Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Disposition of the Bannister Federal Complex, Kansas City, MO, and Notice of Wetlands Involvement, 3259-3261 [2012-1207]
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Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 14 / Monday, January 23, 2012 / Notices
TKELLEY on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
Fabrication Facility (TSFF), and both of
these facilities were scheduled to
continue operations past the year 2007.
These two research facilities were
identified as being needed for the
national security mission and there
were no formal plans to relocate them
at that time. However, NNSA has
subsequently discontinued both the
TSTA and TSFF operations within TA–
21. The TSFF tritium operations have
been relocated away from LANL, and all
other remaining TA–21 operations have
been moved to existing facilities within
LANL. All of the TA–21 buildings and
structures are now undergoing or have
undergone complete decommissioning,
decontamination, and demolition. Total
site environmental remediation of TA–
21 will be undertaken, and is currently
scheduled for completion over the next
decade.
In the near term, NNSA has
determined that the remaining portion
of the Airport Tract situated along State
Road 502 on the Townsite Mesa top
(about 55 acres) that had been retained
to serve as a health and safety buffer for
the TA–21 operations nearby is no
longer required for that purpose. This
partial tract can now be conveyed.
NNSA has also determined that it will
convey the remaining portion of the
TA–21 Tract (about 245 acres) situated
along DP Road on the DP Mesa top and
east into the DP canyon area, as this
previously retained portion of the Tract
is no longer required for LANL
operations. This 245-acre portion of the
TA–21 Tract can now be conveyed on
a partial-tract-by-partial-tract basis as
soon as environmental restoration and
remediation actions are completed.
Amended Decisions
NNSA is modifying its decisions on
conveyance and transfer of certain land
tracts at LANL based upon the
conditions to transfer properties as
outlined in the Act.
• The Airport Tract, originally
consisting of about 205 acres (83
hectares), is located east of the Los
Alamos townsite near the East Gate
Business Park. The Los Alamos Airport
is located on the northern part of the
tract. In March 2000, DOE decided to
convey or transfer part of the tract,
approximately 110 acres along the north
side of East Road. Portions of the tract
were retained by DOE to sustain mission
need and provide a health and safety
buffer to support TA–21 activities. With
the planned shutdown of portions of its
tritium activities at TA–21, NNSA
decided to convey an additional 8-acre
portion of the Airport Tract in 2002. In
2005, NNSA decided to convey a 32.3acre portion of the Airport Tract located
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along the south side of State Road 502
on top of Townsite Mesa. The
subsequent closure of the TSTA and
TSFF operations at TA–21 and
remediation activities at TA–21
removed the mission need and the
requirement for a health and safety
buffer for the Airport Tract. Therefore,
NNSA has now decided to convey the
remaining portions of the Airport Tract,
about 55 acres to Los Alamos County, in
accordance with the requirements of the
Act. With this decision, no acreage of
the Airport Tract remains to be
conveyed.
• The TA–21 Tract, originally
consisting of about 260 acres (105
hectares), is located east of the Los
Alamos townsite on the eastern end of
DP Mesa. In March 2000, DOE decided
to convey or transfer part of the tract,
approximately 20 acres, located in the
northwest section of the TA–21 tract
adjacent to the DP Road Tract. Portions
of the TA–21 Tract were retained by
DOE to sustain mission activities. With
the closure of the TSTA and TSFF
operations at TA–21 in 2002 and 2006
respectively, and the anticipated
completion of the remediation activities
at TA–21, DOE no longer has a mission
need for this site other than meeting its
environmental compliance
requirements. NNSA has decided to
convey in accordance with the
requirements of the Act, the remaining
portions, totaling about 245 acres, of the
TA–21 Tract. This conveyance will
occur on a partial-tract-by-partial-tract
basis upon completion of environmental
remediation activities. With this
decision, the majority of the TA–21
Tract acreage will be conveyed.
Issued in Washington, DC on January 17,
2012.
Thomas P. D’Agostino,
Administrator, National Nuclear Security
Administration.
[FR Doc. 2012–1208 Filed 1–20–12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
National Nuclear Security
Administration
Notice of Intent To Prepare an
Environmental Impact Statement for
the Disposition of the Bannister
Federal Complex, Kansas City, MO,
and Notice of Wetlands Involvement
National Nuclear Security
Administration (NNSA), U.S.
Department of Energy (DOE).
AGENCY:
Notice of intent to prepare an
environmental impact statement and
ACTION:
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3259
conduct a public scoping meeting, and
notice of wetlands involvement.
Pursuant to the National
Environmental Policy Act of 1969
(NEPA), and the Council on
Environmental Quality (CEQ) and U.S.
Department of Energy (DOE) regulations
implementing NEPA, the National
Nuclear Security Administration
(NNSA), a semi-autonomous agency
within DOE, announces its intention to
prepare an environmental impact
statement (EIS) for the disposition of the
Bannister Federal Complex (BFC) (BFC
Disposition EIS; DOE/EIS–0475).
The 300-acre BFC is owned by NNSA
and the General Services
Administration (GSA). NNSA owns the
portion of the BFC known as the Kansas
City Plant (KCP), consisting of
approximately 122 acres and 38
buildings. GSA owns the remainder of
the site, consisting of approximately 175
acres and 13 buildings. Beginning in
2013, NNSA will relocate its operations
from the KCP to a newly constructed
industrial campus eight miles south of
the BFC. Once the move is completed,
NNSA’s real property at the BFC will be
excess to the needs of its mission and
will be available for disposition. GSA is
currently analyzing its occupancy of the
BFC and is performing a separate
Environmental Assessment (EA) to
evaluate a future relocation option.
Because GSA could also decide to
relocate its operations away from the
BFC, it is a cooperating agency for the
preparation of this EIS, which will
analyze the potential environmental
impacts for the disposition of GSA real
property in addition to NNSA real
property. The BFC Disposition EIS will
analyze the potential environmental
impacts associated with reasonably
foreseeable potential future uses of the
property, which could be different from
its current uses. These potential future
uses include industrial, warehousing,
and commercial/office uses. NNSA also
will assess the potential environmental
impacts of partial and/or complete
demolition of some BFC structures.
Because the proposed project could
involve actions in wetlands, the EIS will
include a wetland assessment.
DATES: NNSA invites comments on the
scope of this BFC Disposition EIS. The
public scoping period starts with the
publication of this Notice in the Federal
Register and will continue until
February 22, 2012. NNSA will consider
all comments received or postmarked by
that date in defining the scope of this
BFC Disposition EIS. Comments
postmarked after that date will be
considered to the extent practicable. A
public scoping meeting is scheduled to
SUMMARY:
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Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 14 / Monday, January 23, 2012 / Notices
be held on February 13, 2012, from 6:30
p.m. to 10 p.m. at the Evangel Temple,
1414 East 103rd Street, Kansas City,
Missouri 64131. NNSA will publish
additional notices on the date, time, and
location of the scoping meeting in local
newspapers before the scheduled
meeting. Any changes regarding the
scoping meeting will be announced in
the local media. This scoping meeting
will provide the public an opportunity
to present comments, ask questions, and
discuss issues with NNSA and GSA
officials related to the scope of the BFC
Disposition EIS.
ADDRESSES: To submit comments on the
scope of the BFC Disposition EIS, ask
questions about the document or
scoping meeting, or to be included on
the document distribution list, please
contact: Mr. Nathan Gorn, BFC
Disposition EIS Document Manager,
NNSA Kansas City Site Office, 2000 E.
95th Street, Kansas City, Missouri
64131; telephone (816) 997–4197; email:
BFCDEISComments@nnsa.doe.gov; or
via the Internet at https://
nnsa.energy.gov/nepa/bfceis.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For
general information about the DOE
NEPA process, please contact: Carol M.
Borgstrom, Director, Office of NEPA
Policy and Compliance, Office of the
General Counsel (GC–54), U.S.
Department of Energy, 1000
Independence Avenue SW.,
Washington, DC 20585; email:
askNEPA@hq.doe.gov; telephone: (202)
586–4600; fax: (202) 586–7031; or leave
a message at (800) 472–2756. Additional
information about DOE NEPA activities
is available on the Internet through the
NEPA Web site: https://energy.gov/nepa.
For general information about GSA
activities at the BFC, please contact:
Jeremiah Nelson, Asset Manager, U.S.
General Services Administration, 1500
E. Bannister Road, Room 2135, Kansas
City, Missouri 64131–3088; email:
jeremiah.nelson@gsa.gov; telephone:
(816) 823–5803; fax: (816) 926–1140.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background. The BFC is within the
corporate city limits of Kansas City,
approximately eight miles south of the
city center. It can be accessed via major
highways (Interstate 435 and U.S.
Highway 71), as well as auxiliary and
smaller secondary streets. There are no
residences and no agricultural activities
or farmlands on the BFC. The adjoining
properties are mostly residential with
isolated commercial tracts, except along
the eastern and northern sides, which
have been designated for public and
recreational uses.
The mission of the NNSA’s KCP at the
BFC is to produce or procure non-
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nuclear electrical and mechanical
components for nuclear weapons. At
present, the KCP occupies a large 1940svintage industrial facility with 38
buildings or other structures on a site
contiguous with GSA facilities. The KCP
shares individual buildings and utilities
with GSA operations. The entire site is
known as the BFC. The site is zoned for
heavy industry.
Between 2013 and 2015, NNSA will
relocate its operations at the BFC in
total to a newly constructed industrial
campus eight miles south of the current
location. NNSA’s relocation of
operations to the new facility was
analyzed in an EA completed by GSA in
2008 and adopted by DOE (DOE/EA–
1592). When the move is completed,
NNSA real property at the BFC will be
excess to the needs of the KCP mission
and will be available for disposition.
Accordingly, in October 2011, NNSA
issued a notice of availability, via the
Federal Business Opportunities Web
site, soliciting proposals of interest for
the transfer, sale or lease of its portion
of the BFC property. The NNSA KCP
facilities at the BFC include office space
and manufacturing space for machining;
mechanical and electrical assembly;
rubber and plastics formulation and
fabrication; painting; heat treatment;
quality assurance testing, measurement
and laboratory functions; clean rooms;
and inventory storage. GSA is
evaluating its options to potentially
relocate its operations to a new location
away from the BFC. If GSA decides to
relocate its operations, its real property
at the BFC could also be available for
disposition. Thus the BFC Disposition
EIS will analyze the potential
environmental impacts associated with
the proposed action to transfer the BFC
property either in whole or in part and
reasonably foreseeable uses of the
property.
The environmental review process
under NEPA requires Federal agencies
to involve the public in preparing an
EIS and to analyze potential impacts on
environmental, social, cultural, and
economic resources. DOE has options
under NEPA for addressing the subject
of land transfer and in this case has
elected to prepare an EIS. This is a sitespecific determination. In this case, the
environmental impacts of future uses of
the site may or may not be significant.
For example, KCP market research
indicates that potentially interested
parties may demolish and replace some
or all of the currently existing structures
on the property. As part of the EIS
analysis, NNSA expects to assess the
potential impacts of partial and/or
complete demolition of various
buildings on the BFC. Additionally,
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NNSA and GSA acknowledge the
interest that stakeholders have
expressed in wanting to understand as
fully as possible the nature of legacy
contaminants present at the BFC and
their potential environmental impacts.
Preparation of an EIS affords the greatest
opportunity to interact with
stakeholders, inform them about
potential future uses for the BFC and the
results of the NEPA analyses and
receive comments from stakeholders on
uses and issues for analysis.
Disposition of the property would not
take place until the BFC Disposition EIS
and all required historical, cultural, and
wetland assessments are completed and
a Record of Decision is issued.
The BFC has been extensively
characterized for the presence of legacy
contamination that might impact soils
and groundwater at the site. Active
remediation has taken place at
previously identified solid waste
management units with implementation
of environmental remedies ongoing. To
support the proposed action, NNSA and
GSA have submitted requests for a
modified Missouri Hazardous Waste
Management Facility Permit with
Region 7 of the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) and the
Missouri Department of Natural
Resources (MDNR) that will require a
BFC-wide comprehensive
environmental assessment and
remediation program under the
Resource Conservation and Recovery
Act (RCRA). This anticipated
environmental assessment will identify
and characterize any remaining
environmental contamination and
define actions that may need to be taken
to contain or eliminate any threat to
human health or the environment. The
outcome of this reexamination of the
BFC could include identifying the need
to conduct additional NEPA analyses
and/or to place restrictions on the
potential future uses of the property.
During the BFC Disposition EIS
process, NNSA will consult with: (1)
Region 7 of the EPA and the MDNR, in
accordance with NEPA on
environmental issues associated with
disposition of the BFC including but not
limited to the RCRA assessment
described above; and (2) the Missouri
State Historic Preservation Office, in
accordance with Section 106 of the
National Historic Preservation Act.
The BFC lies within the 100-year
floodplain of the Blue River and Indian
Creek, but is protected from a 500-year
flood by a federally funded floodwall
and earthen berm system and is,
therefore, not considered to be in the
100-year floodplain per the Federal
Insurance Rate Map. Based on a 2009
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Jurisdictional Waters Determination
Report prepared by NNSA, the U.S.
Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) has
determined that there are no wetlands
or jurisdictional waters on the NNSAowned property at the BFC. USACE has
determined that there are 2.95 acres of
jurisdictional waters on the GSA-owned
property. In accordance with 10 CFR
part 1022, DOE Compliance with
Floodplain and Wetland Environmental
Review Requirements, and GSA Order
ADM 1095.5, Consideration of Wetlands
in Decisionmaking, dated January 12,
2001, the BFC Disposition EIS will
include a wetlands assessment that
discusses the effects of the proposed
action and alternatives on the wetlands
and evaluates measures that mitigate the
adverse effects in the wetlands.
Purpose and Need for Agency Action.
The purpose and need for agency action
is to dispose of excess federal property,
in an environmentally safe and fiscally
responsible manner. The proposed
action will likely involve conveying the
title of usable facilities and land at the
BFC to an entity(ies) that would use,
market, sell, lease, or otherwise develop
the transferred facilities and property to
conduct commercial activities in the
Kansas City area.
Proposed Action and Alternatives.
The proposed action is to transfer the
BFC property either in whole or in part
for uses that could be different from its
current use. The BFC Disposition EIS
will consider the following alternatives:
(1) No Action:—the status quo is
maintained with NNSA and/or GSA
continuing to conduct operations at the
BFC; (2) Federal Site Stewardship under
which a significant portion of the BFC
is vacated but the entire site remains the
property of the NNSA and GSA and is
unused; and (3) a group of at least four
Transfer Action Alternatives with
conveyance of title, occupancy and use
of the entire BFC or a significant portion
thereof to other entity(ies) that reflect a
range of potential future uses. The group
of four Action Alternatives that NNSA
currently expects to evaluate include:
(1) High intensity use, such as heavy
industrial, (2) low intensity use: that
would involve demolition of the BFC
facilities and conversion to ‘‘green use’’
as parkland, nature preserve, or similar
uses; (3) low-moderate intensity use,
such as warehousing and commercial/
office uses; and (4) high-moderate
intensity use, such as light industrial,
warehousing, and commercial/office
uses. The BFC Disposition EIS will also
evaluate any reasonable alternatives that
may be identified during public
scoping.
Preliminary Identification of
Environmental Issues. Issues tentatively
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identified for analysis in the BFC
Disposition EIS include impacts
associated with: land use, aesthetics,
climate and air quality, geology and
soils, water resources, biological
resources, cultural and historic
resources, socioeconomics, waste
management, human health and safety,
accidents, and environmental justice.
EIS Process and Invitation to
Comment. The EIS scoping process
provides an opportunity for the public
to assist the NNSA and GSA in
determining issues for analysis in the
BFC Disposition EIS. A public scoping
meeting will be held as noted under
DATES in this Notice. The purpose of the
scoping meeting is to provide attendees
an opportunity to present comments,
ask questions, and discuss issues about
the BFC Disposition EIS with NNSA and
GSA officials. Comments can also be
provided to Mr. Nathan Gorn as noted
in this Notice under ADDRESSES.
The EIS scoping meeting will use a
format to provide the public with
information regarding the proposed BFC
Disposition EIS, and to provide
individuals the opportunity to give
written or oral comments. NNSA and
GSA welcome specific comments or
suggestions on the BFC Disposition EIS
process and future uses of the BFC. The
BFC Disposition EIS will describe
potential environmental impacts of each
alternative by using available data when
possible and obtaining additional data
when necessary. Copies of written
comments and transcripts of oral
comments provided during the scoping
period will be available at the MidContinent Public Library, Blue Ridge
Branch, 9253 Blue Ridge Boulevard,
Kansas City, Missouri 64138 and on the
Internet at https://nnsa.energy.gov/nepa/
bfceis.
After the close of the public scoping
period, NNSA and GSA will begin
developing the Draft BFC Disposition
EIS. NNSA and GSA expect to issue the
Draft EIS for public review by mid-2012.
The public comment period on the Draft
EIS will begin with the publication of
the EPA Notice of Availability in the
Federal Register.
The Notice of Availability, along with
notices placed in local newspapers, will
provide dates and locations for public
hearings and the deadline for comments
on the Draft BFC Disposition EIS. Once
issued, the BFC Disposition EIS will be
available on the Internet at https://
nnsa.energy.gov/nepa/bfceis. Persons
who would like to receive a copy of the
Draft EIS for review should notify Mr.
Nathan Gorn at the address noted under
ADDRESSES.
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3261
Issued in Washington, DC, this 17th day of
January 2012.
Thomas P. D’Agostino,
Administrator, National Nuclear Security
Administration.
[FR Doc. 2012–1207 Filed 1–20–12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450–01–P
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
AGENCY
[EPA–HQ–OAR–2004–0073; FRL 9510–8]
Agency Information Collection
Activities; Submission to OMB for
Review and Approval; Comment
Request; Requirements for Control
Technology Determinations for
Constructed and Reconstructed Major
Sources of Hazardous Air Pollutants
(Renewal)
Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
In compliance with the
Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C.
3501 et seq.), this document announces
that an Information Collection Request
(ICR) has been forwarded to the Office
of Management and Budget (OMB) for
review and approval. This is a request
to renew an existing approved
collection. The ICR, which is abstracted
below, describes the nature of the
information collection and its estimated
burden and cost.
DATES: Additional comments may be
submitted on or before February 22,
2012.
ADDRESSES: Submit your comments,
referencing Docket ID No. EPA–HQ–
OAR–2004–0073 to (1) EPA online
using www.regulations.gov (our
preferred method), or by email to a-andr-docket@epa.gov, or by mail to: EPA
Docket Center (EPA/DC), Environmental
Protection Agency, Enforcement and
Compliance Docket and Information
Center, mail code 28221T, 1200
Pennsylvania Avenue NW., Washington,
DC 20460, and (2) OMB at: Office of
Information and Regulatory Affairs,
Office of Management and Budget
(OMB), Attention: Desk Officer for EPA,
725 17th Street NW., Washington, DC
20503.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Debra Dalcher, Office of Air and
Radiation, Office of Air Quality
Planning and Standards; Mail Code
D243–04; Research Triangle Park, North
Carolina 27711; telephone number (919)
541–2443; email address: dalcher.
debra@epa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The EPA
has submitted the following ICR to OMB
SUMMARY:
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 14 (Monday, January 23, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3259-3261]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-1207]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
National Nuclear Security Administration
Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for
the Disposition of the Bannister Federal Complex, Kansas City, MO, and
Notice of Wetlands Involvement
AGENCY: National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), U.S.
Department of Energy (DOE).
ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement
and conduct a public scoping meeting, and notice of wetlands
involvement.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969
(NEPA), and the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) and U.S.
Department of Energy (DOE) regulations implementing NEPA, the National
Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), a semi-autonomous agency within
DOE, announces its intention to prepare an environmental impact
statement (EIS) for the disposition of the Bannister Federal Complex
(BFC) (BFC Disposition EIS; DOE/EIS-0475).
The 300-acre BFC is owned by NNSA and the General Services
Administration (GSA). NNSA owns the portion of the BFC known as the
Kansas City Plant (KCP), consisting of approximately 122 acres and 38
buildings. GSA owns the remainder of the site, consisting of
approximately 175 acres and 13 buildings. Beginning in 2013, NNSA will
relocate its operations from the KCP to a newly constructed industrial
campus eight miles south of the BFC. Once the move is completed, NNSA's
real property at the BFC will be excess to the needs of its mission and
will be available for disposition. GSA is currently analyzing its
occupancy of the BFC and is performing a separate Environmental
Assessment (EA) to evaluate a future relocation option. Because GSA
could also decide to relocate its operations away from the BFC, it is a
cooperating agency for the preparation of this EIS, which will analyze
the potential environmental impacts for the disposition of GSA real
property in addition to NNSA real property. The BFC Disposition EIS
will analyze the potential environmental impacts associated with
reasonably foreseeable potential future uses of the property, which
could be different from its current uses. These potential future uses
include industrial, warehousing, and commercial/office uses. NNSA also
will assess the potential environmental impacts of partial and/or
complete demolition of some BFC structures. Because the proposed
project could involve actions in wetlands, the EIS will include a
wetland assessment.
DATES: NNSA invites comments on the scope of this BFC Disposition EIS.
The public scoping period starts with the publication of this Notice in
the Federal Register and will continue until February 22, 2012. NNSA
will consider all comments received or postmarked by that date in
defining the scope of this BFC Disposition EIS. Comments postmarked
after that date will be considered to the extent practicable. A public
scoping meeting is scheduled to
[[Page 3260]]
be held on February 13, 2012, from 6:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. at the Evangel
Temple, 1414 East 103rd Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64131. NNSA will
publish additional notices on the date, time, and location of the
scoping meeting in local newspapers before the scheduled meeting. Any
changes regarding the scoping meeting will be announced in the local
media. This scoping meeting will provide the public an opportunity to
present comments, ask questions, and discuss issues with NNSA and GSA
officials related to the scope of the BFC Disposition EIS.
ADDRESSES: To submit comments on the scope of the BFC Disposition EIS,
ask questions about the document or scoping meeting, or to be included
on the document distribution list, please contact: Mr. Nathan Gorn, BFC
Disposition EIS Document Manager, NNSA Kansas City Site Office, 2000 E.
95th Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64131; telephone (816) 997-4197;
email: BFCDEISComments@nnsa.doe.gov; or via the Internet at https://nnsa.energy.gov/nepa/bfceis.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For general information about the DOE
NEPA process, please contact: Carol M. Borgstrom, Director, Office of
NEPA Policy and Compliance, Office of the General Counsel (GC-54), U.S.
Department of Energy, 1000 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC
20585; email: askNEPA@hq.doe.gov; telephone: (202) 586-4600; fax: (202)
586-7031; or leave a message at (800) 472-2756. Additional information
about DOE NEPA activities is available on the Internet through the NEPA
Web site: https://energy.gov/nepa.
For general information about GSA activities at the BFC, please
contact: Jeremiah Nelson, Asset Manager, U.S. General Services
Administration, 1500 E. Bannister Road, Room 2135, Kansas City,
Missouri 64131-3088; email: jeremiah.nelson@gsa.gov; telephone: (816)
823-5803; fax: (816) 926-1140.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background. The BFC is within the corporate city limits of Kansas
City, approximately eight miles south of the city center. It can be
accessed via major highways (Interstate 435 and U.S. Highway 71), as
well as auxiliary and smaller secondary streets. There are no
residences and no agricultural activities or farmlands on the BFC. The
adjoining properties are mostly residential with isolated commercial
tracts, except along the eastern and northern sides, which have been
designated for public and recreational uses.
The mission of the NNSA's KCP at the BFC is to produce or procure
non-nuclear electrical and mechanical components for nuclear weapons.
At present, the KCP occupies a large 1940s-vintage industrial facility
with 38 buildings or other structures on a site contiguous with GSA
facilities. The KCP shares individual buildings and utilities with GSA
operations. The entire site is known as the BFC. The site is zoned for
heavy industry.
Between 2013 and 2015, NNSA will relocate its operations at the BFC
in total to a newly constructed industrial campus eight miles south of
the current location. NNSA's relocation of operations to the new
facility was analyzed in an EA completed by GSA in 2008 and adopted by
DOE (DOE/EA-1592). When the move is completed, NNSA real property at
the BFC will be excess to the needs of the KCP mission and will be
available for disposition. Accordingly, in October 2011, NNSA issued a
notice of availability, via the Federal Business Opportunities Web
site, soliciting proposals of interest for the transfer, sale or lease
of its portion of the BFC property. The NNSA KCP facilities at the BFC
include office space and manufacturing space for machining; mechanical
and electrical assembly; rubber and plastics formulation and
fabrication; painting; heat treatment; quality assurance testing,
measurement and laboratory functions; clean rooms; and inventory
storage. GSA is evaluating its options to potentially relocate its
operations to a new location away from the BFC. If GSA decides to
relocate its operations, its real property at the BFC could also be
available for disposition. Thus the BFC Disposition EIS will analyze
the potential environmental impacts associated with the proposed action
to transfer the BFC property either in whole or in part and reasonably
foreseeable uses of the property.
The environmental review process under NEPA requires Federal
agencies to involve the public in preparing an EIS and to analyze
potential impacts on environmental, social, cultural, and economic
resources. DOE has options under NEPA for addressing the subject of
land transfer and in this case has elected to prepare an EIS. This is a
site-specific determination. In this case, the environmental impacts of
future uses of the site may or may not be significant. For example, KCP
market research indicates that potentially interested parties may
demolish and replace some or all of the currently existing structures
on the property. As part of the EIS analysis, NNSA expects to assess
the potential impacts of partial and/or complete demolition of various
buildings on the BFC. Additionally, NNSA and GSA acknowledge the
interest that stakeholders have expressed in wanting to understand as
fully as possible the nature of legacy contaminants present at the BFC
and their potential environmental impacts. Preparation of an EIS
affords the greatest opportunity to interact with stakeholders, inform
them about potential future uses for the BFC and the results of the
NEPA analyses and receive comments from stakeholders on uses and issues
for analysis.
Disposition of the property would not take place until the BFC
Disposition EIS and all required historical, cultural, and wetland
assessments are completed and a Record of Decision is issued.
The BFC has been extensively characterized for the presence of
legacy contamination that might impact soils and groundwater at the
site. Active remediation has taken place at previously identified solid
waste management units with implementation of environmental remedies
ongoing. To support the proposed action, NNSA and GSA have submitted
requests for a modified Missouri Hazardous Waste Management Facility
Permit with Region 7 of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
and the Missouri Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) that will
require a BFC-wide comprehensive environmental assessment and
remediation program under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act
(RCRA). This anticipated environmental assessment will identify and
characterize any remaining environmental contamination and define
actions that may need to be taken to contain or eliminate any threat to
human health or the environment. The outcome of this reexamination of
the BFC could include identifying the need to conduct additional NEPA
analyses and/or to place restrictions on the potential future uses of
the property.
During the BFC Disposition EIS process, NNSA will consult with: (1)
Region 7 of the EPA and the MDNR, in accordance with NEPA on
environmental issues associated with disposition of the BFC including
but not limited to the RCRA assessment described above; and (2) the
Missouri State Historic Preservation Office, in accordance with Section
106 of the National Historic Preservation Act.
The BFC lies within the 100-year floodplain of the Blue River and
Indian Creek, but is protected from a 500-year flood by a federally
funded floodwall and earthen berm system and is, therefore, not
considered to be in the 100-year floodplain per the Federal Insurance
Rate Map. Based on a 2009
[[Page 3261]]
Jurisdictional Waters Determination Report prepared by NNSA, the U.S.
Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) has determined that there are no
wetlands or jurisdictional waters on the NNSA-owned property at the
BFC. USACE has determined that there are 2.95 acres of jurisdictional
waters on the GSA-owned property. In accordance with 10 CFR part 1022,
DOE Compliance with Floodplain and Wetland Environmental Review
Requirements, and GSA Order ADM 1095.5, Consideration of Wetlands in
Decisionmaking, dated January 12, 2001, the BFC Disposition EIS will
include a wetlands assessment that discusses the effects of the
proposed action and alternatives on the wetlands and evaluates measures
that mitigate the adverse effects in the wetlands.
Purpose and Need for Agency Action. The purpose and need for agency
action is to dispose of excess federal property, in an environmentally
safe and fiscally responsible manner. The proposed action will likely
involve conveying the title of usable facilities and land at the BFC to
an entity(ies) that would use, market, sell, lease, or otherwise
develop the transferred facilities and property to conduct commercial
activities in the Kansas City area.
Proposed Action and Alternatives. The proposed action is to
transfer the BFC property either in whole or in part for uses that
could be different from its current use. The BFC Disposition EIS will
consider the following alternatives: (1) No Action:--the status quo is
maintained with NNSA and/or GSA continuing to conduct operations at the
BFC; (2) Federal Site Stewardship under which a significant portion of
the BFC is vacated but the entire site remains the property of the NNSA
and GSA and is unused; and (3) a group of at least four Transfer Action
Alternatives with conveyance of title, occupancy and use of the entire
BFC or a significant portion thereof to other entity(ies) that reflect
a range of potential future uses. The group of four Action Alternatives
that NNSA currently expects to evaluate include: (1) High intensity
use, such as heavy industrial, (2) low intensity use: that would
involve demolition of the BFC facilities and conversion to ``green
use'' as parkland, nature preserve, or similar uses; (3) low-moderate
intensity use, such as warehousing and commercial/office uses; and (4)
high-moderate intensity use, such as light industrial, warehousing, and
commercial/office uses. The BFC Disposition EIS will also evaluate any
reasonable alternatives that may be identified during public scoping.
Preliminary Identification of Environmental Issues. Issues
tentatively identified for analysis in the BFC Disposition EIS include
impacts associated with: land use, aesthetics, climate and air quality,
geology and soils, water resources, biological resources, cultural and
historic resources, socioeconomics, waste management, human health and
safety, accidents, and environmental justice.
EIS Process and Invitation to Comment. The EIS scoping process
provides an opportunity for the public to assist the NNSA and GSA in
determining issues for analysis in the BFC Disposition EIS. A public
scoping meeting will be held as noted under DATES in this Notice. The
purpose of the scoping meeting is to provide attendees an opportunity
to present comments, ask questions, and discuss issues about the BFC
Disposition EIS with NNSA and GSA officials. Comments can also be
provided to Mr. Nathan Gorn as noted in this Notice under ADDRESSES.
The EIS scoping meeting will use a format to provide the public
with information regarding the proposed BFC Disposition EIS, and to
provide individuals the opportunity to give written or oral comments.
NNSA and GSA welcome specific comments or suggestions on the BFC
Disposition EIS process and future uses of the BFC. The BFC Disposition
EIS will describe potential environmental impacts of each alternative
by using available data when possible and obtaining additional data
when necessary. Copies of written comments and transcripts of oral
comments provided during the scoping period will be available at the
Mid-Continent Public Library, Blue Ridge Branch, 9253 Blue Ridge
Boulevard, Kansas City, Missouri 64138 and on the Internet at https://nnsa.energy.gov/nepa/bfceis.
After the close of the public scoping period, NNSA and GSA will
begin developing the Draft BFC Disposition EIS. NNSA and GSA expect to
issue the Draft EIS for public review by mid-2012. The public comment
period on the Draft EIS will begin with the publication of the EPA
Notice of Availability in the Federal Register.
The Notice of Availability, along with notices placed in local
newspapers, will provide dates and locations for public hearings and
the deadline for comments on the Draft BFC Disposition EIS. Once
issued, the BFC Disposition EIS will be available on the Internet at
https://nnsa.energy.gov/nepa/bfceis. Persons who would like to receive a
copy of the Draft EIS for review should notify Mr. Nathan Gorn at the
address noted under ADDRESSES.
Issued in Washington, DC, this 17th day of January 2012.
Thomas P. D'Agostino,
Administrator, National Nuclear Security Administration.
[FR Doc. 2012-1207 Filed 1-20-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P
