[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 245 (Wednesday, December 22, 1999)] [Notices] [Pages 71741-71742] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 99-33112] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE Department of the Army Release of the Notice of Availability on the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) on the Disposal and Reuse of the Military Ocean Terminal, Bayonne, NJ
Agency
Department of the Army, DOD.
Action
Notice of Availability.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Summary
This FEIS was prepared by the Army in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969 and the President's Council on Environmental Quality. The closure of the Military Ocean Terminal, Bayonne, New Jersey (MOTBY) was mandated in accordance with the recommendations of the Defense Base Closure and Realignment Act of 1990, Public Law 101-510, as amended (the ``BRAC law'').
Dates
The review period for the FEIS will end on or before January 21, 2000.
Addresses
Questions and/or written comments regarding the FEIS, or a request for a copy of the document may be directed to: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Army Engineer District, Mobile, ATTN: CESAM-PD (Dr. Susan Ivester Rees), 109 St. Joseph Street, Mobile, AL 36602.
For Further Information Contact
Dr. Susan Ivester Rees at 334-694-4141 or by facsimile at 334-690-2727.
Supplementary Information
The FEIS analyzes three alternative courses of action with respect to the disposal and subsequent reuse of the 676- acre (440 land acres and 236 submerged land acres) comprising the MOTBY: (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 FEIS analyzes the potential environmental and socioeconomic consequences of three community reuse alternative; (1) Low intensity reuse alternative; (2) low-medium intensity reuse alternative; and (3) medium intensity reuse alternative. The FEIS concludes the no action alternative is not reasonable since the closure of MOTBY is mandated by BRAC law, and the Army has no requirement to retain the property. The FEIS 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: convenants and restrictions pertaining to asbestos-containing material; lead-based paint; floodplaints; future remedial activities after transfer, wetlands and easements; and rights-of-way. Community reuse of the MOTBY property is analyzed in the FEIS 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 Bayonne Local Redevelopment Authority (BLRA) to develop and implemented a reuse plan for the installation. Approval and implementation of the reuse plan are within the discretion of the BLRA. Comments on the FEIS, received during the public comment period, will be used in preparing the Army's Record of Decision. Copies of the FEIS 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 FEIS are avaialble for review at the following libraries. The Bayonne Free Public Library, 697 Avenue C, Bayonne, NJ 07002-2806; the Jersey City Public Library, 472 Jersey Avenue, Jersey City, NJ 07302; and the Newark Public Library, 5 Washington Street, Newark, NJ 07102.
Dated: December 14, 1999. Raymond J. Fatz, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army, (Environment, Safety and Occupational Health) OASA (I&E). [FR Doc. 99-33112 Filed 12-21-99; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3710-08-M