Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for Consolidation of the Two Existing NIOSH Facilities in Cincinnati, Ohio, 34359-34360 [E6-9251]

Agencies

• General Services Administration

[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 114 (Wednesday, June 14, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 34359-34360]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-9251]


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GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION


Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement 
(EIS) for Consolidation of the Two Existing NIOSH Facilities in 
Cincinnati, Ohio

AGENCY: Public Buildings Service, GSA

ACTION:  Notice of Intent (NOI) to Prepare EIS

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SUMMARY:  Pursuant to the requirements of the National Environmental 
Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, and the President's Council on Environmental 
Quality Regulations (40 CFR parts 1500-1508), as implemented by General 
Services Administration (GSA) Order PBS P 1095.4D, GSA announces its 
Notice of Intent (NOI) to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement 
(EIS) for the proposed consolidation of the two existing NIOSH 
facilities, the Robert A. Taft Laboratory and the Alice Hamilton 
Laboratory buildings, into a single consolidated facility at a new 
location in Ohio.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The delineated area for this project is 
defined as follows; starting at Exit 54 on Interstate Highway I-275 
northeast of Cincinnati; then running clockwise along a line 
approximately two miles east and parallel to Interstate Highway I-275 
south to the Ohio River; then west along the Ohio River to a point 
where it intersects with Interstate Highway I-75; then north and 
northeast along Interstate Highway I-75 until it intersects with Ohio 
State Highway 126 at Exit 104; then east along Ohio State Highway 126 
until it intersects with US Highway 22 (Montgomery Rd.); from this 
point east along a line back to Exit 54 on Interstate Highway 275.
    The purpose of this proposed action is to consolidate these 
facilities, which have been occupied for the past 50 years and are 
outdated and inefficient, into a new consolidated facility. The need 
for this action is for NIOSH to collocate operational functions into a 
single location to eliminate the inherent inefficiencies associated 
with the current separated and outdated facilities.
    The EIS will examine the impacts of this proposed development on 
the natural and human environment to include impacts to wetlands, 
floodplains, traffic, historic resources, and other potential impacts 
identified by the community through the scoping process.
    The consolidated facility will be acquired by the Government, and 
may be an existing facility, or may be property acquired for the 
construction of a new facility. GSA, as agent for CDC, will develop a 
list of alternate site locations based on the criteria for the project. 
The site and must be large enough to accommodate the needed 350,000 
square feet of usable space with 1100 employees. The minimum site size 
needed will by approximately 14 acres. The technical site evaluation 
criteria are:
    GENERAL

[[Page 34360]]

     The property owner(s) must have sole, legally documented 
authority to represent the property or facility or assemblage for the 
Government's consideration. No speculative offers will be considered.
     The site must be within an approximately 25 minute or 30 
mile distance from the Cincinnati airport.
     The site must have reasonably direct access from the 
Interstate(s) or other major roadway arteries.
     The site must be proximate to existing support services 
such as restaurants/ eateries, hotels/ motels or other approved retail 
and/or commercial uses to support the Government's workforce.
     Existing facilities must comply with, or must be capable 
of being upgraded to, the most current versions of the Unified 
Facilities Criteria (UFC), the Department of Defense (DoD) Minimum 
Anti-terrorism Standards for Buildings and the ISC Security Design 
Criteria for Federal Buildings with CDC project specific planning 
criteria, to be considered.
     Only property within the State of Ohio will be considered.
    SITE
     The site must encompass a minimum of 14 developable acres 
with the following characteristics:
     No deed restrictions or encumbrances that may 
potentially restrict the Government's use of the developable 
portion(s) of the site.
     Soil type and subsurface conditions suitable for low- 
and mid-rise development consistent with that described in the 
solicitation.
     Appropriate zoning or other land use control 
designation that would allow research/office uses as specified in 
the Government's solicitation.
     The site must be contiguous.
     Preference shall be given to sites that have favorable 
configuration in shape and dimensions so as to afford the most 
flexibility for site planning for the proposed development.
     The site must be served by or proximate to basic utilities 
including, but not limited to, water, sanitary and storm sewer, natural 
gas, and electricity.
     The property owner(s) must either certify in writing that 
no environmental condition exists or is pending, as defined by Federal, 
State or local jurisdiction law, regulation or ordinance that would 
potentially restrict the Government's use of the site as stated in the 
NOI, or identify any such condition(s), if known. The Government would 
keep this information confidential to the extent allowed under Federal 
law.
     The property owner(s) must identify any Federal, State or 
locally documented historic, archaeological or cultural resources 
located on or immediately adjacent to the site, if known.
     The property owner(s) must provide a certified ALTA/ ACSM 
Boundary, Topographical and Utility (BTU) survey of the site, prepared 
by a qualified, licensed surveyor, that identifies the legal dimensions 
and boundaries of the site, all lakes, stream or other bodies of water, 
all major natural features of the site such as hills and ravines, 
public or private roads, power transmission, natural gas, electric 
distribution, or other utility lines below ground, on-grade, or 
suspended, and any-and-all other encumbrances to the site.
     The property owner(s) must identify any existing buildings 
or other improvements on the site, and if such improvements would be 
demolished by the Property owner(s) or the Government prior to 
development of the site; or if the Government is to evaluate the 
improvements for future NIOSH occupancy and use.
    GSA will first identify sites that can meet these basic criterions 
for the project, and will then use the NEPA process analyze the impacts 
of the potential sites that have been screened down to a short list for 
final consideration. GSA will solicit community input throughout this 
process, and will incorporate community comments into the decision 
process before any decisions are made. As part of the Public Scoping 
process, GSA will solicit comments in writing through advertisements in 
the local newspapers and public meetings once potential sites have been 
identified. Comments will be directed to: Mr. Phil Youngberg, 
Environmental Manager (4PT), General Services Administration (GSA), 77 
Forsyth Street, Suite 450, Atlanta, GA 30303.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Phil Youngberg via FAX: 404-562-
0790, or Email: phil.Youngberg@gsa.gov.

    Signed:
     June 6, 2006.
Philip B. Youngberg,
Environmental Manager 4PHD
[FR Doc. E6-9251 Filed 6-13-06; 8:45 am]
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