Record of Decision for the Disposal and Reuse of Naval Air Station Brunswick, ME, 8720-8721 [2011-3402]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
• Department of the Navy

[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 31 (Tuesday, February 15, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8720-8721]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-3402]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Navy


Record of Decision for the Disposal and Reuse of Naval Air 
Station Brunswick, ME

AGENCY: Department of the Navy, DoD.

ACTION: Notice of record of decision.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of the Navy (Navy) announces its decision 
to dispose of the Naval Air Station (NAS) Brunswick property and its 
outlying properties (defined as the McKeen Street Housing Annex, East 
Brunswick Radio Transmitter Site, and Sabino Hill Rake Station) in a 
manner consistent with the Brunswick Naval Air Station Reuse Master 
Plan as outlined in the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) 
under Alternative 1, the Preferred Alternative.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. David Drozd, BRAC Program 
Management Office (PMO) Northeast, 4911 Broad Street, Building 679, 
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19112-1303; telephone: 215-897-4909; e-mail: 
david.drozd@navy.mil.
    The complete text of the ROD is available for public viewing on the 
Navy's BRAC PMO Web site at https://www.bracpmo.navy.mil/BrunswickEIS.aspx along with copies of the FEIS.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Navy is required to close NAS Brunswick, 
in accordance with Public Law 101-510, the Defense Base Closure and 
Realignment Act of 1990, as amended in 2005 (BRAC Closure Law). 
Pursuant to Section 102(2)(c) of the National Environmental Policy Act 
(NEPA) of 1969, 42 U.S.C. 4321, et seq.; Council on Environmental 
Quality Regulations (40 CFR parts 1500-1508); and Navy regulations (32 
CFR part 775), the Navy announces its decision to dispose of NAS 
Brunswick and its outlying properties in a manner consistent with the 
Brunswick Naval Air Station Reuse Master Plan (Reuse Master Plan) as 
developed and approved by the Brunswick Local Redevelopment Authority 
(BLRA). Full build-out of the Preferred Alternative is proposed to be 
implemented over a 20-year period. It is expected the redevelopment 
would follow the Reuse Plan's Community Design Guidelines and would 
incorporate low-impact development, smart growth principles, best 
management practices, and redevelopment design measures that 
incorporate energy conservation. The Preferred Alternative identified 
in the FEIS by the Navy best meets the purpose and need of the proposed 
action.

Environmental Impacts

    Land Use: The Preferred Alternative would result in changes to 
existing land use conditions on the installation, including a more 
intensively built environment, new land uses, and open public access to 
the formerly secure and restricted military property. The Preferred 
Alternative is consistent with the Town of Brunswick 2008 Comprehensive 
Plan and Zoning Ordinance.
    Cultural Resources: Under Section 106 of the National Historic 
Preservation Act, the Navy has completed formal Section 106 
consultation to resolve all adverse effects to historic properties. 
Twenty structures on the installation property are eligible for listing 
in the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) and thirty-five 
archaeological sites have been identified. The Navy and the Maine State 
Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) have finalized and executed a 
Programmatic Agreement (PA) that identifies measures to avoid, 
minimize, or mitigate the adverse effect of the proposed action on 
historic properties.
    Biological Resources: There are no federally listed threatened or 
endangered species on the NAS Brunswick property. Three state-listed 
species are present, the upland sandpiper, grasshopper sparrow, and 
clothed sedge. There would be a potential impact on these three species 
because prime Sandplain Greenland habitat could be permanently removed 
because of development. The Sandplain Greenland habitat is considered a 
significant wildlife habitat under the Maine Natural Resource 
Protection Act (MNRPA). A permit would likely be required for any 
development within this habitat area. Such permitting would likely 
require review and approval from the Maine Department of Inland 
Fisheries and Wildlife (MDIFW) and Maine Natural Areas Program (MNAP).

[[Page 8721]]

    Transportation: A net increase in vehicle trips and impacts on 
transportation could be mitigated by the developer through the planned 
expansion of and updates to existing roadways in the area.
    Storm Water Management: Storm water mitigation will be outlined by 
the developer in a storm water management plan, as required by the Town 
of Brunswick.
    Sediment and Erosion Control: Redevelopment of NAS Brunswick has 
the potential to cause soil erosion. The developer will be required to 
utilize mitigation measures in accordance with Maine's Erosion and 
Sediment Control Law and other applicable state laws.
    Wetland Impacts: Implementation of the Preferred Alternative could 
potentially impact 51 acres of wetlands. In accordance with the Clean 
Water Act and MNRPA, wetland disturbance must be avoided by the 
developer where possible. If the developer cannot avoid wetland 
impacts, a wetland permit application will be required along with any 
necessary mitigation plan. Any potential impacts on significant vernal 
pools will require the developer to consult with the Maine Department 
of Environmental Protection (MDEP) and obtain a MNRPA permit.
    Wildlife Habitat: Any redevelopment activities that may impact 
significant wildlife habitat will require the future developer to 
consult with the MNAP and MEDEP, as well as a permit from the NRPA. The 
consultation and permit processes will identify specific mitigation 
measures.
    Response to Comments Received Regarding the FEIS: The Navy received 
comments from two agencies on the FEIS, the EPA and the state of Maine 
SHPO. The EPA recommended the Navy condition property transfer to 
address storm water management, Energy/LEED, and construction emissions 
requirements. The Navy expects that redevelopment will follow the 
Community Design Guidelines from the Reuse Master Plan, and applicable 
laws and regulations.
    The Maine SHPO expressed concerns that the archaeological site at 
the East Brunswick Radio Transmitter Site was missing from the maps in 
the FEIS. The location of this site and other archaeological and 
culturally sensitive resources are identified in the Programmatic 
Agreement, Appendix O. In order to preserve the sensitivity of the 
specific site location, the figures and maps are not included; however, 
they are available to appropriate organizations and agencies.
    Conclusions: In determining how to dispose of and reuse NAS 
Brunswick and its outlying properties, the following factors were 
considered: the results of the analysis of environmental and 
socioeconomic effects within the FEIS, relevant federal and state 
statutes and regulations, Midcoast Regional Redevelopment Authority's 
design guidelines, compatibility with the Reuse Master Plan and Town of 
Brunswick Zoning, and the comments received during the EIS process. 
After carefully weighing all of these factors and analyzing the data 
presented in the FEIS, the Preferred Alternative best meets the needs 
of the Navy while minimizing potential environmental impacts. The 
preferred alternative reuses the existing airfield and existing 
infrastructure at NAS Brunswick and promotes smart growth 
redevelopment, including walkable communities in a mix of residential 
and commercial uses. The preferred alternative preserves open space and 
provides the community with recreation areas. It provides for the 
disposal of NAS Brunswick and its outlying properties by the Navy in a 
manner consistent with Reuse Master Plan and provides the local 
communities in the Brunswick Labor Market Area with the opportunity for 
economic development and job creation.

    Dated: February 8, 2011.
D.J. Werner,
Lieutenant Commander, Office of the Judge Advocate General, U.S. Navy, 
Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 2011-3402 Filed 2-14-11; 8:45 am]
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