West Los Angeles VA Medical Center Veterans Programs Enhancement Act of 1998; Master Plan, 36955-36959 [2011-15739]
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Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 121 / Thursday, June 23, 2011 / Notices
Shell Lake Municipal Airport, Shell
Lake, WI.
A recently-completed boundary
survey of the airport found that a
privately-owned structure encroaches
onto land owned by the airport. This
finding has resulted in a proposal to
transfer the affected parcel of airport
land to the neighboring owner in
exchange for that owner transferring a
parcel of its own land to the airport.
Release of the 0.101 acre parcel from
land assurances would allow the
encroaching structure to remain
standing. The parcel to be acquired by
the airport in the land exchange (0.021
acres) would give the airport ownership
of a key parcel of land located within
the 14 CFR part 77-defined, primary
surface of Runway 14/32.
A categorical exclusion for this land
release action was prepared by
Wisconsin Dept. of Transportation–
Bureau of Aeronautics and issued on
February 28, 2011.
The aforementioned land is not
needed for aeronautical use, as shown
on the Airport Layout Plan. There are no
impacts to the airport by allowing the
airport to dispose of the property.
The parcel to be released was
originally acquired with local funds in
1961. To compensate for the uneven
exchange of land area (0.101 acres to be
released by the airport vs. 0.021 acres to
be acquired by the airport), the airport
will receive $1,000 in additional
compensation to be used at the airport
for maintenance and/or improvement
purposes.
In accordance with section 47107(h)
of title 49, United States Code, this
notice is required to be published in the
Federal Register 30 days before
modifying the land-use assurance that
requires the property to be used for an
aeronautical purpose.
DATES: Comments must be received on
or before July 25, 2011.
ADDRESSES: Mr. Daniel J. Millenacker,
Program Manager, Federal Aviation
Administration, Airports District Office,
6020 28th Avenue South, Room 102,
Minneapolis, MN 55450–2706.
Telephone Number (612) 713–4350/Fax
Number (612) 713–4364. Documents
reflecting this FAA action may be
reviewed at the following locations:
Federal Aviation Administration,
Minneapolis Airports District Office,
Delta F Building, 7200 34th Ave. So.,
Suite B, Minneapolis, MN 55450; or at
the Wisconsin Department of
Transportation, 4802 Sheboygan Ave.,
Room 701, Madison, WI 53707.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr.
Daniel J. Millenacker, Program Manager,
Federal Aviation Administration,
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Airports District Office, 6020 28th
Avenue South, Room 102, Minneapolis,
MN 55450–2706. Telephone Number
(612) 713–4350/Fax Number (612)713–
4364. Documents reflecting this FAA
action may be reviewed at the following
locations: Federal Aviation
Administration, Minneapolis Airports
District Office, Delta F Building, 7200
34th Ave. So., Suite B, Minneapolis, MN
55450; or at the Wisconsin Department
of Transportation, 4802 Sheboygan
Ave., Room 701, Madison, WI 53707.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Following
is a description of the subject airport
property to be released at Shell Lake
Municipal Airport in Shell Lake,
Wisconsin and described as follows:
Parcel of land in Government Lot 3,
Section 36, T38N, R13W, 4th Principal
Meridian extended, City of Shell Lake,
Washburn County, Wisconsin.
Said parcel subject to all easements,
restrictions, and reservations of record.
Issued in Minneapolis, MN on May 31,
2011.
Steven J. Obenauer,
Manager, Minneapolis Airports District
Office, FAA, Great Lakes Region.
[FR Doc. 2011–15744 Filed 6–22–11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910–13–P
DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS
AFFAIRS
West Los Angeles VA Medical Center
Veterans Programs Enhancement Act
of 1998; Master Plan
Department of Veterans Affairs.
Final Notice.
AGENCY:
ACTION:
On January 19, 2011, the
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
published a notice in the Federal
Register inviting public comment on the
Draft Master Plan (DMP) for the West
Los Angeles VA Medical Center. This
document responds to the public
comments received and affirms as final,
with no changes, that Draft Master Plan.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For
Master Plan issues, contact Ralph
Tillman, Chief of Communications and
External Affairs, Greater Los Angeles
Healthcare System (00PA), Department
of Veterans Affairs, 11301 Wilshire
Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90073.
Telephone: (310) 268–3340 (this is not
a toll-free number).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In a notice
published on January 19, 2011 [76 FR
3209], VA presented its Draft Master
Plan for the West Los Angeles VA
Medical Center campus (hereafter
‘‘WLA campus’’) of the VA Greater Los
Angeles Healthcare System (VA
SUMMARY:
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GLAHS), and solicited public comment
on the DMP for a period of 30 days. The
purpose of the DMP was to satisfy the
legislative mandate of the Veterans
Programs Enhancement Act of 1998
regarding ‘‘a master plan for the use of
the lands * * * over the next 25 years
and over the next 50 years.’’ This is a
land use plan that guides the physical
development of the campus to support
its mission of patient care, teaching, and
research. The plan reflects legislative
restrictions on the property and
discusses developmental goals and
design objectives for the campus. The
plan includes guidelines and criteria for
land use and reuse on the campus,
which provides a variety of services
including inpatient and outpatient
medical care, rehabilitation, residential
care, mental health care and long-term
care services. In addition, the campus
serves as a center for medical research
and education.
We received 29 comments on the
DMP. All of the comments opposed at
least one portion of the DMP. The
majority of comments included one or
more of the following topics: homeless
housing for veterans on the WLA
campus, existing land use, bicycle
access within or through the campus,
and the plan’s level of detail regarding
specific projects. The subject matter of
most of the comments can be grouped
into several categories, and we have
organized our discussion of the
comments accordingly.
Comments Concerning Homeless
Housing
There were a number of comments
regarding how the DMP addressed
homeless housing for veterans,
particularly permanent housing on the
grounds of the WLA campus. A single
commenter expressed concern that
increasing services to homeless veterans
would negatively impact the
surrounding community, stating that the
VA already attracts ‘‘homeless
pedestrians’’ who ‘‘offend customers by
requesting donations.’’ The eradication
of homelessness among veterans has
been deemed a priority mission by
Secretary Shinseki, and it is only in
pursuing that mission that vagrancy
problems are likely to be eliminated. We
therefore make no change based on this
comment.
The majority of commenters believed
the DMP should address the increased
need for housing and services by
veterans who are homeless. The DMP
did address this issue, under the
heading, ‘‘Community Care/Homeless
Programs.’’ (p. 38) This section details
the numbers of emergency shelter beds
(55), transitional housing beds (1,500),
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Department of Housing and Urban
Development (HUD) Section 8
permanent housing vouchers (940), and
community residential beds for veterans
with chronic disabilities (300). In
addition, under the heading,
‘‘Domiciliary Residential Rehabilitation
and Treatment,’’ the plan describes the
existing 321-bed facility, which houses
both male and female veterans and
provides coordinated, integrated,
rehabilitative, and restorative mental
health care in a residential program. (p.
38)
Several commenters expressed
concern that plans to renovate Building
209 were not sufficient to meet the need
for homeless veterans housing. Citing a
pressing need and possible cost
efficiencies, several commenters
suggested that Buildings 205 and 208 be
renovated at the same time as building
209. The DMP states that Buildings 205,
208, and 209 have been identified for
potential renovation, to serve as housing
for homeless veterans. As stated in the
DMP, VA ‘‘* * * does not commit to
any specific project, construction
schedule, or funding priority.’’ As
projects are further evaluated and
authorized, both the needs of the
veterans and the historical and
environmental impacts of the projects
will be considered. We therefore make
no change based on this comment.
Some commenters suggested that VA
was negligent in its responsibility
towards homeless veterans, specifically
stating that VA GLAHS was remiss in
not providing shelter. In response, we
note that VA GLAHS has one of the
most recognized programs in the nation
for serving homeless veterans, called the
Comprehensive Homeless Center. The
Comprehensive Homeless Center has
many components dedicated to
providing shelter for homeless veterans
including: access to extended
residential care for veterans with serious
mental health and medical problems
through the aforementioned VA GLAHS
Domiciliary, which has 321 beds; case
management of over 1,500 veterans with
mental health issues living
independently in the community
through the HUD–VA Supported
Housing Program; case management of
approximately 300 veterans with a
diagnosis of mental illness in board and
care and assisted living facilities; sameday access to primary care, mental
health care, and housing placement at
the centralized screening clinic; and
specialty dual diagnosis housing
programs for veterans with both mental
health and substance abuse issues. In
particular, we note that VA operates a
widely recognized transitional housing
program on the WLA campus, where
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approximately 1,200 community
transitional housing beds have been
secured for homeless veterans. Veterans
in transitional housing programs stay for
3-to-18 months while receiving a range
of medical, mental health and
rehabilitative services; a high percentage
of veterans who complete this
transitional housing program move on
to independent housing.
In addition, the Comprehensive
Homeless Center helps homeless
veterans develop the skills they need to
find jobs that will keep them off the
streets. Homeless veterans are provided
access to vocational rehabilitation and
job-finding programs through private
agencies with funding provided by the
VA and the Department of Labor’s
Homeless Veterans Reintegration
Program.
The Comprehensive Homeless Center
has an active outreach program. Great
efforts are made to locate homeless
veterans at homeless congregating areas
like shelters and rescue missions.
Outreach efforts also include area jails
for incarcerated homeless veterans.
Because VA GLAHS is already
providing these extensive programs to
end homelessness among veterans, we
make no changes based on these
comments.
One commenter was concerned with
the fact that the WLA campus has a
zero-tolerance policy toward alcohol
and drug use on campus, and how that
policy affects our programs for homeless
veterans.
Substance abuse is a persistent and
recurring issue among homeless
veterans, especially those coping with
mental health problems such as PTSD.
The WLA campus is a drug- and
alcohol-free campus, and as such does
not support a ‘‘housing first’’ model of
care. The ‘‘housing first’’ approach
provides housing for individuals
regardless of whether or not they are
currently abusing drugs and/or alcohol.
This model differs from traditional
approaches that require clients to reach
a certain level of functioning through
treatment before receiving long-term
housing. In order to maintain a
substance-free campus for the benefit of
veterans undergoing treatment, VA
GLAHS partners with various offcampus organizations and agencies
throughout Greater Los Angeles to safely
house and work with veterans who fall
within the ‘‘housing first’’ criteria. We
therefore make no change based on this
comment.
Comments on Existing Land Use
Agreements
A number of commenters expressed
concerns regarding existing land use
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agreements on the WLA campus. These
commenters listed the various
agreements, and called for the
cancellation of all agreements with
‘‘* * * all commercial, non-profit,
special-interest, non-Veteran entities,’’
expressing the belief that these
agreements were a misappropriation of
veterans land. The approved Capital
Asset Realignment Enhanced Services
(CARES) plan, which included public
participation, allowed for retaining
existing Enhanced Sharing Agreements
(ESA) until their respective expiration.
It is expected that renewal of these
ESAs, as well as any new ESAs will
need to adhere to the guiding principles
and criteria set forth in the DMP, once
the DMP is finalized. Furthermore, each
of the existing agreements was executed
pursuant to and in accordance with 38
U.S.C. 8151–8153 (commonly referred
to as VA’s enhanced sharing authority).
The existing agreements benefit the
veterans’ community in some way. For
example, the ESA with the University of
California at Los Angeles (UCLA) that
covers the Jackie Robinson Memorial
Stadium provides veterans’
organizations such as the American
Legion with access to athletic facilities,
as well as providing free admission to
veterans for all home baseball games.
We also received comments regarding
the Veterans Park Conservancy (VPC)
agreement. These commenters each
brought up a misperception that the
VPC agreement will create a park for the
public and not for veterans. To clarify,
the Veterans Memorial Park exists and
is being used for the benefit of veterans,
to enhance and support patient-centered
care, recreation therapy and mental
health programs and staff. The area will
have limited public access, as does the
rest of the WLA campus. There was
concern expressed by one commenter
regarding Megan’s Law, should children
be present on the campus where
veterans who are convicted sex
offenders may reside. Again, the campus
is a place for veterans to heal, and is not
available for traditional public use. The
development of a Veterans Memorial
Park does not in any way change the
local policy on public use of the
grounds. Megan’s Law applies the same
today as it will when the VPC project is
completed.
One commenter stated that the
‘‘inclusion of the State Veterans Home
as Federal VA land in all maps’’ was not
consistent with the DMP, which states
that 13.5 acres were transferred to the
State of California via a quitclaim deed
for the use of the State Veterans Home.
The acreage in question was in fact
deeded to the State of California in
March 2007. The transfer took place
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prior to congressionally imposed
restrictions on the use of the 388 acres
composing West LA, i.e. Section 224 (a)
of the Consolidated Appropriations Act,
2008, Public Law 110–161. The section
of the DMP that covers Zone 2, the zone
that borders the State Veterans Home,
contains a map that reflects this transfer
and defines the Zone as ‘‘up to the new
California State Veterans Home.’’ The
13.5 acre area on which the State
Veterans Home is located is not
included as within the boundary of
Zone 2, as it is in fact State property.
(pg. 28)
We also received comments about the
parking lot at Barrington Park, which is
under the jurisdiction and control of,
and operated by, the City of Los
Angeles. Some commenters reported
that potentially homeless individuals
sleep in cars and other vehicles
overnight in the lot. As that parking lot
is not within VA’s jurisdiction and
control, we make no change to the DMP
due to this information.
We received one comment regarding
the Army Reserve area adjacent to the
west side of the south area of the WLA
campus. Specifically, the commenter
asked whether this area will become VA
property, should the Army Reserve no
longer have need for this area. The land
was part of an inter-agency transfer of
property to the U.S. Corps of Engineers
in 1955. VA does not have a legal
interest in the disposition of that
property. Therefore, we make no change
in the DMP due to this comment.
Comments That the DMP Lacks
Specificity
There were a number of comments
regarding the specific details of projects
and land use programs addressed in the
DMP. The DMP is a general use plan,
and is inherently not project-specific.
Commenters sought more detail on
the heights of buildings, the operating
hours of projects once completed, the
distance from proposed project sites to
residential homes, square footage of
projects, cost projections, environmental
and historical impact, and many other
project-specific details.
As stated in the plan, VA ‘‘does not
commit to any specific project,
construction schedule, or funding
priority.’’ As projects are further
evaluated and authorized, both the
needs of the veterans and the historical
and environmental impacts of the
projects will be considered. Several of
these comments were in regard to the
specific prioritization and timeline for
conversion of Buildings 205, 208 and
209.
One commenter expressed concern
that the DMP inhibited new programs
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on the WLA campus by creating a
‘‘maze of redundant processes and
unnecessary roadblocks to Veteranfriendly development.’’ The DMP
incorporates legislative decisions such
as Public Law 100–322, section 421(b)
(2), which restrict development with
respect to public-private partnerships.
VA GLAHS will abide by the guidelines
and criteria set forth in the DMP with
respect to land use opportunities that
provide direct benefit for veterans.
One commenter was concerned that
the DMP did not advance the CARES
plan, expressing that the CARES process
should have included a needs
assessment of all under-utilized and
vacant asset on the WLA campus. A
needs assessment was indeed performed
during the CARES process, during VA’s
subsequent Strategic Capital Investment
Planning (SCIP) process, and
preparation of the DMP, to identify the
assets that can be redirected to better
serve the needs of veterans. Therefore,
we make no changes based on these
comments.
Concerns That the DMP Fails To Abide
by Restrictions of the 1888 Deed
Several commenters felt that the 1888
deed granting the West Los Angeles
land formed a charitable trust that
requires VA, as trustee of the purported
trust, to maintain a National Home for
Veterans. Some of these commenters felt
that the DMP was a violation of that
purported trust by suggesting the land
be used for purposes other than housing
veterans. VA disagrees with the
assertion that the 1888 deed rendered
VA a charitable trustee for the WLA
campus. The 1888 deed contained
certain language expressing the donor’s
desire that a National Home for Veterans
(NHV) be built on the underlying
property that was donated to the United
States, which land is now under VA’s
jurisdiction and control. The donor’s
desire, while merely an expression of
purpose and intent of the donation, has
been satisfied, as a NHV was built on
the WLA campus. Notably, the NHV
still exists on the campus.
Moreover, in Farquhar v. United
States, 912 F.2d 468 (9th Cir. 1990),
descendents of the original land donors
previously challenged the ability of the
United States to transfer a portion of the
land donated under the 1888 deed. In
denying the descendants’ position, the
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth
Circuit held that the creation of the
NHV (i.e., the Pacific Branch of the
National Home for Disabled Volunteer
Soldiers) in the same year that the land
was originally deeded to the United
States, satisfied the donor’s desire (i.e.,
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purpose and intent) for donating the
land to the United States.
Based on the foregoing, we make no
change based on this comment.
Comments on Transit Services and
Traffic Issues
Several commenters weighed in on
transit services and traffic issues,
particularly regarding potential bicycle
access on the WLA campus and on the
grounds of the Los Angeles National
Cemetery. The majority of these
comments expressed a desire to include
in the DMP access that reflects
‘‘* * *the needs of the cycling
community.’’ Several commenters
expressed a desire to use the National
Cemetery as a thoroughfare for cyclists.
While we would encourage certain of
our veterans to cycle for their health, to
encourage cycling on campus and on
National Cemetery property would
almost exclusively benefit the public,
and not veterans. The additional traffic
and security concerns that would
accompany any increase in cycling
activity, combined with the fact that it
is not primarily of benefit to veterans,
makes including this kind of access for
cycling on campus undesirable;
however, as projects are further
developed and approved, this issue will
be further evaluated through VA’s
compliance with the National
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), 42
U.S.C. 4321, et seq. Therefore, we make
no changes to the DMP based on these
comments.
We also received comments seeking
more information on the proposed Los
Angeles County Metropolitan Transit
Authority (Metro) Purple Line
expansion, which eventually will travel
the length of Wilshire Boulevard to
Santa Monica. As mentioned in the
DMP, (pg. 28) the project is in the initial
planning phase and there are no details
to provide. Metro has proposed building
a station on the WLA campus as part of
this expansion project and has
identified a few locations that might
serve its needs. However, any such
station affecting the campus would be
subject to applicable law and statutory
restrictions, and must not interfere with
the VA GLAHS priority of maintaining
the peaceful and healing environment of
our health care campus.
One commenter asked if the VA
would ‘‘cooperate with the surrounding
governmental jurisdictions to complete
traffic studies and provide traffic
mitigation for the increased traffic’’ that
may result from any increased land use.
As stated in the DMP, traffic, parking,
and circulation studies will be
conducted as part of VA’s compliance
with NEPA. (pg. 18) Though the WLA
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campus is under the jurisdiction of the
Federal Government, Federal agencies
generally consider State and local
zoning laws and codes when
undertaking any new project. We
therefore make no change based on
these comments.
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Comments on the Need for Separate
Facilities for Female Veterans
One commenter expressed concern
that separate supportive housing was
not available for female veterans and
their children. To clarify, there is
dedicated housing for women veterans
as part of our Domiciliary Residential
Rehabilitation and Treatment Program
facility, located on the north campus in
Buildings 217 and 214. The program
serves male and female veterans with
mental health issues such as substance
abuse and/or combat trauma.
While there is no specific on-campus
housing for female veterans with
children, VA GLAHS has an extensive
network of off-campus providers who
meet this need through HUD–VA
Supported Housing and Grant and Per
Diem programs throughout Los Angeles
County and neighboring counties. VA
GLAHS’s Comprehensive Homeless
Center also includes a dedicated
outreach team for homeless female
veterans. VA GLAHS has adequate
programs in place to meet the housing
needs of women veterans with children.
A commenter stated that there was a
need for a separate facility dedicated to
the general healthcare needs of female
veterans. The VA GLAHS’s Women
Veterans Health Program has dedicated
clinicians, programs and facilities to
meet the unique needs of female
veterans in a safe, women-only
environment. Services offered include
gynecology services, breast exams and
mammography, reproductive health
care, and menopause treatment.
Additionally, mental health services
including treatment for post-traumatic
stress disorder and substance abuse are
also available for women. Through the
Women Veterans Health Program, VA
GLAHS provides female veterans the
health care and mental health services
they need in a safe and supportive,
women-only environment. We therefore
make no change based on this comment.
Comments on the National Cemetery
Administration Columbarium Project
There were several comments seeking
clarification regarding the National
Cemetery Administration’s
columbarium project. The U.S.
Department of Veterans Affairs is
comprised of three administrations: the
Veterans Health Administration, the
Veterans Benefits Administration, and
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the National Cemetery Administration.
The columbarium enables VA to
support the provision of Federally
guaranteed benefits offered by the
Veterans Benefits Administration and
the National Cemetery Administration.
One commenter expressed dismay that
the project would lower surrounding
real estate values. Another commenter
felt that the columbarium project was
depriving living veterans of land that
might be converted to housing for the
homeless. Again, the burial benefits
offered veterans are entitlements
provided by the Federal Government.
The land designated for columbaria
does not contain any structures that
have been identified as potential
homeless housing, so the use of the land
for columbaria does not in any way
deprive homeless veterans of potential
living space. As projects such as the
columbarium are further evaluated and
authorized, both the needs of the
veterans and the historical,
environmental, and socio-economical
impacts of the projects will be
considered.
Some commenters wanted to know
the exact location of the columbarium.
Regarding requests for specific details
regarding the size, hours of operation,
and access points for this potential
project that is only a concept at this
stage, VA has not finalized details
beyond the information that was
contained in the DMP. The NEPA
process is complete. The draft
Environmental Assessment was released
for public comment with none received.
The resultant Finding of No Significant
Impact was signed on February 2, 2011.
We make no change to the DMP due to
these comments.
Comments About Including the Public
in the Planning Process
Several commenters expressed
concerns that the public was not being
afforded adequate time to offer input on
the DMP during the public comment
process. The Federal Register process in
which VA GLAHS engaged to obtain
comments from veterans and the public
is the most public and transparent
process available for including veterans
and the public in the development of
this DMP. Additionally, the DMP that
was published on January 19, 2011,
fully incorporates the approved CARES
plan, which included a series of public
hearings and meetings as part of its
approval process. The DMP is also
consistent with the recently released
SCIP. Finally, VA GLAHS has ongoing
meetings with Veteran Service
Organizations, community groups, and
other local stakeholders, at which
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recurring updates on land use at the
WLA campus are provided.
Several commenters suggested that a
new DMP be created. We have reviewed
these comments, and while we respect
the opinions of the individual
commenters, VA is of the position that
this DMP, once finalized, will address
the mandate and meet the criteria to be
submitted and serve as a final Master
Plan for the WLA campus. Therefore,
we make no changes based on these
comments. As projects outlined in the
Master Plan are further evaluated and
authorized, both the needs of the
veterans and the historical,
environmental, and socio-economical
impacts of the projects will be
considered. Details of these projects will
be developed and released to the public
for comment through VA’s compliance
with NEPA.
Comments That the DMP Serves the
Needs of the Community Over Those of
Veterans
There were several comments to the
effect that the DMP serves the needs of
outside interests over those of veterans.
Particularly, these comments referenced
a misperception that the agreement with
Veterans Park Conservancy would result
in the development of a ‘‘public park.’’
This DMP provides for land use and
reuse for the direct benefit of veterans,
and puts in place guidelines and criteria
that will assure the land is used to
support the mission of offering the
highest quality health care, research,
education and disaster response to serve
the needs of veterans and the
community. The 10 Guiding Principles
of the DMP clearly state the criteria that
VA GLAHS will use in considering any
land use or reuse, (p. 24) and none of
these 10 principles reflects serving the
community as a priority. While the
WLA campus does exist within a
community and VA GLAHS is proud to
be a part of encouraging healthy
communities, serving the needs of the
community never takes precedence over
serving the needs of the veterans.
Therefore, we make no change based on
these comments.
Comments That the DMP Does Not
Address Therapeutic Recreation Areas
for Veterans
We received several comments
regarding recreation for Veterans on
campus. Specifically, these commenters
wanted to see the development of more
outdoor sports facilities for veterans,
such as a fitness center and tennis
courts, etc.
The DMP addressed both planned
recreation areas for veterans and green
space where veterans can engage in
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therapeutic outside activities. A fitness
and recreation area, completed in 2010,
is located adjacent to the west side of
Building 500. It includes machines and
stations where veterans can work out at
their own pace, as well as a padded
surface for a safe area for less
ambulatory veterans to get exercise. It is
open every day from dawn until dusk.
Regarding outside recreation
activities, VA GLAHS continues the
long tradition of having a golf course on
campus for veterans. The course,
operated by United States Veterans
Initiative (U.S. Vets), is open from sunup to sun-down 7 days a week, and
Veteran residents and inpatients receive
first priority for play. The Veteran
community has second priority, finally
followed by the general public as space
is available. VA also has beneficial use
of the athletic facilities at the
Brentwood School and MacArthur Field
as part of the land use agreements for
those spaces.
A planned future recreational and
therapeutic area for veterans is provided
for under the agreement with Veterans
Park Conservancy. The development of
a Veterans Memorial Park will be
designed in coordination with VA
patient-centered care, recreation therapy
and mental health programs and staff.
An initial phase of the project, the
historic Rose Garden, will be completed
in fall of 2011. This area, located just
across the street from the Domiciliary,
will include meditative gardens, tables
for chess and checkers, and soothing
fountains, making it a space ideal for
both for recreational and therapeutic
use. Also on the north campus is the
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15:02 Jun 22, 2011
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Japanese Garden, a peaceful
environment with lush plants,
waterfalls, and Koi fish for veterans to
enjoy. Finally, on the south campus,
adjacent to the American Red Cross
facility, there are walking trails,
succulent gardens and colorful native
plants for veterans, as well as loved
ones staying in the Fisher House, to
enjoy year-round.
The agreement with UCLA for the
Jackie Robinson Stadium includes free
admission to home baseball games for
veterans.
Physical Therapy and Recreation
Therapy programs also exist to provide
veterans with unique recreation
experiences in a safe and supportive
environment. Through these programs,
veterans are able to participate in skiing,
surfing, and compete in the Golden Age
Games each year.
We believe that the DMP adequately
addressed therapeutic recreation
opportunities for veterans. Therefore,
we make no changes based on these
comments; however, as projects are
further evaluated and authorized,
opportunities to provide additional
recreational areas to veterans may be
considered as part of VA’s compliance
with NEPA.
Comments Regarding the Legality of
Sharing Agreements
Two commenters challenged VA’s
authority to use ESAs as a contracting
vehicle for land use programs on the
WLA campus. ESAs are legally
authorized under 38 U.S.C. 8153, a
Federal statute that deals with VA land
sharing agreements. All existing
PO 00000
Frm 00064
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 9990
36959
agreements have been legally reviewed
and approved at local and national
levels, and all future agreements will
follow the same approval process.
Therefore, we make no changes based
on these comments.
Conclusion
For the foregoing reasons, we adopt
the DMP without change as the Master
Plan for the West Los Angeles VA
Medical Center. The Master Plan is
available at https://
www.losangeles.va.gov/. The Master
Plan conforms to the relevant laws in
effect on the date of publication. A
change in law, such as the
Administration’s proposed Civilian
Property Realignment Act, could impact
this property. If these laws change, VA
will update the Master Plan accordingly.
Signing Authority
The Secretary of Veterans Affairs, or
designee, approved this document and
authorized the undersigned to sign and
submit the document to the Office of the
Federal Register for publication
electronically as an official document of
the Department of Veterans Affairs. John
R. Gingrich, Chief of Staff, Department
of Veterans Affairs, approved this
document on May 19, 2011, for
publication.
William F. Russo,
Deputy Director, Office of Regulation Policy
and Management, Office of the General
Counsel, Department of Veterans Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2011–15739 Filed 6–22–11; 8:45 am]
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E:\FR\FM\23JNN1.SGM
23JNN1
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 121 (Thursday, June 23, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 36955-36959]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-15739]
=======================================================================
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DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS
West Los Angeles VA Medical Center Veterans Programs Enhancement
Act of 1998; Master Plan
AGENCY: Department of Veterans Affairs.
ACTION: Final Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: On January 19, 2011, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
published a notice in the Federal Register inviting public comment on
the Draft Master Plan (DMP) for the West Los Angeles VA Medical Center.
This document responds to the public comments received and affirms as
final, with no changes, that Draft Master Plan.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For Master Plan issues, contact Ralph
Tillman, Chief of Communications and External Affairs, Greater Los
Angeles Healthcare System (00PA), Department of Veterans Affairs, 11301
Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90073. Telephone: (310) 268-3340
(this is not a toll-free number).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In a notice published on January 19, 2011
[76 FR 3209], VA presented its Draft Master Plan for the West Los
Angeles VA Medical Center campus (hereafter ``WLA campus'') of the VA
Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System (VA GLAHS), and solicited public
comment on the DMP for a period of 30 days. The purpose of the DMP was
to satisfy the legislative mandate of the Veterans Programs Enhancement
Act of 1998 regarding ``a master plan for the use of the lands * * *
over the next 25 years and over the next 50 years.'' This is a land use
plan that guides the physical development of the campus to support its
mission of patient care, teaching, and research. The plan reflects
legislative restrictions on the property and discusses developmental
goals and design objectives for the campus. The plan includes
guidelines and criteria for land use and reuse on the campus, which
provides a variety of services including inpatient and outpatient
medical care, rehabilitation, residential care, mental health care and
long-term care services. In addition, the campus serves as a center for
medical research and education.
We received 29 comments on the DMP. All of the comments opposed at
least one portion of the DMP. The majority of comments included one or
more of the following topics: homeless housing for veterans on the WLA
campus, existing land use, bicycle access within or through the campus,
and the plan's level of detail regarding specific projects. The subject
matter of most of the comments can be grouped into several categories,
and we have organized our discussion of the comments accordingly.
Comments Concerning Homeless Housing
There were a number of comments regarding how the DMP addressed
homeless housing for veterans, particularly permanent housing on the
grounds of the WLA campus. A single commenter expressed concern that
increasing services to homeless veterans would negatively impact the
surrounding community, stating that the VA already attracts ``homeless
pedestrians'' who ``offend customers by requesting donations.'' The
eradication of homelessness among veterans has been deemed a priority
mission by Secretary Shinseki, and it is only in pursuing that mission
that vagrancy problems are likely to be eliminated. We therefore make
no change based on this comment.
The majority of commenters believed the DMP should address the
increased need for housing and services by veterans who are homeless.
The DMP did address this issue, under the heading, ``Community Care/
Homeless Programs.'' (p. 38) This section details the numbers of
emergency shelter beds (55), transitional housing beds (1,500),
[[Page 36956]]
Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Section 8 permanent
housing vouchers (940), and community residential beds for veterans
with chronic disabilities (300). In addition, under the heading,
``Domiciliary Residential Rehabilitation and Treatment,'' the plan
describes the existing 321-bed facility, which houses both male and
female veterans and provides coordinated, integrated, rehabilitative,
and restorative mental health care in a residential program. (p. 38)
Several commenters expressed concern that plans to renovate
Building 209 were not sufficient to meet the need for homeless veterans
housing. Citing a pressing need and possible cost efficiencies, several
commenters suggested that Buildings 205 and 208 be renovated at the
same time as building 209. The DMP states that Buildings 205, 208, and
209 have been identified for potential renovation, to serve as housing
for homeless veterans. As stated in the DMP, VA ``* * * does not commit
to any specific project, construction schedule, or funding priority.''
As projects are further evaluated and authorized, both the needs of the
veterans and the historical and environmental impacts of the projects
will be considered. We therefore make no change based on this comment.
Some commenters suggested that VA was negligent in its
responsibility towards homeless veterans, specifically stating that VA
GLAHS was remiss in not providing shelter. In response, we note that VA
GLAHS has one of the most recognized programs in the nation for serving
homeless veterans, called the Comprehensive Homeless Center. The
Comprehensive Homeless Center has many components dedicated to
providing shelter for homeless veterans including: access to extended
residential care for veterans with serious mental health and medical
problems through the aforementioned VA GLAHS Domiciliary, which has 321
beds; case management of over 1,500 veterans with mental health issues
living independently in the community through the HUD-VA Supported
Housing Program; case management of approximately 300 veterans with a
diagnosis of mental illness in board and care and assisted living
facilities; same-day access to primary care, mental health care, and
housing placement at the centralized screening clinic; and specialty
dual diagnosis housing programs for veterans with both mental health
and substance abuse issues. In particular, we note that VA operates a
widely recognized transitional housing program on the WLA campus, where
approximately 1,200 community transitional housing beds have been
secured for homeless veterans. Veterans in transitional housing
programs stay for 3-to-18 months while receiving a range of medical,
mental health and rehabilitative services; a high percentage of
veterans who complete this transitional housing program move on to
independent housing.
In addition, the Comprehensive Homeless Center helps homeless
veterans develop the skills they need to find jobs that will keep them
off the streets. Homeless veterans are provided access to vocational
rehabilitation and job-finding programs through private agencies with
funding provided by the VA and the Department of Labor's Homeless
Veterans Reintegration Program.
The Comprehensive Homeless Center has an active outreach program.
Great efforts are made to locate homeless veterans at homeless
congregating areas like shelters and rescue missions. Outreach efforts
also include area jails for incarcerated homeless veterans.
Because VA GLAHS is already providing these extensive programs to
end homelessness among veterans, we make no changes based on these
comments.
One commenter was concerned with the fact that the WLA campus has a
zero-tolerance policy toward alcohol and drug use on campus, and how
that policy affects our programs for homeless veterans.
Substance abuse is a persistent and recurring issue among homeless
veterans, especially those coping with mental health problems such as
PTSD. The WLA campus is a drug- and alcohol-free campus, and as such
does not support a ``housing first'' model of care. The ``housing
first'' approach provides housing for individuals regardless of whether
or not they are currently abusing drugs and/or alcohol. This model
differs from traditional approaches that require clients to reach a
certain level of functioning through treatment before receiving long-
term housing. In order to maintain a substance-free campus for the
benefit of veterans undergoing treatment, VA GLAHS partners with
various off-campus organizations and agencies throughout Greater Los
Angeles to safely house and work with veterans who fall within the
``housing first'' criteria. We therefore make no change based on this
comment.
Comments on Existing Land Use Agreements
A number of commenters expressed concerns regarding existing land
use agreements on the WLA campus. These commenters listed the various
agreements, and called for the cancellation of all agreements with ``*
* * all commercial, non-profit, special-interest, non-Veteran
entities,'' expressing the belief that these agreements were a
misappropriation of veterans land. The approved Capital Asset
Realignment Enhanced Services (CARES) plan, which included public
participation, allowed for retaining existing Enhanced Sharing
Agreements (ESA) until their respective expiration. It is expected that
renewal of these ESAs, as well as any new ESAs will need to adhere to
the guiding principles and criteria set forth in the DMP, once the DMP
is finalized. Furthermore, each of the existing agreements was executed
pursuant to and in accordance with 38 U.S.C. 8151-8153 (commonly
referred to as VA's enhanced sharing authority). The existing
agreements benefit the veterans' community in some way. For example,
the ESA with the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) that
covers the Jackie Robinson Memorial Stadium provides veterans'
organizations such as the American Legion with access to athletic
facilities, as well as providing free admission to veterans for all
home baseball games.
We also received comments regarding the Veterans Park Conservancy
(VPC) agreement. These commenters each brought up a misperception that
the VPC agreement will create a park for the public and not for
veterans. To clarify, the Veterans Memorial Park exists and is being
used for the benefit of veterans, to enhance and support patient-
centered care, recreation therapy and mental health programs and staff.
The area will have limited public access, as does the rest of the WLA
campus. There was concern expressed by one commenter regarding Megan's
Law, should children be present on the campus where veterans who are
convicted sex offenders may reside. Again, the campus is a place for
veterans to heal, and is not available for traditional public use. The
development of a Veterans Memorial Park does not in any way change the
local policy on public use of the grounds. Megan's Law applies the same
today as it will when the VPC project is completed.
One commenter stated that the ``inclusion of the State Veterans
Home as Federal VA land in all maps'' was not consistent with the DMP,
which states that 13.5 acres were transferred to the State of
California via a quitclaim deed for the use of the State Veterans Home.
The acreage in question was in fact deeded to the State of California
in March 2007. The transfer took place
[[Page 36957]]
prior to congressionally imposed restrictions on the use of the 388
acres composing West LA, i.e. Section 224 (a) of the Consolidated
Appropriations Act, 2008, Public Law 110-161. The section of the DMP
that covers Zone 2, the zone that borders the State Veterans Home,
contains a map that reflects this transfer and defines the Zone as ``up
to the new California State Veterans Home.'' The 13.5 acre area on
which the State Veterans Home is located is not included as within the
boundary of Zone 2, as it is in fact State property. (pg. 28)
We also received comments about the parking lot at Barrington Park,
which is under the jurisdiction and control of, and operated by, the
City of Los Angeles. Some commenters reported that potentially homeless
individuals sleep in cars and other vehicles overnight in the lot. As
that parking lot is not within VA's jurisdiction and control, we make
no change to the DMP due to this information.
We received one comment regarding the Army Reserve area adjacent to
the west side of the south area of the WLA campus. Specifically, the
commenter asked whether this area will become VA property, should the
Army Reserve no longer have need for this area. The land was part of an
inter-agency transfer of property to the U.S. Corps of Engineers in
1955. VA does not have a legal interest in the disposition of that
property. Therefore, we make no change in the DMP due to this comment.
Comments That the DMP Lacks Specificity
There were a number of comments regarding the specific details of
projects and land use programs addressed in the DMP. The DMP is a
general use plan, and is inherently not project-specific.
Commenters sought more detail on the heights of buildings, the
operating hours of projects once completed, the distance from proposed
project sites to residential homes, square footage of projects, cost
projections, environmental and historical impact, and many other
project-specific details.
As stated in the plan, VA ``does not commit to any specific
project, construction schedule, or funding priority.'' As projects are
further evaluated and authorized, both the needs of the veterans and
the historical and environmental impacts of the projects will be
considered. Several of these comments were in regard to the specific
prioritization and timeline for conversion of Buildings 205, 208 and
209.
One commenter expressed concern that the DMP inhibited new programs
on the WLA campus by creating a ``maze of redundant processes and
unnecessary roadblocks to Veteran-friendly development.'' The DMP
incorporates legislative decisions such as Public Law 100-322, section
421(b) (2), which restrict development with respect to public-private
partnerships. VA GLAHS will abide by the guidelines and criteria set
forth in the DMP with respect to land use opportunities that provide
direct benefit for veterans.
One commenter was concerned that the DMP did not advance the CARES
plan, expressing that the CARES process should have included a needs
assessment of all under-utilized and vacant asset on the WLA campus. A
needs assessment was indeed performed during the CARES process, during
VA's subsequent Strategic Capital Investment Planning (SCIP) process,
and preparation of the DMP, to identify the assets that can be
redirected to better serve the needs of veterans. Therefore, we make no
changes based on these comments.
Concerns That the DMP Fails To Abide by Restrictions of the 1888 Deed
Several commenters felt that the 1888 deed granting the West Los
Angeles land formed a charitable trust that requires VA, as trustee of
the purported trust, to maintain a National Home for Veterans. Some of
these commenters felt that the DMP was a violation of that purported
trust by suggesting the land be used for purposes other than housing
veterans. VA disagrees with the assertion that the 1888 deed rendered
VA a charitable trustee for the WLA campus. The 1888 deed contained
certain language expressing the donor's desire that a National Home for
Veterans (NHV) be built on the underlying property that was donated to
the United States, which land is now under VA's jurisdiction and
control. The donor's desire, while merely an expression of purpose and
intent of the donation, has been satisfied, as a NHV was built on the
WLA campus. Notably, the NHV still exists on the campus.
Moreover, in Farquhar v. United States, 912 F.2d 468 (9th Cir.
1990), descendents of the original land donors previously challenged
the ability of the United States to transfer a portion of the land
donated under the 1888 deed. In denying the descendants' position, the
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit held that the creation of
the NHV (i.e., the Pacific Branch of the National Home for Disabled
Volunteer Soldiers) in the same year that the land was originally
deeded to the United States, satisfied the donor's desire (i.e.,
purpose and intent) for donating the land to the United States.
Based on the foregoing, we make no change based on this comment.
Comments on Transit Services and Traffic Issues
Several commenters weighed in on transit services and traffic
issues, particularly regarding potential bicycle access on the WLA
campus and on the grounds of the Los Angeles National Cemetery. The
majority of these comments expressed a desire to include in the DMP
access that reflects ``* * *the needs of the cycling community.''
Several commenters expressed a desire to use the National Cemetery as a
thoroughfare for cyclists. While we would encourage certain of our
veterans to cycle for their health, to encourage cycling on campus and
on National Cemetery property would almost exclusively benefit the
public, and not veterans. The additional traffic and security concerns
that would accompany any increase in cycling activity, combined with
the fact that it is not primarily of benefit to veterans, makes
including this kind of access for cycling on campus undesirable;
however, as projects are further developed and approved, this issue
will be further evaluated through VA's compliance with the National
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), 42 U.S.C. 4321, et seq. Therefore, we
make no changes to the DMP based on these comments.
We also received comments seeking more information on the proposed
Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transit Authority (Metro) Purple Line
expansion, which eventually will travel the length of Wilshire
Boulevard to Santa Monica. As mentioned in the DMP, (pg. 28) the
project is in the initial planning phase and there are no details to
provide. Metro has proposed building a station on the WLA campus as
part of this expansion project and has identified a few locations that
might serve its needs. However, any such station affecting the campus
would be subject to applicable law and statutory restrictions, and must
not interfere with the VA GLAHS priority of maintaining the peaceful
and healing environment of our health care campus.
One commenter asked if the VA would ``cooperate with the
surrounding governmental jurisdictions to complete traffic studies and
provide traffic mitigation for the increased traffic'' that may result
from any increased land use. As stated in the DMP, traffic, parking,
and circulation studies will be conducted as part of VA's compliance
with NEPA. (pg. 18) Though the WLA
[[Page 36958]]
campus is under the jurisdiction of the Federal Government, Federal
agencies generally consider State and local zoning laws and codes when
undertaking any new project. We therefore make no change based on these
comments.
Comments on the Need for Separate Facilities for Female Veterans
One commenter expressed concern that separate supportive housing
was not available for female veterans and their children. To clarify,
there is dedicated housing for women veterans as part of our
Domiciliary Residential Rehabilitation and Treatment Program facility,
located on the north campus in Buildings 217 and 214. The program
serves male and female veterans with mental health issues such as
substance abuse and/or combat trauma.
While there is no specific on-campus housing for female veterans
with children, VA GLAHS has an extensive network of off-campus
providers who meet this need through HUD-VA Supported Housing and Grant
and Per Diem programs throughout Los Angeles County and neighboring
counties. VA GLAHS's Comprehensive Homeless Center also includes a
dedicated outreach team for homeless female veterans. VA GLAHS has
adequate programs in place to meet the housing needs of women veterans
with children.
A commenter stated that there was a need for a separate facility
dedicated to the general healthcare needs of female veterans. The VA
GLAHS's Women Veterans Health Program has dedicated clinicians,
programs and facilities to meet the unique needs of female veterans in
a safe, women-only environment. Services offered include gynecology
services, breast exams and mammography, reproductive health care, and
menopause treatment. Additionally, mental health services including
treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder and substance abuse are
also available for women. Through the Women Veterans Health Program, VA
GLAHS provides female veterans the health care and mental health
services they need in a safe and supportive, women-only environment. We
therefore make no change based on this comment.
Comments on the National Cemetery Administration Columbarium Project
There were several comments seeking clarification regarding the
National Cemetery Administration's columbarium project. The U.S.
Department of Veterans Affairs is comprised of three administrations:
the Veterans Health Administration, the Veterans Benefits
Administration, and the National Cemetery Administration. The
columbarium enables VA to support the provision of Federally guaranteed
benefits offered by the Veterans Benefits Administration and the
National Cemetery Administration. One commenter expressed dismay that
the project would lower surrounding real estate values. Another
commenter felt that the columbarium project was depriving living
veterans of land that might be converted to housing for the homeless.
Again, the burial benefits offered veterans are entitlements provided
by the Federal Government. The land designated for columbaria does not
contain any structures that have been identified as potential homeless
housing, so the use of the land for columbaria does not in any way
deprive homeless veterans of potential living space. As projects such
as the columbarium are further evaluated and authorized, both the needs
of the veterans and the historical, environmental, and socio-economical
impacts of the projects will be considered.
Some commenters wanted to know the exact location of the
columbarium. Regarding requests for specific details regarding the
size, hours of operation, and access points for this potential project
that is only a concept at this stage, VA has not finalized details
beyond the information that was contained in the DMP. The NEPA process
is complete. The draft Environmental Assessment was released for public
comment with none received. The resultant Finding of No Significant
Impact was signed on February 2, 2011. We make no change to the DMP due
to these comments.
Comments About Including the Public in the Planning Process
Several commenters expressed concerns that the public was not being
afforded adequate time to offer input on the DMP during the public
comment process. The Federal Register process in which VA GLAHS engaged
to obtain comments from veterans and the public is the most public and
transparent process available for including veterans and the public in
the development of this DMP. Additionally, the DMP that was published
on January 19, 2011, fully incorporates the approved CARES plan, which
included a series of public hearings and meetings as part of its
approval process. The DMP is also consistent with the recently released
SCIP. Finally, VA GLAHS has ongoing meetings with Veteran Service
Organizations, community groups, and other local stakeholders, at which
recurring updates on land use at the WLA campus are provided.
Several commenters suggested that a new DMP be created. We have
reviewed these comments, and while we respect the opinions of the
individual commenters, VA is of the position that this DMP, once
finalized, will address the mandate and meet the criteria to be
submitted and serve as a final Master Plan for the WLA campus.
Therefore, we make no changes based on these comments. As projects
outlined in the Master Plan are further evaluated and authorized, both
the needs of the veterans and the historical, environmental, and socio-
economical impacts of the projects will be considered. Details of these
projects will be developed and released to the public for comment
through VA's compliance with NEPA.
Comments That the DMP Serves the Needs of the Community Over Those of
Veterans
There were several comments to the effect that the DMP serves the
needs of outside interests over those of veterans. Particularly, these
comments referenced a misperception that the agreement with Veterans
Park Conservancy would result in the development of a ``public park.''
This DMP provides for land use and reuse for the direct benefit of
veterans, and puts in place guidelines and criteria that will assure
the land is used to support the mission of offering the highest quality
health care, research, education and disaster response to serve the
needs of veterans and the community. The 10 Guiding Principles of the
DMP clearly state the criteria that VA GLAHS will use in considering
any land use or reuse, (p. 24) and none of these 10 principles reflects
serving the community as a priority. While the WLA campus does exist
within a community and VA GLAHS is proud to be a part of encouraging
healthy communities, serving the needs of the community never takes
precedence over serving the needs of the veterans. Therefore, we make
no change based on these comments.
Comments That the DMP Does Not Address Therapeutic Recreation Areas for
Veterans
We received several comments regarding recreation for Veterans on
campus. Specifically, these commenters wanted to see the development of
more outdoor sports facilities for veterans, such as a fitness center
and tennis courts, etc.
The DMP addressed both planned recreation areas for veterans and
green space where veterans can engage in
[[Page 36959]]
therapeutic outside activities. A fitness and recreation area,
completed in 2010, is located adjacent to the west side of Building
500. It includes machines and stations where veterans can work out at
their own pace, as well as a padded surface for a safe area for less
ambulatory veterans to get exercise. It is open every day from dawn
until dusk.
Regarding outside recreation activities, VA GLAHS continues the
long tradition of having a golf course on campus for veterans. The
course, operated by United States Veterans Initiative (U.S. Vets), is
open from sun-up to sun-down 7 days a week, and Veteran residents and
inpatients receive first priority for play. The Veteran community has
second priority, finally followed by the general public as space is
available. VA also has beneficial use of the athletic facilities at the
Brentwood School and MacArthur Field as part of the land use agreements
for those spaces.
A planned future recreational and therapeutic area for veterans is
provided for under the agreement with Veterans Park Conservancy. The
development of a Veterans Memorial Park will be designed in
coordination with VA patient-centered care, recreation therapy and
mental health programs and staff. An initial phase of the project, the
historic Rose Garden, will be completed in fall of 2011. This area,
located just across the street from the Domiciliary, will include
meditative gardens, tables for chess and checkers, and soothing
fountains, making it a space ideal for both for recreational and
therapeutic use. Also on the north campus is the Japanese Garden, a
peaceful environment with lush plants, waterfalls, and Koi fish for
veterans to enjoy. Finally, on the south campus, adjacent to the
American Red Cross facility, there are walking trails, succulent
gardens and colorful native plants for veterans, as well as loved ones
staying in the Fisher House, to enjoy year-round.
The agreement with UCLA for the Jackie Robinson Stadium includes
free admission to home baseball games for veterans.
Physical Therapy and Recreation Therapy programs also exist to
provide veterans with unique recreation experiences in a safe and
supportive environment. Through these programs, veterans are able to
participate in skiing, surfing, and compete in the Golden Age Games
each year.
We believe that the DMP adequately addressed therapeutic recreation
opportunities for veterans. Therefore, we make no changes based on
these comments; however, as projects are further evaluated and
authorized, opportunities to provide additional recreational areas to
veterans may be considered as part of VA's compliance with NEPA.
Comments Regarding the Legality of Sharing Agreements
Two commenters challenged VA's authority to use ESAs as a
contracting vehicle for land use programs on the WLA campus. ESAs are
legally authorized under 38 U.S.C. 8153, a Federal statute that deals
with VA land sharing agreements. All existing agreements have been
legally reviewed and approved at local and national levels, and all
future agreements will follow the same approval process. Therefore, we
make no changes based on these comments.
Conclusion
For the foregoing reasons, we adopt the DMP without change as the
Master Plan for the West Los Angeles VA Medical Center. The Master Plan
is available at https://www.losangeles.va.gov/. The Master Plan conforms
to the relevant laws in effect on the date of publication. A change in
law, such as the Administration's proposed Civilian Property
Realignment Act, could impact this property. If these laws change, VA
will update the Master Plan accordingly.
Signing Authority
The Secretary of Veterans Affairs, or designee, approved this
document and authorized the undersigned to sign and submit the document
to the Office of the Federal Register for publication electronically as
an official document of the Department of Veterans Affairs. John R.
Gingrich, Chief of Staff, Department of Veterans Affairs, approved this
document on May 19, 2011, for publication.
William F. Russo,
Deputy Director, Office of Regulation Policy and Management, Office of
the General Counsel, Department of Veterans Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2011-15739 Filed 6-22-11; 8:45 am]
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