81 FR 79119 - Notice of Availability of a Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Reconfiguration of VA Black Hills Health Care System (BHHCS)

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 218 (November 10, 2016)

Page Range		79119-79120
FR Document		2016-27207

VA announces the availability of the Final EIS for the Reconfiguration of the VA Black Hills Health Care System (BHHCS). Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, as amended (42 U.S.C. 4321, et seq.), the Council on Environmental Quality's (CEQ's) regulations for implementing the procedural provisions of NEPA (40 Code of Federal Regulations [CFR] Parts 1500- 1508), VA's NEPA regulations titled ``Environmental Effects of the Department of Veterans Affairs Actions'' (38 CFR part 26), and VA's ``NEPA Interim Guidance for Projects'' (VA 2010), VA has considered comments received on the Draft EIS, which was issued in October 2015 and identifies VA's preferred alternative in the Final EIS. The Final EIS uses the substitution approach for integrating compliance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) into the EIS process.

Federal Register, Volume 81 Issue 218 (Thursday, November 10, 2016)

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 218 (Thursday, November 10, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 79119-79120]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-27207]


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DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS


Notice of Availability of a Final 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 announces the availability of the Final EIS for the 
Reconfiguration of the VA Black Hills Health Care System (BHHCS). 
Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, as 
amended (42 U.S.C. 4321, et seq.), the Council on Environmental 
Quality's (CEQ's) regulations for implementing the procedural 
provisions of NEPA (40 Code of Federal Regulations [CFR] Parts 1500-
1508), VA's NEPA regulations titled ``Environmental Effects of the 
Department of Veterans Affairs Actions'' (38 CFR part 26), and VA's 
``NEPA Interim Guidance for Projects'' (VA 2010), VA has considered 
comments received on the Draft EIS, which was issued in October 2015 
and identifies VA's preferred alternative in the Final EIS. The Final 
EIS uses the substitution approach for integrating compliance with 
Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) into the 
EIS process.

DATES: VA will publish a Record of Decision no sooner than 30 days 
after publication of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Notice 
of Availability in the Federal Register.

ADDRESSES: The 2016 Final EIS is available for viewing on the Web site 
www.blackhills.va.gov/vablackhillsfuture/. Copies of the Final EIS are 
also available in the following locations: 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.

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 [email protected].
    Information related to the EIS process is also available for 
viewing on the VA BHHCS Web site www.blackhills.va.gov/vablackhillsfuture/.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: VA BHHCS provides health care to 
approximately 19,000 Veterans over 100,000 square miles in western 
South Dakota (SD), northwestern Nebraska (NE), and eastern Wyoming 
(WY). VA BHHCS consists of two medical centers at Fort Meade and Hot 
Springs, 11 community-based outpatient clinics (CBOCs), and six 
Compensated Work Therapy locations. VA BHHCS has identified a need to 
reconfigure the health care services to ensure it continues to provide 
high quality, safe, and accessible health care services across its 
service area. The existing locations and facilities constrain the 
quality of care, range of services, and access to care that VA offers 
in the catchment area. The Hot Springs campus includes buildings 
constructed in 1907 as part of the Battle Mountain Branch of the 
National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers. The Battle Mountain 
Sanitarium was recognized as a National Historic Landmark in 2011.
    Pursuant to NEPA, VA has identified and analyzed potential 
environmental impacts for a range of alternatives to the Proposed 
Action. These include seven alternatives, including the No Action 
Alternative, as well as a supplement to five of the alternatives for 
re-use of part or all of the existing Hot Springs campus. The 
alternatives propose

[[Page 79120]]

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. The new preferred Alternative, 
referred to as A-2 in the Final EIS, is a hybrid of Alternatives A and 
C evaluated in the Draft EIS. It was identified by consulting parties 
during the public comment period on the Draft EIS and includes 
renovating Building 12 on the existing Hot Springs campus to operate as 
a CBOC a new MSOC (replacing the existing leased CBOC), and a 100-bed 
RRTP in Rapid City.
    VA is substituting the implementation and review procedures of 
Section 102 of NEPA for consultation under Section 106 of the NHPA. 
This process meets the integration intent of the NEPA regulations (40 
CFR 1500.2(c) and 1502.25(a)) and the substitution intent of the NHPA 
regulations (36 CFR 800.8(c)). This process follows the joint CEQ-ACHP 
guidance for integrating NEPA and Section 106 compliance (CEQ-ACHP 
2013). The EIS includes identification and evaluation of impacts to 
historic properties. Formal consultation and identification and 
resolution of effects to historic properties are documented throughout 
the Final EIS.
    In the Final EIS, VA has analyzed the environmental impacts of the 
Proposed Action/Preferred Alternative, a reasonable range of 
alternatives, and a No Action Alternative.
    The Final EIS considers comments on the Draft EIS, including those 
submitted during the public comment period that officially began on 
November 6, 2015, and ended on June 20, 2016, following three comment 
period extensions. The extensions were provided in response to requests 
from the public and other stakeholders, including consulting parties 
participating in the NEPA/NHPA substitution and consultation process.
    As indicated above, VA's purpose and need is to improve the 
availability of high quality, safe and accessible health care services 
for Veterans residing in the VA BHHCS service area.
    While developing the Final EIS, VA considered the alternatives 
analyzed in the Draft EIS, the comparisons of impacts for each resource 
area, and input received on the Draft EIS, including the identification 
of a new hybrid alternative A-2. Based on the information presented in 
the Final EIS, VA has identified Alternative A-2--operation of a CBOC 
in a renovated Building 12 on the existing Hot Springs campus and a new 
MSOC and RRTP in Rapid City--as its preferred alternative in the Final 
EIS.

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. Gina S. 
Farrisee, Deputy Chief of Staff, Department of Veterans Affairs, 
approved this document on November 4, 2016, for publication.

    Dated: November 4, 2016.
Jeffrey Martin,
Office Program Manager, Office of Regulation Policy & Management, 
Office of the Secretary, Department of Veterans Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2016-27207 Filed 11-9-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 8320-01-P

Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 218 / Thursday, November 10, 2016 / Notices 79119

opportunity to comment on proposed Books or records relating to a collection issued in October 2015 and identifies
and/or continuing information of information must be retained as long VA’s preferred alternative in the Final
collections, as required by the as their contents may become material EIS. The Final EIS uses the substitution
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, in the administration of any internal approach for integrating compliance
Public Law 104–13 (44 U.S.C. revenue law. Generally, tax returns and with Section 106 of the National
3506(c)(2)(A)). Currently, the IRS is tax return information are confidential, Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) into
soliciting comments concerning revised as required by 26 U.S.C. 6103. the EIS process.
regulations concerning section 403(b) Request for Comments: Comments DATES: VA will publish a Record of
tax-sheltered annuity contracts. submitted in response to this notice will Decision no sooner than 30 days after
DATES: Written comments should be be summarized and/or included in the publication of the U.S. Environmental
received on or before January 9, 2017 to request for OMB approval. All Protection Agency’s Notice of
be assured of consideration. comments will become a matter of Availability in the Federal Register.
ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments public record. Comments are invited on: ADDRESSES: The 2016 Final EIS is
to Tuawana Pinkston, Internal Revenue (a) Whether the collection of available for viewing on the Web site
Service, Room 6526, 1111 Constitution information is necessary for the proper www.blackhills.va.gov/
Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20224. performance of the functions of the vablackhillsfuture/. Copies of the Final
agency, including whether the EIS are also available in the following
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
information shall have practical utility; locations: Hot Springs; Rapid City
Requests for additional information or
(b) the accuracy of the agency’s estimate Downtown; Sturgis; Chadron; Alliance;
copies of the regulations should be
of the burden of the collection of Lied Scottsbluff; and Pierre (Rawlins
directed to Kerry Dennis at Internal
information; (c) ways to enhance the Municipal) public libraries, as well as in
Revenue Service, Room 6526, 1111
quality, utility, and clarity of the Pine Ridge at the Oglala Lakota College
Constitution Avenue NW., Washington,
information to be collected; (d) ways to Pine Ridge Center library on the high
DC 20224, or through the internet at
minimize the burden of the collection of school campus.
Kerry.Dennis@irs.gov.
information on respondents, including FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Staff
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: through the use of automated collection
Title: Revised Regulations Concerning Assistant to the Director, VA Black Hills
techniques or other forms of information Health Care System, 113 Comanche
Section 403(b) Tax-Sheltered Annuity technology; and (e) estimates of capital
Contracts. Road, Fort Meade, SD 57741, or by
or start-up costs and costs of operation, email to vablackhillsfuture@va.gov.
OMB Number: 1545–2068. maintenance, and purchase of services
Regulation Project Number: TD 9340. Information related to the EIS process
to provide information. is also available for viewing on the VA
Abstract: The collection of
information in the regulations is in final Approved: October 27, 2016. BHHCS Web site www.blackhills.va.gov/
regulations under section 403(b) of the Tuawana Pinkston, vablackhillsfuture/.
Internal Revenue Code and under IRS Reports Clearance Officer. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: VA
related provisions of sections 402(b), [FR Doc. 2016–27102 Filed 11–9–16; 8:45 am] BHHCS provides health care to
402(g), 402A, and 414(c). The BILLING CODE 4830–01–P
approximately 19,000 Veterans over
regulations provide updated guidance 100,000 square miles in western South
on section 403(b) contracts of public Dakota (SD), northwestern Nebraska
schools and tax-exempt organizations (NE), and eastern Wyoming (WY). VA
DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS BHHCS consists of two medical centers
described in section 501(c)(3). Such AFFAIRS
information exchange is necessary to at Fort Meade and Hot Springs, 11
ensure compliance with tax law Notice of Availability of a Final community-based outpatient clinics
requirements relating to loans and Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) (CBOCs), and six Compensated Work
hardship distributions from section for the Reconfiguration of VA Black Therapy locations. VA BHHCS has
403(b) plans and sponsors of section Hills Health Care System (BHHCS) identified a need to reconfigure the
403(b) contracts, administrators, health care services to ensure it
participants, and beneficiaries. AGENCY: Department of Veterans Affairs continues to provide high quality, safe,
Current Actions: There are no changes (VA). and accessible health care services
being made to this regulation. ACTION: Notice of Availability. across its service area. The existing
Type of Review: Extension of a locations and facilities constrain the
previously approved collection. SUMMARY: VA announces the availability quality of care, range of services, and
Affected Public: Individuals or of the Final EIS for the Reconfiguration access to care that VA offers in the
households, state, local or tribal of the VA Black Hills Health Care catchment area. The Hot Springs
governments, and not-for-profit System (BHHCS). Pursuant to the campus includes buildings constructed
institutions. National Environmental Policy Act in 1907 as part of the Battle Mountain
Estimated Number of Respondents: (NEPA) of 1969, as amended (42 U.S.C. Branch of the National Home for
11,000. 4321, et seq.), the Council on Disabled Volunteer Soldiers. The Battle
Estimated Number of Responses: Environmental Quality’s (CEQ’s) Mountain Sanitarium was recognized as
90,000. regulations for implementing the a National Historic Landmark in 2011.
Estimated Time per Respondent: 4.1 procedural provisions of NEPA (40 Code Pursuant to NEPA, VA has identified
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hours. of Federal Regulations [CFR] Parts and analyzed potential environmental
Estimated Total Annual Burden 1500–1508), VA’s NEPA regulations impacts for a range of alternatives to the
Hours: 45,000. titled ‘‘Environmental Effects of the Proposed Action. These include seven
An agency may not conduct or Department of Veterans Affairs Actions’’ alternatives, including the No Action
sponsor, and a person is not required to (38 CFR part 26), and VA’s ‘‘NEPA Alternative, as well as a supplement to
respond to, a collection of information Interim Guidance for Projects’’ (VA five of the alternatives for re-use of part
unless the collection of information 2010), VA has considered comments or all of the existing Hot Springs
displays a valid OMB control number. received on the Draft EIS, which was campus. The alternatives propose

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79120 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 218 / Thursday, November 10, 2016 / Notices

different locations and combinations of the Draft EIS, the comparisons of medical and rehabilitation services,
facilities serving as a community-based impacts for each resource area, and outreach, and other programs are
outpatient clinic (CBOC), a multi- input received on the Draft EIS, meeting those needs. The Committee
specialty outpatient clinic (MSOC), and including the identification of a new makes recommendations to the
a residential rehabilitation treatment hybrid alternative A–2. Based on the Secretary regarding such activities.
program (RRTP) facility; expanding, information presented in the Final EIS, On December 6, the Committee will
renovating, or vacating existing VA has identified Alternative A–2— receive briefings and updates from the
facilities; and taking no action. The new operation of a CBOC in a renovated Center for Minority Veterans, National
preferred Alternative, referred to as A– Building 12 on the existing Hot Springs Cemetery Administration, National
2 in the Final EIS, is a hybrid of campus and a new MSOC and RRTP in Center for Veterans Analysis, Office of
Alternatives A and C evaluated in the Rapid City—as its preferred alternative Tribal Government Relations, MyVA
Draft EIS. It was identified by consulting in the Final EIS. Initiatives, and Veterans Benefits
parties during the public comment Administration. On December 7, the
Signing Authority
period on the Draft EIS and includes Committee will receive briefings and
renovating Building 12 on the existing The Secretary of Veterans Affairs, or updates on the Office of Health Equity,
Hot Springs campus to operate as a designee, approved this document and Center for Women Veterans, Veterans
CBOC a new MSOC (replacing the authorized the undersigned to sign and Health Administration, Board of
existing leased CBOC), and a 100-bed submit the document to the Office of the Veterans Appeals, Community Veterans
RRTP in Rapid City. Federal Register for publication Engagement Boards, Office of Rural
VA is substituting the implementation electronically as an official document of Health, and Women’s Health Services.
and review procedures of Section 102 of the Department of Veterans Affairs. Gina On December 8, the Committee will
NEPA for consultation under Section S. Farrisee, Deputy Chief of Staff, receive a briefing and update on Office
106 of the NHPA. This process meets Department of Veterans Affairs, of Diversity & Inclusion, Ex-Officios
the integration intent of the NEPA approved this document on November Update and hold an exit briefing with
regulations (40 CFR 1500.2(c) and 4, 2016, for publication. VBA, VHA and NCA. The Committee
1502.25(a)) and the substitution intent Dated: November 4, 2016. will receive public comments from
of the NHPA regulations (36 CFR Jeffrey Martin, 10:00 a.m. to 10:15 a.m. After the
800.8(c)). This process follows the joint Leadership Exit Briefing, the Committee
Office Program Manager, Office of Regulation
CEQ–ACHP guidance for integrating Policy & Management, Office of the Secretary, will continue to work on their report.
NEPA and Section 106 compliance Department of Veterans Affairs. A sign-in sheet for those who want to
(CEQ–ACHP 2013). The EIS includes [FR Doc. 2016–27207 Filed 11–9–16; 8:45 am] give comments will be available at the
identification and evaluation of impacts meeting. Individuals who speak are
BILLING CODE 8320–01–P
to historic properties. Formal invited to submit a 1–2 page summaries
consultation and identification and of their comments at the time of the
resolution of effects to historic DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS meeting for inclusion in the official
properties are documented throughout AFFAIRS meeting record. Members of the public
the Final EIS. may also submit written statements for
In the Final EIS, VA has analyzed the Advisory Committee on Minority the Committee’s review to Ms. Juanita
environmental impacts of the Proposed Veterans, Notice of Meeting Mullen, Department of Veterans Affairs,
Action/Preferred Alternative, a Center for Minority Veterans (00M), 810
reasonable range of alternatives, and a The Department of Veterans Affairs Vermont Avenue NW, Washington, DC
No Action Alternative. (VA) gives notice under the Federal 20420, or email at Juanita.Mullen@
The Final EIS considers comments on Advisory Committee Act, 5 U.S.C. App. va.gov. Because the meeting will be in
the Draft EIS, including those submitted 2 that the Advisory Committee on a Government building, anyone
during the public comment period that Minority Veterans will meet on attending must be prepared to show a
officially began on November 6, 2015, December 6–8, 2016, at the Department valid photo ID for checking in. Please
and ended on June 20, 2016, following of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont allow 15 minutes before the meeting
three comment period extensions. The Avenue NW., Conference Room 230, begins for this process. Any member of
extensions were provided in response to Washington, DC. On December 6th and the public wishing to attend or seeking
requests from the public and other 7th, the sessions will begin at 8:00 a.m. additional information should contact
stakeholders, including consulting and end at 5:00 p.m. On December 8th, Ms. Mullen or Ms. Denise Wright at
parties participating in the NEPA/NHPA the session will reconvene at 8:00 a.m. (202) 461–6191 or by fax at (202) 273–
substitution and consultation process. and adjourn at 1:00 p.m. This meeting 7092.
As indicated above, VA’s purpose and is open to the public.
need is to improve the availability of The purposes of the Committee are to: Dated: November 7, 2016.
high quality, safe and accessible health Advise the Secretary on the Jelessa M. Burney,
care services for Veterans residing in the administration of VA benefits and Federal Advisory Committee Management
VA BHHCS service area. services to minority Veterans; assess the Officer.
While developing the Final EIS, VA needs of minority Veterans; and [FR Doc. 2016–27198 Filed 11–9–16; 8:45 am]
considered the alternatives analyzed in evaluate whether VA compensation, BILLING CODE P
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Document Created: 2016-11-10 01:44:20
Document Modified: 2016-11-10 01:44:20

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		VA will publish a Record of Decision no sooner than 30 days after publication of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Notice of Availability in the Federal Register.
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		81 FR 79119