Release of the Notice of Availability on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) on the Disposal and Reuse of Oakland Army Base, Oakland, California

The DEIS analyzes three alternative courses of action with respect to the disposal and

subsequent reuse of the 422 acres (368 land acres and 54 submerged land acres) comprising OARB: (1) The no action alternative, under which the property would be maintained in a caretaker status after closure; (2) the unencumbered alternative, under which the Army would transfer the property without encumbrances, such as environmental restrictions and easements; and (3) the encumbered disposal alternative, under which the Army would transfer the property with various environmental restrictions and easements, limiting the future use of the property. Additionally, this DEIS analyzes the potential environmental and socioeconomic consequences of six community reuse alternatives: (1) Low intensity reuse alternative; (2) low-medium intensity reuse alternative; (3) medium intensity reuse alternative; (4) medium-high intensity reuse alternative; (5) high intensity reuse alternative; and (6) very high intensity reuse alternative. The DEIS concludes the no action alternative is not reasonable since the closure of OARB is mandated by BRAC law, and the Army has no requirement to retain the property. The DEIS also concludes that the unencumbered disposal alternative is not feasible given environmental conditions and legal requirements. The Army's preferred alternative course of action is the encumbered disposal of excess property. Possible encumbrances include: covenants and restrictions pertaining to asbestos-containing material; lead-based paint; flood plains; future remedial activities after transfer; wetlands and easements; and rights-of-way. Community reuse of OARB property is analyzed in the DEIS as a secondary action resulting from closure and disposal by the Army. While the Army does not control the community's reuse of the property, under NEPA, the army is required to analyze the reasonably foreseeable impacts of its disposal action. The local community has established the Oakland Base Reuse Authority (OBRA) to develop and implement a reuse plan for the installation. Approval and implementation of the reuse plan are within the discretion of the OBRA. A public meeting will be held during the 45-day DEIS comment period to afford the public the opportunity to provide oral and written comments on the DEIS. The location and time of the meeting will be announced in local newspapers at least 15 days prior to the meeting. Verbal comments made at the public meeting and written comments received during the comment period will be used in the preparation of the Final EIS and Record of Decision. Copies of the DEIS have been forwarded to the EPA, other Federal, state, and local agencies; public officials; and organizations and individuals who previously provided substantive comments in the EIS scoping process. Copies of the DEIS are available for review at the following libraries: The Oakland Library-Main Branch, 125 14th Street, Oakland, CA 94612; and the Oakland Library-West Branch, 1801 Adeline Street, Oakland, CA 94607.

Dated: November 9, 1999. Raymond J. Fatz, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army (Environment, Safety and Occupational Health) ASA(I&E). [FR Doc. 99-29794 Filed 11-15-99; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3710-08-M