81 FR 89087 - Record of Decision for the Final Environmental Impact Statement for Short-Term Projects and Real Property Master Plan Update for Fort Belvoir, Virginia

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Army

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 237 (December 9, 2016)

The Department of the Army announces the decision to implement the Preferred Alternative identified in the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) for Short-Term Projects and Real Property Master Plan (RPMP) Update for U.S. Army Garrison Fort Belvoir, VA. The RPMP identifies potential future development and management of real property--land, facilities, resources, and infrastructure--and consequent population changes on Fort Belvoir through 2030. The Record of Decision (ROD) explains the potential environmental impacts associated with the selected action, which includes 52 short-term demolition, construction, and renovation projects; four short-term transportation improvement projects; and 19 long-term facility and transportation improvement projects. The short-term projects are programmed for construction through 2017; the long-term projects are intended for implementation between 2018 and 2030. The ROD also adopts mitigation measures that will minimize or eliminate adverse impacts in land, infrastructure, transportation, and environment.

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 237 (Friday, December 9, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Page 89087]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-29516]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army


Record of Decision for the Final Environmental Impact Statement 
for Short-Term Projects and Real Property Master Plan Update for Fort 
Belvoir, Virginia

AGENCY: Department of the Army, DoD.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: The Department of the Army announces the decision to implement 
the Preferred Alternative identified in the Final Environmental Impact 
Statement (FEIS) for Short-Term Projects and Real Property Master Plan 
(RPMP) Update for U.S. Army Garrison Fort Belvoir, VA. The RPMP 
identifies potential future development and management of real 
property--land, facilities, resources, and infrastructure--and 
consequent population changes on Fort Belvoir through 2030. The Record 
of Decision (ROD) explains the potential environmental impacts 
associated with the selected action, which includes 52 short-term 
demolition, construction, and renovation projects; four short-term 
transportation improvement projects; and 19 long-term facility and 
transportation improvement projects. The short-term projects are 
programmed for construction through 2017; the long-term projects are 
intended for implementation between 2018 and 2030. The ROD also adopts 
mitigation measures that will minimize or eliminate adverse impacts in 
land, infrastructure, transportation, and environment.

ADDRESSES: The ROD can be obtained by contacting: Fort Belvoir 
Directorate of Public Works, 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 ROD can also be viewed at the following 
Web site: https://www.belvoir.army.mil/environdocssection9.asp.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Fort Belvoir Directorate of Public 
Works, Environmental and Natural Resources Division, 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 focused on Fort 
Belvoir's 7,700-acre Main Post and the 800-acre Fort Belvoir North Area 
(FBNA, formerly the Engineer Proving Ground). The RPMP update, FEIS, 
and ROD do 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 selected action addresses the Army's current and future 
planning needs at Fort Belvoir. Fort Belvoir's previous master plan was 
completed in 1993 and was amended in 2002 and 2007. In light of the 
substantial changes that have occurred on post since 1993, the amended 
1993 master plan no longer served to adequately guide the management 
and use of real property assets--land, facilities, resources, and 
infrastructure--on the installation. The selected action provides Fort 
Belvoir with a blueprint for real property planning through 2030 now 
that the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) recommendations for 
the post have been implemented. It shifts the planning focus to 
encompass non-BRAC-related as well as BRAC-related facilities, tenants, 
and missions and reflects current and projected missions, needs, and 
conditions. Future growth projections for Main Post and the FBNA 
indicate an increase of up to 17,000 personnel by 2030 (from 39,000 in 
2011) because Fort Belvoir may need to provide additional services to 
support military and other government organizations.
    The ROD incorporates the analyses contained in the FEIS. When 
preparing the ROD, the Army took into consideration all comments 
provided during the FEIS waiting period, which began when the Notice of 
Availability for the FEIS was published in the Federal Register on 
September 22, 2015 (80 FR 57156). The Army considered all comments 
received in making its decision, but determined that it did not 
constitute significant new information relevant to environmental 
concerns that would require supplementation of the FEIS. Comments 
received resulted in minor edits to the ROD.
    Implementation of the selected action is expected to result in 
direct, indirect, and cumulative impacts. The only resource area that 
would experience significant adverse impacts is traffic and 
transportation around the surrounding area of Fort Belvoir. The Army 
will mitigate these and other adverse effects through various 
strategies, as described in the ROD. All mitigations are subject to the 
availability of funding.

Brenda S. Bowen,
Army Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 2016-29516 Filed 12-8-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 5001-03-P