Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Foreign Affairs Security Training Center (FASTC) and To Announce Public Scoping Meetings, 61360 [2011-25458]

Agencies

• General Services Administration

[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 192 (Tuesday, October 4, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Page 61360]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-25458]


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GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION

[Notice-R03-2011-01; Docket 2011-0006; Sequence 18]


Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for 
the Foreign Affairs Security Training Center (FASTC) and To Announce 
Public Scoping Meetings

AGENCY: U.S. General Services Administration (GSA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 
1969, as implemented by the Council on Environmental Quality 
regulations (40 Code of Federal Regulations [CFR] parts 1500-1508), the 
GSA announces its intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement 
(EIS) to analyze and assess the environmental impacts of site 
acquisition and development of the United States Department of State 
(DOS), Bureau of Diplomatic Security, the Foreign Affairs Security 
Training Center (FASTC) at the Virginia Army National Guard's Maneuver 
Training Center at Fort Pickett and Pickett Park in Nottoway County, 
Virginia. DOS, United States Army Corps of Engineers, United States 
Environmental Protection Agency and National Guard Bureau are 
cooperating agencies in this EIS.

DATES: A public scoping meeting in open house format will be held on 
October 18, 2011 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. to provide the public with 
an opportunity to provide comments, ask questions, and discuss concerns 
regarding the scope of the EIS with GSA and DOS representatives.

ADDRESSES: GSA will hold a public scoping meeting at the Blackstone 
Armory, 1008 Darvills Rd., Blackstone, VA 23824 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 
p.m.
    Written comments concerning the scope of the EIS may be mailed to 
Abigail Low, GSA Project Manager, 20 N 8th Street, Philadelphia, PA 
19107, via e-mail to FASTC.info@gsa.gov">FASTC.info@gsa.gov. More detailed information on 
the FASTC program is available at https://www.state.gov/recovery/fastc.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Abigail Low, GSA Project Manager; 20 N 
8th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107 (215) 446-4815, FASTC.info@gsa.gov">FASTC.info@gsa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Background: The purpose of the proposed FASTC at Fort Pickett is to 
consolidate existing dispersed training functions into a single 
suitable location to improve training efficiency and enhance training 
operations. The proposed FASTC is needed to establish a facility from 
which DOS Bureau of Diplomatic Security may conduct a wide array of law 
enforcement and security training to meet the increased demand for well 
trained personnel.
    The proposed FASTC is expected to train 8,000-10,000 students per 
year and include both hard skills training, such as driving tracks, 
firing ranges, mock urban environmental, and explosives ranges; soft 
skills training, such as classrooms, simulation labs, and a fitness 
center; and support facilities such as administrative offices, 
dormitories, a dining hall, and emergency response facilities.
    During the initial planning process, GSA conducted a comprehensive 
site evaluation process that identified and evaluated 41 candidate 
sites in the vicinity of the Washington, DC area. GSA identified land 
at Fort Pickett and Pickett Park in Nottoway County, Virginia, as the 
only potentially suitable location for the proposed FASTC facility.
    GSA is focusing the proposed development of the FASTC on two 
adjacent available parcels, an approximately 750 acre Fort Pickett 
Local Reuse Authority (LRA) parcel 9 owned by Nottoway County, and an 
approximately 900 acre Virginia Army National Guard parcel referred to 
as Maneuver Area 21/20. The proposed project would be constructed in 
phases.
    Possible action alternatives that will be evaluated in the EIS are 
alternative layouts for construction of facilities for hard skills 
training, soft skills training, life support and infrastructure on the 
LRA parcel 9 and 21/20 parcels at Fort Pickett. A ``No Action 
Alternative'', in which DOS would continue their training programs as 
currently conducted without constructing FASTC, will also be evaluated.
    Resource areas to be addressed in the FASTC EIS will include, but 
not be limited to: air quality, noise, land use, socioeconomics, 
traffic, infrastructure and community services, natural resources, 
biological resources, cultural resources and safety and environmental 
hazards. The analysis will evaluate direct, indirect and cumulative 
impacts. Relevant and reasonable measures that could avoid or mitigate 
environmental effects will also be analyzed. Additionally, GSA will 
undertake any consultations required by applicable laws or regulations, 
including the National Historic Preservation Act.
    This notice announces the initiation of the scoping process to 
identify community concerns and issues that should be addressed in the 
FASTC EIS. Federal, state, local agency representatives and interested 
parties or persons are encouraged to provide comments on the proposed 
action during the 30-day scoping period October 4, 2011 though November 
3, 2011. These comments should clearly describe specific issues or 
topics of environmental concern that the commenter believes GSA should 
consider.
    No decision will be made to implement any alternative until the 
NEPA process is completed and a Record of Decision is signed.

    Dated: September 22, 2011.
Leonard Purzycki,
Director, Facilities Management & Services Programs, U.S. GSA, Mid-
Atlantic Region.
[FR Doc. 2011-25458 Filed 10-3-11; 8:45 am]
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