83 FR 16923 - Programmatic Consideration of Historic Properties in Transfer of Property Rights of Vacant and Underutilized Buildings, Structures and Land

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 74 (April 17, 2018)

Page Range		16923-16924
FR Document		2018-07958

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is reviewing its capital asset inventory and identifying vacant and underutilized buildings, structures and land. VA may consider sales, public benefit conveyances, demolition and deconstruction to reduce its unneeded real property. Additionally, VA may consider leases and exchanges to non- Federal entities for potential reuse of vacant and underutilized buildings and structures. This announcement pertains to an alternative process VA may utilize to comply with the requirements of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA). The Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP) is a Federal agency tasked with review of other Federal agencies' compliance with NHPA and the implementing regulations. VA intends to request ACHP to consider a Program Comment for the entire program of reduction of vacant and underutilized properties. ACHP may agree or decline to consider VA's Program Comment request. If ACHP does issue a Program Comment in lieu of case-by-case review, this alternative will conserve VA's time, budget and staff resources. It will enable VA to transfer real property rights of the vacant and underutilized properties more quickly while still giving consideration to historic properties as required by NHPA. This Notice of Availability announces and invites public involvement in the process of development of the Program Comment for consideration of historic properties that are vacant and underutilized buildings, structures and land that may be historic properties. Historic properties are those listed on the National Register of Historic Places or eligible for such listing.

Federal Register, Volume 83 Issue 74 (Tuesday, April 17, 2018)

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 74 (Tuesday, April 17, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16923-16924]
From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-07958]

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

Programmatic Consideration of Historic Properties in Transfer of
Property Rights of Vacant and Underutilized Buildings, Structures and
Land

AGENCY: Department of Veterans Affairs.

ACTION: Notice of availability and request for comment.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is reviewing its
capital asset inventory and identifying vacant and underutilized
buildings, structures and land. VA may consider sales, public benefit
conveyances, demolition and deconstruction to reduce its unneeded real
property. Additionally, VA may consider leases and exchanges to non-
Federal entities for potential reuse of vacant and underutilized
buildings and structures. This announcement pertains to an alternative
process VA may utilize to comply with the requirements of the National
Historic Preservation Act (NHPA).
The Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP) is a Federal
agency tasked with review of other Federal agencies' compliance with
NHPA and the implementing regulations. VA intends to request ACHP to
consider a Program Comment for the entire program of reduction of
vacant and underutilized properties. ACHP may agree or decline to
consider VA's Program Comment request. If ACHP does issue a Program
Comment in lieu of case-by-case review, this alternative will conserve
VA's time, budget and staff resources. It will enable VA to transfer
real property rights of the vacant and underutilized properties more
quickly while still giving consideration to historic properties as
required by NHPA.
This Notice of Availability announces and invites public
involvement in the process of development of the Program Comment for
consideration of historic properties that are vacant and underutilized
buildings, structures and land that may be historic properties.
Historic properties are those listed on the National Register of
Historic Places or eligible for such listing.

DATES: Comments should be submitted within 30 days from when this
announcement is published in the Federal Register.

ADDRESSES: Written comments may be submitted by email through http://www.regulations.gov. Comments should indicate that they are submitted
in response to ``Notice of availability and request for comments--
Programmatic Consideration of Historic Properties in Transfer of
Property Rights of Vacant and Underutilized Buildings, Structures and
Land.'' During the comment period, comments may be viewed online
through the Federal Docket Management System at http://www.regulations.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Douglas Pulak, Federal Preservation
Officer (003C2), Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue NW,
Washington, DC 20420.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 106 of the National Historic
Preservation Act (54 U.S.C. 306108) requires Federal agencies to take
into account the effects of their undertakings on historic properties
and provide ACHP a reasonable opportunity to comment with regard to
such undertakings. ACHP regulations, codified at 36 CFR part 800, set
forth the process by which Federal agencies comply with NHPA
requirements.
Under Section 800.14(e), Federal agencies may request ACHP to
provide a Program Comment on a particular program and category of
undertakings in lieu of conducting individual reviews of each
individual undertaking as set forth in 36 CFR Sections 800.4 through
800.6. A Federal agency can meet its Section 106 responsibilities for a
category of undertakings by taking into account ACHP's Program Comment
and by following the steps set forth in those comments.
To initiate this process, VA intends to request ACHP to consider a
Program Comment for its program to reduce its real property inventory
of vacant and underutilized properties at VA Medical Centers and
National Cemeteries nationwide. VA intends the program comment to ACHP
will encompass a variety of real estate actions such as leases
(including both Enhanced-Use Leases under VA's authority at 38 U.S.C.
8161-8169, and NHPA Section 111 leases authorized under 16 U.S.C. 470h-
3), exchanges, sales, transfers, deconstruction and demolition of
buildings and structures. ACHP will decide whether to issue a Program
Comment to VA or decline. If ACHP decides to issue the Program Comment,
they will publish a draft in the Federal Register for public review and

[[Page 16924]]

comment. Following consideration of such comments by ACHP and VA, the
final Program Comment will be published in the Federal Register.
VA initiated the identification of historic properties in its
capital asset inventory several decades ago. VA identified, in
consultation with State Historic Preservation Offices, approximately 65
percent of the medical centers as having some buildings and structures,
or districts eligible or listed on the National Register of Historic
Places. All of the National Veterans Cemeteries are listed on the
National Register. The development of VA and its historic role in the
care and treatment of veterans over time is significant in the history
of the United States.
The analysis of buildings and structures that are no longer needed
or cannot be adapted for current use will aid VA in reducing its real
property inventory. Many buildings and structures are not useful for
VA's mission. In general, they tend to be warehouses, garages, sheds,
animal research structures, and other utilitarian buildings. Most of
these types of buildings and structures are not eligible or
contributing to a historic district. VA intends to propose
deconstruction or demolition of these properties without further
consideration under the Program Comment.
For buildings, structures and land that may serve other non-Federal
entities purpose, VA may be able to out lease them. The leases would
contain specific requirements for treatment of the character defining
features of the historic property if the lessee is pursuing tax credits
for rehabilitation of the historic property. For all other leases of
historic properties, the reuse proposal would be evaluated with the
lessee for potential retention of any character defining features such
as windows, entry spaces, staircases and historic landscaping. If it is
not possible to retain significant historic features of a building or
structure, they will be documented prior to removal or alteration.

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. Jacquelyn
Hayes-Byrd, Deputy Chief of Staff, Department of Veterans Affairs,
approved this document on April 11, 2018, for publication.

Dated: April 11, 2018.
Jeffrey M. Martin,
Impact Analyst, Office of Regulation Policy & Management, Office of the
Secretary, Department of Veterans Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2018-07958 Filed 4-16-18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8320-01-P

Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 74 / Tuesday, April 17, 2018 / Notices 16923

With respect to the following By direction of the Secretary. DATES: Comments should be submitted
collection of information, VHA invites Cynthia D. Harvey-Pryor, within 30 days from when this
comments on: (1) Whether the proposed Department Clearance Officer, Office of announcement is published in the
collection of information is necessary Quality, Privacy and Risk, Department of Federal Register.
for the proper performance of VHA’s Veterans Affairs. ADDRESSES: Written comments may be
functions, including whether the [FR Doc. 2018–07947 Filed 4–16–18; 8:45 am] submitted by email through http://
information will have practical utility; BILLING CODE 8320–01–P www.regulations.gov. Comments should
(2) the accuracy of VHA’s estimate of indicate that they are submitted in
the burden of the proposed collection of response to ‘‘Notice of availability and
information; (3) ways to enhance the DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS request for comments—Programmatic
quality, utility, and clarity of the AFFAIRS Consideration of Historic Properties in
information to be collected; and (4) Transfer of Property Rights of Vacant
ways to minimize the burden of the Programmatic Consideration of and Underutilized Buildings, Structures
collection of information on Historic Properties in Transfer of and Land.’’ During the comment period,
respondents, including through the use Property Rights of Vacant and comments may be viewed online
of automated collection techniques or Underutilized Buildings, Structures through the Federal Docket Management
the use of other forms of information and Land System at http://www.regulations.gov.
technology. AGENCY: Department of Veterans Affairs. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Authority: 38 U.S.C. 501, 38 CFR Douglas Pulak, Federal Preservation
ACTION: Notice of availability and Officer (003C2), Department of Veterans
1.900 et seq.; 42 U.S.C. 2651–2653; 38
request for comment. Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue NW,
U.S.C. 1729; 28 CFR 43.2; and E.O.
9397. Washington, DC 20420.
SUMMARY: The Department of Veterans
Title: Federal Medical Care Recovery SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section
Affairs (VA) is reviewing its capital
Act Bill Requests; Request for VA 106 of the National Historic
asset inventory and identifying vacant
Billing, CHAMPVA Request for Billing. Preservation Act (54 U.S.C. 306108)
and underutilized buildings, structures
requires Federal agencies to take into
OMB Control Number: 2900—NEW. and land. VA may consider sales, public
account the effects of their undertakings
benefit conveyances, demolition and
Type of Review: New collection. on historic properties and provide
deconstruction to reduce its unneeded
Abstract: The purpose of collecting ACHP a reasonable opportunity to
real property. Additionally, VA may
this information is to provide basic comment with regard to such
consider leases and exchanges to non-
information from which potential undertakings. ACHP regulations,
Federal entities for potential reuse of
liability can be assessed for VA to codified at 36 CFR part 800, set forth the
vacant and underutilized buildings and
recover the cost of care from the liable process by which Federal agencies
structures. This announcement pertains
party instead of the American taxpayer comply with NHPA requirements.
to an alternative process VA may utilize Under Section 800.14(e), Federal
and Veteran paying for the care. Failure to comply with the requirements of the
to provide any or all of the requested agencies may request ACHP to provide
National Historic Preservation Act a Program Comment on a particular
information may delay or result in VA’s (NHPA).
inability to create accident-related program and category of undertakings in
The Advisory Council on Historic lieu of conducting individual reviews of
billing, assert a claim for Preservation (ACHP) is a Federal agency
reimbursement, and assist the Veteran each individual undertaking as set forth
tasked with review of other Federal in 36 CFR Sections 800.4 through 800.6.
in their personal injury or workers agencies’ compliance with NHPA and
compensation claim. Without a third A Federal agency can meet its Section
the implementing regulations. VA 106 responsibilities for a category of
party paying for the care, the Veteran intends to request ACHP to consider a
may owe VA copayments. With regards undertakings by taking into account
Program Comment for the entire ACHP’s Program Comment and by
to the CHAMPVA form alone: Failure to program of reduction of vacant and
provide any or all of the requested following the steps set forth in those
underutilized properties. ACHP may comments.
information may delay or result in VA’s agree or decline to consider VA’s To initiate this process, VA intends to
inability to provide CHAMPVA benefits. Program Comment request. If ACHP request ACHP to consider a Program
Affected Public: Individuals and does issue a Program Comment in lieu Comment for its program to reduce its
households. of case-by-case review, this alternative real property inventory of vacant and
Estimated Annual Burden: will conserve VA’s time, budget and underutilized properties at VA Medical
staff resources. It will enable VA to Centers and National Cemeteries
Request for VA Billing—385 hours. transfer real property rights of the nationwide. VA intends the program
CHAMPVA Request for Billing—303 vacant and underutilized properties comment to ACHP will encompass a
hours. more quickly while still giving variety of real estate actions such as
Estimated Average Burden per consideration to historic properties as leases (including both Enhanced-Use
Respondent: required by NHPA. Leases under VA’s authority at 38 U.S.C.
Request for VA Billing—7 minutes. This Notice of Availability announces 8161–8169, and NHPA Section 111
and invites public involvement in the leases authorized under 16 U.S.C. 470h–
CHAMPVA Request for Billing—7 process of development of the Program 3), exchanges, sales, transfers,
daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES

minutes. Comment for consideration of historic deconstruction and demolition of
Frequency of Response: Annually. properties that are vacant and buildings and structures. ACHP will
Estimated Number of Respondents: underutilized buildings, structures and decide whether to issue a Program
land that may be historic properties. Comment to VA or decline. If ACHP
Request for VA Billing—3,300. Historic properties are those listed on decides to issue the Program Comment,
CHAMPVA Request for Billing— the National Register of Historic Places they will publish a draft in the Federal
2,600. or eligible for such listing. Register for public review and

VerDate Sep<11>2014 19:20 Apr 16, 2018 Jkt 244001 PO 00000 Frm 00101 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\17APN1.SGM 17APN1

16924 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 74 / Tuesday, April 17, 2018 / Notices

comment. Following consideration of Dated: April 11, 2018. or sponsor. This request for comment is
such comments by ACHP and VA, the Jeffrey M. Martin, being made pursuant to of the PRA.
final Program Comment will be Impact Analyst, Office of Regulation Policy With respect to the following
published in the Federal Register. & Management, Office of the Secretary, collection of information, VBA invites
Department of Veterans Affairs. comments on: (1) Whether the proposed
VA initiated the identification of
historic properties in its capital asset [FR Doc. 2018–07958 Filed 4–16–18; 8:45 am] collection of information is necessary
inventory several decades ago. VA BILLING CODE 8320–01–P for the proper performance of VBA’s
identified, in consultation with State functions, including whether the
Historic Preservation Offices, information will have practical utility;
approximately 65 percent of the medical DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS (2) the accuracy of VBA’s estimate of the
centers as having some buildings and AFFAIRS burden of the proposed collection of
structures, or districts eligible or listed information; (3) ways to enhance the
[OMB Control No. 2900–0074] quality, utility, and clarity of the
on the National Register of Historic
Places. All of the National Veterans information to be collected; and (4)
Agency Information Collection ways to minimize the burden of the
Cemeteries are listed on the National Activity: Request for Change of
Register. The development of VA and its collection of information on
Program or Place of Training respondents, including through the use
historic role in the care and treatment of
veterans over time is significant in the AGENCY: Veterans Benefits of automated collection techniques or
history of the United States. Administration, Department of Veterans the use of other forms of information
Affairs. technology.
The analysis of buildings and Authority: Public Law 104–13; 44
structures that are no longer needed or ACTION: Notice.
U.S.C. 3501–21; 5 CFR 1320, Section
cannot be adapted for current use will 3506(c)(2)(A).
aid VA in reducing its real property SUMMARY: The Veterans Benefits
Administration (VBA), Department of Title: Request for Change of Program
inventory. Many buildings and or Place of Training (VA Form 22–1995).
structures are not useful for VA’s Veterans Affairs (VA), is announcing an
opportunity for public comment on the OMB Control Number: 2900–0074.
mission. In general, they tend to be Type of Review: Extension of an
warehouses, garages, sheds, animal proposed collection of certain
information by the agency. Under the approved collection.
research structures, and other utilitarian Abstract: VA Form 22–1995 is used to
buildings. Most of these types of Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of
1995, Federal agencies are required to determine the applicant’s continued
buildings and structures are not eligible eligibility to educational assistance
or contributing to a historic district. VA publish notice in the Federal Register
concerning each proposed collection of administered by VA after a change in
intends to propose deconstruction or training or the place where training is
demolition of these properties without information, including each proposed
extension of a currently approved pursued.
further consideration under the Program Affected Public: Individuals or
Comment. collection, and allow 60 days for public
comment in response to the notice. households.
For buildings, structures and land that The VA Form 22–1995 is used to Estimated Annual Burden: 57,009
may serve other non-Federal entities determine the applicant’s continued hours.
purpose, VA may be able to out lease eligibility to educational assistance Estimated Average Burden per
them. The leases would contain specific administered by VA after a change in Respondent: 15 minutes (Electronic) 20
requirements for treatment of the training or the place where training is minutes (Paper).
character defining features of the pursued. Frequency of Response: One time.
historic property if the lessee is Estimated Number of Respondents:
pursuing tax credits for rehabilitation of DATES: Written comments and 184,894.
the historic property. For all other leases recommendations on the proposed
collection of information should be By direction of the Secretary.
of historic properties, the reuse proposal Cynthia D. Harvey-Pryor,
would be evaluated with the lessee for received on or before June 18, 2018.
ADDRESSES: Submit written comments Department Clearance Officer, Office of
potential retention of any character Quality, Privacy and Risk, Department of
defining features such as windows, on the collection of information through
Veterans Affairs.
entry spaces, staircases and historic Federal Docket Management System
[FR Doc. 2018–07948 Filed 4–16–18; 8:45 am]
landscaping. If it is not possible to (FDMS) at www.Regulations.gov or to
Nancy J. Kessinger, Veterans Benefits BILLING CODE 8320–01–P
retain significant historic features of a
building or structure, they will be Administration (20M33), Department of
documented prior to removal or Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue
DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS
alteration. NW, Washington, DC 20420 or email to
AFFAIRS
nancy.kessinger@va.gov. Please refer to
Signing Authority ‘‘OMB Control No. 2900–0074’’ in any [OMB Control No. 2900–0790]
The Secretary of Veterans Affairs, or correspondence. During the comment
period, comments may be viewed online Agency Information Collection
designee, approved this document and
through the FDMS. Activity: Application and Reporting
authorized the undersigned to sign and
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requirements To Receive Grants
submit the document to the Office of the
daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES

Federal Register for publication Nancy J. Kessinger at (202) 632–8924 or AGENCY: Veterans Health
electronically as an official document of FAX (202) 632–8925. Administration, Department of Veterans
the Department of Veterans Affairs. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under the Affairs
Jacquelyn Hayes-Byrd, Deputy Chief of PRA of 1995, Federal agencies must ACTION: Notice.
Staff, Department of Veterans Affairs, obtain approval from the Office of
approved this document on April 11, Management and Budget (OMB) for each SUMMARY: Veterans Health
2018, for publication. collection of information they conduct Administration, Department of Veterans

VerDate Sep<11>2014 21:16 Apr 16, 2018 Jkt 244001 PO 00000 Frm 00102 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\17APN1.SGM 17APN1

Document Created: 2018-04-17 02:52:39
Document Modified: 2018-04-17 02:52:39

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 and request for comment.
Dates		Comments should be submitted within 30 days from when this announcement is published in the Federal Register.
Contact		Douglas Pulak, Federal Preservation Officer (003C2), Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20420.
FR Citation		83 FR 16923