[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 49 (Tuesday, March 13, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10842-10843]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-05055]
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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Office of the Secretary
[Docket ID: DOD-2016-OS-0086]
Notice of Availability for Finding of No Significant Impact for
the Environmental Assessment Addressing Defense Logistics Agency
Disposition Services Relocation and Expansion at Defense Supply Center
Richmond, Virginia
AGENCY: Defense Logistics Agency (DLA), Department of Defense.
ACTION: Notice of availability (NOA).
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SUMMARY: On August 17, 2016, DLA published a NOA in the Federal
Register announcing the publication of the Environmental Assessment
(EA) Addressing Defense Logistics Agency Disposition Services
Relocation and Expansion at Defense Supply Center Richmond, Virginia.
The EA was available for a 30-day public comment period that ended
September 16, 2016. DLA considered all comments prior to making the
determination to proceed with this Finding of No Significant Impact
(FONSI).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ira Silverberg at 703-767-0705 during
normal business hours Monday through Friday, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30
p.m. (EST) or by email: [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The EA was prepared as required under the
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969. In addition, the EA
complied with DLA Regulation 1000.22. DLA completed an EA to address
the potential environmental consequences associated with the Proposed
Action at Defense Supply Center Richmond. This FONSI incorporates the
EA by reference and summarizes the results of the analyses in the EA.
Additionally, this FONSI documents the decision of DLA to implement the
Proposed Action at Defense Supply Center Richmond. DLA has determined
that the Proposed Action is not a major federal action significantly
affecting the quality of the human environment within the context of
NEPA and that no significant impacts on the human environment are
associated with this decision.
DLA received two comments during the 30-day public comment period.
An anonymous comment, dated September 13, 2016, concurred with DLA that
the Proposed Action would not result in a significant impact. The
Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) coordinated review
of the EA by state agencies, planning district commissions, and
Chesterfield County and provided a consolidated comment letter dated
September 15, 2016. The Virginia DEQ consolidated comment letter noted
the EA did not address potential impacts to land analogous to
Chesapeake Bay Preservation Areas. On September 22, 2017, DLA responded
to the Virginia DEQ consolidated comment letter. DLA's response letter
noted that DLA conducted a wetland delineation, stream assessment, and
resource protection area (RPA) delineation and submitted a RPA
Designation Application to Chesterfield County requesting redesignation
of the RPA within a portion of the proposed 18.2-acre outdoor storage
area on March 31, 2017. Chesterfield County confirmed DLA's perennial
stream flow determination and RPA designations on April 14, 2017.
DLA determined that the Proposed Action would be consistent, to the
maximum extent practicable, with the enforceable policies of Virginia's
Coastal Zone Management Program and submitted a coastal zone
consistency determination for Virginia DEQ review on June 9, 2016. On
August 16, 2016, Virginia DEQ concurred that the Proposed Action would
be consistent with Virginia's Coastal Zone Management Program provided
DLA obtains all applicable permits and approvals.
The Proposed Action would take place within the Bellwood-Richmond
Quartermaster Depot Historic District, which is eligible for listing in
the National Register of Historic Places. Pursuant to the National
Historic Preservation Act, DLA contacted the State Historic
Preservation Officer to conduct Section 106 consultation for the
Proposed Action on September 25, 2015. In a letter dated November 2,
2015, the State Historic Preservation Office concurred that the
Proposed Action would not adversely affect historic properties.
The EA includes an appendix with the public's comments and DLA's
response, coastal zone consistency documentation, and State Historic
Preservation Office consultation documents. The revised EA is available
electronically at the Federal eRulemaking Portal at http://www.regulations.gov within Docket ID: DOD-2016-OS-0086.
Purpose and Need for Action: The purpose of the Proposed Action is
to improve the efficiency of DLA Disposition Services operations in the
Eastern United States. The Proposed Action is necessary, because the
DLA Disposition Services disposal network in the Eastern United States
has
[[Page 10843]]
experienced increased customer wait times, insufficient loading bays,
workload and productivity imbalances between sites, aging facilities,
and a lack of process optimization since DLA Distribution and DLA
Disposition Services merged materiel receipt, storage, and distribution
functions.
Proposed Action and Alternatives: Under the Proposed Action, DLA
would: (1) Redesign the DLA Disposition Services mid-Atlantic disposal
network. This will divert incoming excess military property from DLA
Disposition Services at Fort Meade, Fort Bragg, Norfolk, and
Susquehanna to DLA Disposition Services at Richmond. (2) Expand DLA
Disposition Services at Richmond to a full-service operation (i.e.,
receive, store, distribute, and sell excess military equipment;
documentation of hazardous materials management; demilitarization; and
scrap operations). The expansion increases the warehouse footprint from
60,000 to 340,000 square feet (an addition of 280,000 square feet) and
increases the outdoor storage area footprint from 34 to 60 acres (an
addition of 26 acres). (3) Create an operational test bed for research,
development, testing, and evaluation of standardized disposal practices
at DLA Disposition Services at Richmond.
Description of the No Action Alternative: The No Action Alternative
avoids relocation, or expansion of DLA Disposition Services at
Richmond. DLA Disposition Services would continue to operate with
extensive customer wait times, insufficient loading bays, workload and
productivity imbalances between sites, aging facilities, and a lack of
process optimization. The No Action Alternative would not meet the
purpose of and need for the Proposed Action.
Potential Environmental Impacts: No significant effects on
environmental resources are expected from the Proposed Action.
Insignificant, adverse effects on land use, e.g., noise, air quality,
geological resources, water resources, biological resources, cultural
resources, infrastructure and transportation, hazardous materials and
wastes, and health and safety are to be expected. Insignificant and
beneficial effects on infrastructure and socioeconomics are also to be
expected. The EA covers details of the environmental consequences,
which is hereby incorporated by reference.
Determination: DLA has determined that implementation of the
Proposed Action will not have a significant effect on the human
environment. DLA interprets the human environment as the natural and
physical environment and the relationship of people with that
environment. DLA based this determination on an analysis of uncertain
or controversial impacts; unique or unknown risks; and cumulative
impacts of the proposed action. Implementation of the Proposed Action
will not violate any Federal, State, or local laws.
Mr. Phillip R. Dawson, Acting Director, DLA Installation
Management, concludes that implementing the Proposed Action at the
Defense Supply Center Richmond does not constitute a major federal
action that would significantly affect the quality of the environment
within the context of NEPA. This decision is based on the results of
the analyses performed during the EA preparation as well as comments
received from the public.
Therefore, an environmental impact statement for the Proposed
Action is not required.
Dated: March 8, 2018.
Aaron Siegel,
Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison Officer, Department of Defense.
[FR Doc. 2018-05055 Filed 3-12-18; 8:45 am]
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