[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 93 (Monday, May 15, 1995)] [Notices] [Page 25930] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 95-11898] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- NATIONAL CAPITAL PLANNING COMMISSION Intent To Prepare Environmental Impact Statement AGENCY: National Capital Planning Commission. ACTION: Proposed construction and operation of a sports and entertainment arena in Washington, DC. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: In a Notice of Intent published in the Federal Register on January 13, 1995 (60 FR 3273), the National Capital Planning Commission advised that in conjunction with the District of Columbia Government it was conducting an Environmental Assessment for the proposed construction and operation of a new sports and entertainment area in Washington, DC. The Notice stated that if it became apparent, either through the scoping process or during the analysis and documentation of environmental impacts, that an Environmental Impact Statement was the appropriate environmental document, a Supplemental Notice would be issued. A Draft Environmental Assessment was published on March 31, 1995, with a comment period closing on May 1, 1995. The National Capital Planning Commission (Commission) and the District of Columbia Government now announce their intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the proposed D.C. Arena pursuant to Section 106(2)(c) of the National Environment Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, as implemented by the Council on Environmental Quality regulations (40 CFR Parts 1500-1508), and in accordance with the Environmental Policies and Procedures implemented by the Commission. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: As indicated in the January 13, 1995 Notice, all comments and responses on the scope of alternatives and potential impacts received in response to that notice as well as those received during the scoping process, the public meeting held February 13, 1995, and in response to the Draft EA will be considered in the EIS. The public is encouraged to provide additional comments once the Draft EIS is released. The Commission anticipates that release date to be in mid- June 1995. The EIS will analyze the environmental impacts and mitigation options associated with the construction and operation of a sports and entertainment arena that would seat approximately 20,600 persons and would be located in downtown Washington, DC. In addition, the EIS will consider alternative actions. At present, those alternatives may include (1) Construction of a new arena at the Gallery Place site which includes the following: Square 455 which is bounded by G Street NW., 6th Street NW., F Street NW. and 7th Street NW.; the 600 block of G Street NW.; and approximately the southern fifth of Square 454 which is bounded by H Street NW., 6th Street NW., G Street NW., and 7th Street NW. (2) Construction of a new arena over the air rights behind Union Station; (3) A No Action Alternative, which would result in no new construction in Washington, DC. Topics for environmental analysis will include short-term construction-related impacts; long-term effects on historic resources, visual resources, public transportation, traffic and parking, socio-economic conditions, land use, and physical- biological resources within the project area, and the cumulative impacts associated with this and other reasonably foreseeable projects. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT: National Capital Planning Commission, 801 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., Suite 301, Washington, DC. 20576. Attention: Ms. Sandra H. Shapiro, General Counsel, Phone: (202) 724-0174. Sandra H. Shapiro, General Counsel, National Capital Planning Commission. [FR Doc. 95-11898 Filed 5-12-95; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 7502-02-M