Notice of the Draft Environmental Assessment for the Subtropical Agricultural Research Station Land Transfer, 11155 [2015-04302]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 40 (Monday, March 2, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Page 11155]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-04302]



[[Page 11155]]

=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE


Notice of the Draft Environmental Assessment for the Subtropical 
Agricultural Research Station Land Transfer

AGENCY: Agricultural Research Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act 
(NEPA) of 1969, as amended, and the Federal Land Policy and Management 
Act of 1976 (FLPMA), as amended, a Draft Environmental Assessment (EA) 
has been prepared to evaluate the proposed transfer of approximately 
3,800 acres of land at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) 
Agricultural Research Service (ARS) Subtropical Agricultural Research 
Station (STARS) in Brooksville, Florida to Florida Agricultural and 
Mechanical University (FAMU). This notice is announcing the opening of 
a 30-day public comment period.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before April 1, 2015.

ADDRESSES: You may submit written comments related to the STARS Land 
Transfer to Cal Mather, Environmental Protection Specialist, USDA-ARS-
SHEMB, by any of the following methods: Mail: NCAUR, 1815 North 
University Street, Room 2060, Peoria, Illinois 61604; FAX: 309-681-
6682; or email: cal.mather@ars.usda.gov.
    Hard copies of the Draft EA are available upon request. Copies of 
the Draft EA for the USDA-ARS STARS Land Transfer are also available 
for public viewing during normal business hours at the following 
locations:

 Samuel H. Coleman Memorial Library (FAMU), 525 Orr Drive, 
Tallahassee, Florida 32307
 Istachatta Library Station, 16246 Lingle Road, Brooksville, 
Florida 34601
 East Hernando Branch Library, 6457 Windmere Road, Brooksville, 
Florida 34602
 Spring Hill Branch Library, 9220 Spring Hill Drive, Spring 
Hill, Florida 34608
 West Hernando Branch Library, 6335 Blackbird Avenue, 
Brooksville, Florida 34613
 Main Library/Brooksville, 238 Howell Avenue, Brooksville, 
Florida 34601

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The USDA is proposing to transfer 
approximately 3,800 acres of land and facilities located on four 
separate properties at the USDA-ARS STARS in Brooksville, Florida to 
FAMU. In accordance with the March 1, 2014, Memorandum of Understanding 
(MOU) executed between the U.S. Government, represented by the 
Secretary of Agriculture, and the University Board of Trustees, upon 
transfer to FAMU, the land will be used for agricultural and natural 
resources research for a period of no less than 25 years, supporting 
the 1890 land grant university mission, promoting education and 
community collaboration, and establishing a Beginning Farmers and 
Ranchers Program at the Property. FAMU would assume responsibility for 
management and maintenance of the constructed facilities and land to be 
conveyed from USDA-ARS.
    The USDA-ARS STARS was closed in accordance with Public Law (Pub. 
L.) 112-55, Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 
2012. The proposed transfer of land and facilities from USDA-ARS to 
FAMU would be in accordance with Section 732 of Public Law 112-55, as 
extended under Public Law 113-76, 2014 Consolidated Appropriations Act, 
which authorizes the Secretary to convey, with or without 
consideration, certain USDA-ARS facilities to entities that are 
eligible to receive real property, including: Land-grant colleges and 
universities (as defined in Section 1404(13) of the National 
Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977); 
1994 Institutions (as defined in Section 532 of the Equity in 
Educational Land-Grant Status Act of 1994); and Hispanic-serving 
agricultural colleges and universities (as defined in Section 1404(10) 
of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy 
Act of 1977). Under Public Law 113-76, the conveyance authority expires 
on September 30, 2015, and all conveyances must be completed by that 
date.
    Two alternatives are analyzed in the Draft EA, the Proposed Action 
Alternative and the No Action Alternative. The Draft EA addresses 
potential impacts of these alternatives on the natural and human 
environment.
     Alternative 1--Proposed Action. Under the proposed action 
alternative, the Secretary would transfer the USDA-ARS land and 
facilities to FAMU, and FAMU, its tenant(s), and/or its partner(s) 
would implement the Reasonably Foreseeable Future Actions described in 
the Draft EA upon transfer of the land and facilities. The land would 
be used for agricultural and natural resources research for a period of 
no less than 25 years.
     Alternative 2--No Action. Under the no action alternative, 
the USDA-ARS land and facilities would not be transferred to FAMU. 
Under the no action alternative, USDA-ARS would have no resources to 
operate and/or maintain the properties and the properties would fall 
into a state of disrepair.
    In addition, one alternative was considered in the Draft EA but 
eliminated from detailed study. In this alternative, USDA-ARS would 
retain possession of the land and it would be transferred to the 
General Services Administration for disposal. Since it cannot 
reasonably be determined who would ultimately take possession of the 
property and how it would be utilized, it was not analyzed in detail in 
the EA. The USDA-ARS will use and coordinate the NEPA commenting 
process to satisfy the public involvement process for Section 106 of 
the National Historic Preservation Act (16 U.S.C. 470(f) as provided 
for in 36 CFR 800.2(d)(3)). Following the public comment period, 
comments will be used to prepare the Final EA. The USDA-ARS will 
respond to each substantive comment by making appropriate revisions to 
the document or by explaining why a comment did not warrant a change. A 
Notice of Availability of the Final EA will be published in the Federal 
Register. All comments, including any personal identifying information 
included in the comment will become a matter of public record. While 
you can ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying 
information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be 
able to do so.

    Dated: February 18, 2015.
Chavonda Jacobs-Young,
Administrator, Agricultural Research Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-04302 Filed 2-27-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-03-P