marine Corps Forces Reserve Center Brooklyn, New York
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Navy Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 125 (June 29, 2016)
Department of the Navy
Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 125 (June 29, 2016)
| Page Range | 42338-42339 | |
| FR Document | 2016-15358 |
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 125 (Wednesday, June 29, 2016)] [Notices] [Pages 42338-42339] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2016-15358] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE Department of the Navy Notice of Public Meeting on the Environmental Assessment Addressing the Consolidation and Renovation at Marine Corps Forces Reserve Center Brooklyn, New York AGENCY: Department of the Navy, Department of Defense. ACTION: Notice. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) (42 United States Code [U.S.C.] Sections 4321-4370h); the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) regulations for implementing the procedural provisions of NEPA (Title 40 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) parts 1500-1508); Department of the Navy (DoN) Procedures for Implementing NEPA (32 CFR part 775); and Marine Corps Order P5090.2A, the United States Marine Corps Forces Reserve (MARFORRES) has prepared an Environmental Assessment (EA) assessing the potential environmental impacts from the consolidation of approximately 55 full-time active duty and 549 reserve staff and their equipment from the Armed Forces Reserve Center Farmingdale and Marine Forces Reserve Center Garden City to Marine Corps Reserve Center Brooklyn. Additionally, MARFORRES would implement several associated facility and infrastructure improvements at MCRC Brooklyn, including a new utility corridor. Based on the EA analysis we are proposing to issue a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) determining that an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is not required. With the filing of the EA, the DON is initiating a 30-day public comment period and has scheduled a public open house to receive written comments on the EA. Federal, state, and local agencies and interested individuals are invited to attend the open house. This notice announces the date and location of the open house, and supplementary information about the environmental planning effort. DATES: The EA public 30-day review period begins June 20, 2016. MARFORRES will hold an open house for the public to learn about the project and ask questions on Wednesday, June 29, 2016 from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the Aviator Sports Club on Floyd Bennett Field. The DON will consider all comments received on the EA when preparing the Final EA. The DON expects to issue the Final EA in August 2016, at which time [[Page 42339]] a Notice of Availability will be published in the Federal Register. Availability: The EA has been distributed to Federal and local agencies, elected officials, and the interested public. The EA can be viewed at the following Web site: http://www.marforres.marines.mil/GeneralSpecialStaff/Facilities.aspx. Copies are available at the Brooklyn Public Library, 2115 Ocean Avenue, Brooklyn, NY. Requests for copies of the EA can be submitted to Mr. Christopher Hurst, NEPA Project Manager U.S. Marine Corps Forces Reserve, 2000 Opelousas Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70114, or by email at [email protected]. Comments: Attendees will be able to submit written comments at the open house. Comments may be submitted anytime during the 30-day public review period, and must be postmarked or electronically dated on or before July 15, 2016, to ensure they become part of the public record. All comments submitted during the official public review period will become part of the public record on the EA and will be responded to in the Final EA. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Christopher Hurst, NEPA Project Manager U.S. Marine Corps Forces Reserve, 2000 Opelousas Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70114, or by email at [email protected]. Please submit requests for special assistance to Mr. Hurst by June 22, 2016. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: MCRC Brooklyn encompasses approximately 70 acres of the 19,000-acre Jamaica Bay Unit of the National Park Service (NPS) Gateway National Recreation Area (NRA). MCRC Brooklyn is on the southernmost end of Floyd Bennett Field. Floyd Bennett Field was formerly U.S. Naval Air Station Brooklyn, New York, and was used from World War II until 1967, prior to its decommissioning in 1971. Subsequently, the majority of the 1,450-acre property was transferred from the Department of Defense (DoD) to the U.S. Coast Guard and the NPS, a bureau of the Department of the Interior. The Navy retained the southern portion of Floyd Bennett Field and a series of parcel transfers deeded the property to MARFORRES in 1998 for continued use as MCRC Brooklyn. The remainder of Floyd Bennett Field is owned and managed by NPS as part of the Gateway NRA. All utilities, roads, and other infrastructure necessary for the installation require crossing NPS lands; therefore, the Department of Navy executes, on behalf of MARFORRES, any necessary permits with NPS for rights-of-way on NPS lands. Gateway NRA is the nation's first urban national recreation area. It was established in 1972, is twice the size of Manhattan, and is divided into three administrative units: Jamaica Bay, Sandy Hook, and Staten Island. Gateway NRA has 27,025 acres of open bays, ocean, marsh islands, shoreline, dunes, maritime and successional forests, grasslands, mudflats, and open spaces. It includes marinas, greenways, campgrounds, trails, beaches, picnic grounds within historic landscapes, the remains of coastal defense works, rare structures from aviation history, and the oldest continuously operating lighthouse in the United States. Due to an overall reduction in reserve forces, MARFORRES has examined options to consolidate training to optimize operational funds. MCRC Brooklyn is considered a highly valuable site by MARFORRES due to its potential for hosting additional units, centralized location, excess capacity, and size of its facilities. As such, MARFORRES continues to invest in modernization and renovation activities at MCRC Brooklyn. The environmental impacts from ongoing activities were analyzed in previous NEPA documents, and are therefore not part of the Proposed Action being addressed in this EA but are included in the cumulative effects analysis. Previously evaluated projects at MCRC Brooklyn include the following:Renovate the interior of the MCRC Brooklyn Administration Building, the original vehicle maintenance facility (VMF), and the existing Technical Storage Warehouse. Interior renovations include upgraded utilities and reconfiguration of offices. Construct a new VMF (currently under construction). Install two temporary armories (440 square feet each) in the tactical vehicle area and a covered weapons cleaning area. Install a 100-kilowatt (kW) demand response metering system. This system will help MARFORRES capture energy usage and savings for the installation. Purpose And Need: The purpose of the Proposed Action is to consolidate existing MARFORRES facilities in the greater New York City metropolitan region to allow MARFORRES to optimize training through integrated unit training opportunities, and reduce costs from the operation of underutilized reserve centers. The Proposed Action is needed to improve long-term sustainable unit readiness through coordinated training, and prepare for future mission requirements. To complete training requirements, the buildings, utilities, and assets on MCRC Brooklyn require ongoing maintenance and utilities upgrades. Infrastructure on the installation is aging and requires capital investment to address deficiencies in the buildings and meet current and future mission requirements. Dated: June 23, 2016. N.A. Hagerty-Ford, Commander, Office of the Judge Advocate General, U.S. Navy, Federal Register Liaison Officer. [FR Doc. 2016-15358 Filed 6-28-16; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3810-FF-P
![42338 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 125 / Wednesday, June 29, 2016 / Notices
shoulder of Rich Inlet. Its total length be required approximately once every DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
would be approximately 1,500 feet, five years to maintain the beach and
which approximately 505 feet would Nixon Channel shorelines. The Department of the Navy
project seaward of the 2007 mean high combined 5-year estimated maintenance
water shoreline. The landward 995-foot needs for both areas are 320,000 cubic Notice of Public Meeting on the
anchor section would extend across the yards of material under the 2006 Environmental Assessment
island and terminate near the Nixon condition and 255,000 cubic yards of Addressing the Consolidation and
Channel Shoreline. This section would material under 2012 condition, Renovation at Marine Corps Forces
be constructed of 14,000 to 18,000 equivalent to approximately 58,000 and Reserve Center Brooklyn, New York
square feet of sheet pile with the last 45,000 cubic yards per year AGENCY: Department of the Navy,
approximate 100 feet of the anchor respectively. This material would come Department of Defense.
portion wrapped with rock. Although from the designated Nixon Channel ACTION: Notice.
engineering design plans are not borrow site and the (3) upland disposal
finalized, basic construction design of areas. SUMMARY: Pursuant to the National
the seaward 505-foot part of the Environmental Policy Act of 1969
structure will be in the form of a typical 3. Alternatives. Several alternatives
have been identified and evaluated (NEPA) (42 United States Code [U.S.C.]
rubble (rock) mound feature supported Sections 4321–4370h); the Council on
by a 1.5-foot thick stone foundation through the scoping process, and further
detailed description of all alternatives is Environmental Quality (CEQ)
blanket. Crest height or elevation of this regulations for implementing the
section is estimated to be +6.0 feet disclosed in Section 3.0 of the FEIS.
procedural provisions of NEPA (Title 40
NAVD for the first 400 feet and would 4. Scoping Process. To date, a public Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) parts
slope to a top elevation of +3.0 feet scoping meeting was held on March 1, 1500–1508); Department of the Navy
NAVD on the seaward end. 2007; several Project Delivery Team (DoN) Procedures for Implementing
Approximately 16,000 tons of stone (PDT) meetings have been held, which NEPA (32 CFR part 775); and Marine
would be used to construct the terminal were comprised of local, state, and Corps Order P5090.2A, the United
groin. The concept design of the federal government officials, local States Marine Corps Forces Reserve
structure is intended to allow littoral residents and nonprofit organizations; (MARFORRES) has prepared an
sand transport to move over, around, the Draft EIS was released for public Environmental Assessment (EA)
and through the groin once the accretion comments on May 18, 2012; a Public assessing the potential environmental
fillet has completely filled in. Hearing was conducted on June 7, 2012; impacts from the consolidation of
Construction of the terminal groin a Supplemental EIS was released for approximately 55 full-time active duty
would be kept within a corridor varying public comments on July 10, 2015; and and 549 reserve staff and their
in width from 50 feet to 200 feet. Within a second Public Hearing was held on equipment from the Armed Forces
this corridor, a 40–70 foot wide trench September 2, 2015. Reserve Center Farmingdale and Marine
would be excavated to a depth of ¥2.5
The COE is currently consulting with Forces Reserve Center Garden City to
feet NAVD in order to construct the
the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Marine Corps Reserve Center Brooklyn.
foundation of the landward section. The
the National Marine Fisheries Service Additionally, MARFORRES would
approximate 6,000 cubic yards of
excavated material would be replaced Protected Resources Division under the implement several associated facility
on and around the structure once it’s in Endangered Species Act; with U.S. Fish and infrastructure improvements at
place. Material used to build the groin and Wildlife under the Fish and MCRC Brooklyn, including a new utility
would be barged down the Atlantic Wildlife Coordination Act, and have corridor. Based on the EA analysis we
Intracoastal Waterway (AIWW), through concluded consultation with the are proposing to issue a Finding of No
Nixon Channel, and either offloaded National Marine Fisheries Service Significant Impact (FONSI) determining
onto a temporary loading dock or Habitat Conservation Division under the that an Environmental Impact Statement
directly onto shore. It would then be Magnuson-Stevens Act. Additionally, (EIS) is not required.
transported, via dump trucks, within the the FEIS assesses the potential water With the filing of the EA, the DON is
designated corridor to the construction quality impacts pursuant to Section 401 initiating a 30-day public comment
site. of the Clean Water Act, and is period and has scheduled a public open
Material used for nourishment would coordinated with the North Carolina house to receive written comments on
be dredged, using a hydraulic Division of Coastal Management (DCM) the EA. Federal, state, and local
cutterhead plant, from a designated to insure consistency with the Coastal agencies and interested individuals are
borrow site within Nixon Channel, Zone Management Act. The COE has invited to attend the open house. This
which has been previously used for coordinated closely with DCM in the notice announces the date and location
beach fill needs. The proposed dredging development of the FEIS to ensure the of the open house, and supplementary
footprint in the channel area is process complies with the requirements information about the environmental
approximately 30 acres in size and the of the State Environmental Policy Act planning effort.
target depth of dredging is ¥11.4 feet (SEPA), as well as the National DATES: The EA public 30-day review
NAVD. Approximately 294,500 cubic Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The period begins June 20, 2016.
yards would be required for both the FEIS has been designed to consolidate MARFORRES will hold an open house
oceanfront (237,500 cubic yards) and both NEPA and SEPA processes to for the public to learn about the project
the Nixon Channel shoreline (57,000 eliminate duplications. and ask questions on Wednesday, June
mstockstill on DSK3G9T082PROD with NOTICES
cubic yards) fill areas under the 2006 Dated: June 22, 2016.
29, 2016 from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at
and 2012 shoreline study conditions. the Aviator Sports Club on Floyd
Scott McLendon, Bennett Field.
Beach compatible material from (3)
upland disposal islands would serve as Regulatory Division Chief, Wilmington The DON will consider all comments
a contingency sediment source. District. received on the EA when preparing the
Engineer modeling results have [FR Doc. 2016–15310 Filed 6–28–16; 8:45 am] Final EA. The DON expects to issue the
shown that periodic nourishment would BILLING CODE 3720–58–P Final EA in August 2016, at which time
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![Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 125 / Wednesday, June 29, 2016 / Notices 42339
a Notice of Availability will be any necessary permits with NPS for To complete training requirements, the
published in the Federal Register. rights-of-way on NPS lands. buildings, utilities, and assets on MCRC
Availability: The EA has been Gateway NRA is the nation’s first Brooklyn require ongoing maintenance
distributed to Federal and local urban national recreation area. It was and utilities upgrades. Infrastructure on
agencies, elected officials, and the established in 1972, is twice the size of the installation is aging and requires
interested public. The EA can be viewed Manhattan, and is divided into three capital investment to address
at the following Web site: http:// administrative units: Jamaica Bay, deficiencies in the buildings and meet
www.marforres.marines.mil/ Sandy Hook, and Staten Island. Gateway current and future mission
GeneralSpecialStaff/Facilities.aspx. NRA has 27,025 acres of open bays, requirements.
Copies are available at the Brooklyn ocean, marsh islands, shoreline, dunes, Dated: June 23, 2016.
maritime and successional forests,
Public Library, 2115 Ocean Avenue, N.A. Hagerty-Ford,
grasslands, mudflats, and open spaces.
Brooklyn, NY. Requests for copies of the Commander, Office of the Judge Advocate
It includes marinas, greenways,
EA can be submitted to Mr. Christopher General, U.S. Navy, Federal Register Liaison
campgrounds, trails, beaches, picnic Officer.
Hurst, NEPA Project Manager U.S.
grounds within historic landscapes, the
Marine Corps Forces Reserve, 2000 [FR Doc. 2016–15358 Filed 6–28–16; 8:45 am]
remains of coastal defense works, rare
Opelousas Avenue, New Orleans, LA BILLING CODE 3810–FF–P
structures from aviation history, and the
70114, or by email at
oldest continuously operating
Christopher.A.Hurst@usmc.mil.
lighthouse in the United States.
Comments: Attendees will be able to Due to an overall reduction in reserve DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
submit written comments at the open forces, MARFORRES has examined [Docket No.: ED–2016–ICCD–0078]
house. Comments may be submitted options to consolidate training to
anytime during the 30-day public optimize operational funds. MCRC Agency Information Collection
review period, and must be postmarked Brooklyn is considered a highly Activities; Comment Request;
or electronically dated on or before July valuable site by MARFORRES due to its Educational Opportunity Centers
15, 2016, to ensure they become part of potential for hosting additional units, Program (EOC) Annual Performance
the public record. All comments centralized location, excess capacity, Report
submitted during the official public and size of its facilities. As such,
review period will become part of the AGENCY: Office of Postsecondary
MARFORRES continues to invest in
public record on the EA and will be Education (OPE), Department of
modernization and renovation activities
responded to in the Final EA. Education (ED).
at MCRC Brooklyn. The environmental
ACTION: Notice.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. impacts from ongoing activities were
Christopher Hurst, NEPA Project analyzed in previous NEPA documents, SUMMARY: In accordance with the
Manager U.S. Marine Corps Forces and are therefore not part of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44
Reserve, 2000 Opelousas Avenue, New Proposed Action being addressed in this U.S.C. chapter 3501 et seq.), ED is
Orleans, LA 70114, or by email at EA but are included in the cumulative proposing a reinstatement of a
Christopher.A.Hurst@usmc.mil. Please effects analysis. Previously evaluated previously approved information
submit requests for special assistance to projects at MCRC Brooklyn include the collection.
Mr. Hurst by June 22, 2016. following:
DATES: Interested persons are invited to
• Renovate the interior of the MCRC
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: MCRC submit comments on or before August
Brooklyn Administration Building, the
Brooklyn encompasses approximately original vehicle maintenance facility 29, 2016.
70 acres of the 19,000-acre Jamaica Bay (VMF), and the existing Technical ADDRESSES: To access and review all the
Unit of the National Park Service (NPS) Storage Warehouse. Interior renovations documents related to the information
Gateway National Recreation Area include upgraded utilities and collection listed in this notice, please
(NRA). MCRC Brooklyn is on the reconfiguration of offices. use http://www.regulations.gov by
southernmost end of Floyd Bennett • Construct a new VMF (currently searching the Docket ID number ED–
Field. Floyd Bennett Field was formerly under construction). 2016–ICCD–0078. Comments submitted
U.S. Naval Air Station Brooklyn, New • Install two temporary armories (440 in response to this notice should be
York, and was used from World War II square feet each) in the tactical vehicle submitted electronically through the
until 1967, prior to its decommissioning area and a covered weapons cleaning Federal eRulemaking Portal at http://
in 1971. area. www.regulations.gov by selecting the
Subsequently, the majority of the • Install a 100-kilowatt (kW) demand Docket ID number or via postal mail,
1,450-acre property was transferred response metering system. This system commercial delivery, or hand delivery.
from the Department of Defense (DoD) will help MARFORRES capture energy Please note that comments submitted by
to the U.S. Coast Guard and the NPS, a usage and savings for the installation. fax or email and those submitted after
bureau of the Department of the Interior. Purpose And Need: The purpose of the comment period will not be
The Navy retained the southern portion the Proposed Action is to consolidate accepted. Written requests for
of Floyd Bennett Field and a series of existing MARFORRES facilities in the information or comments submitted by
parcel transfers deeded the property to greater New York City metropolitan postal mail or delivery should be
MARFORRES in 1998 for continued use region to allow MARFORRES to addressed to the Director of the
as MCRC Brooklyn. The remainder of optimize training through integrated Information Collection Clearance
mstockstill on DSK3G9T082PROD with NOTICES
Floyd Bennett Field is owned and unit training opportunities, and reduce Division, U.S. Department of Education,
managed by NPS as part of the Gateway costs from the operation of 400 Maryland Avenue SW, LBJ, Room
NRA. All utilities, roads, and other underutilized reserve centers. The 2E–347, Washington, DC 20202–4537.
infrastructure necessary for the Proposed Action is needed to improve FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For
installation require crossing NPS lands; long-term sustainable unit readiness specific questions related to collection
therefore, the Department of Navy through coordinated training, and activities, please contact Rachael Couch,
executes, on behalf of MARFORRES, prepare for future mission requirements. 202–453–6078.
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Document Created: 2018-02-08 07:42:58
Document Modified: 2018-02-08 07:42:58
| 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. | |
| Dates | The EA public 30-day review period begins June 20, 2016. MARFORRES will hold an open house for the public to learn about the project and ask questions on Wednesday, June 29, 2016 from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the Aviator Sports Club on Floyd Bennett Field. | |
| Contact | Mr. Christopher Hurst, NEPA Project Manager U.S. Marine Corps Forces Reserve, 2000 Opelousas Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70114, or by email at [email protected] Please submit requests for special assistance to Mr. Hurst by June 22, 2016. | |
| FR Citation | 81 FR 42338 |
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