Bethesda Campus Chilled Water System Improvements Record of Decision, 56471-56474 [2015-23487]
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ESTIMATED ANNUALIZED BURDEN TABLE
Number of
respondents
Form name
Number of
responses per
respondent
Average
burden per
response
(in hours)
Total
burden hours
IRB Registration 0990–0279 ...........................................................................
New Registratration .........................................................................................
5,900
500
2
2
1
1
11,800
1,000
Total ..........................................................................................................
........................
........................
........................
12,800
Darius Taylor,
Information Collection Clearance Officer.
nihnepa@mail.nih.gov. Responsible
Official: Daniel G. Wheeland, Director,
Office of Research Facilities (ORF)
Development and Operations, NIH.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
[FR Doc. 2015–23453 Filed 9–17–15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4150–28–P
Decision
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND
HUMAN SERVICES
National Institutes of Health
Bethesda Campus Chilled Water
System Improvements Record of
Decision
The Department of Health and
Human Services, the National Institutes
of Health (NIH), has decided, after
completion of a Final Environmental
Impact Statement (FEIS) and a thorough
consideration of the public comments
on the Draft EIS, to implement the
Proposed Action, referred to as the
Proposed Action in the Final EIS. This
action is to install a Thermal Energy
Storage System and an Industrial Water
Storage System to provide sufficient
storage capacity to meet two days of
chilled water demand and two days of
industrial water demand should an
outside disturbance interrupt the water
supply.
tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
SUMMARY:
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Valerie Nottingham, Deputy Director,
DEP, ORF, NIH, Building 13, Room
2S11, 9000 Rockville Pike, Bethesda,
MD 20892, Phone 301–496–7775,
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After careful review of the
environmental consequences in the
Final Environmental Impact Statement
for the Chilled Water System
Improvements, National Institutes of
Health, and consideration of public
comment throughout the NEPA process,
the NIH has decided to implement the
Proposed Action described below as the
Selected Alternative.
approximately nine million gallons of
chilled water. Components of the
system would include a storage tank, at
or partially below-grade, with a
footprint of approximately 12,000 SF; a
pump house building with a footprint of
approximately 5,000 SF or less; support
equipment, such as pumps, valves,
piping, controls, and an emergency
generator; and security fencing, lighting,
and other site improvements. The NIH
would use this system to meet chilled
water demands within the Campus.
Industrial Water Storage System
The Selected Alternative would
implement chilled water system
improvements that would enable the
NIH to adequately accomplish the
project goals. This would include
sufficient storage capacity to meet two
days of chilled water demand and two
days of industrial water demand should
an outside disturbance interrupt the
normal supply of water by the WSSC.
Elements of the Chilled Water System
Improvements project that the NIH
would implement under the Proposed
Action include the following:
This system would be located at the
Parking Lot 41 site and would store up
to approximately five million gallons of
industrial water. Industrial water is
water that the CUP utilizes to generate
steam or chilled water. Components of
the system would include a storage
tank, partially below-grade; a pump
house building with a footprint of
approximately 5,000 SF; support
equipment, such as pumps, valves,
variable frequency drivers, electrical
equipment, switchgear, piping, controls,
instrumentation, and an emergency
generator; and security fencing, lighting,
and other site improvements. The NIH
would use this system to ensure an
adequate supply of water to the chillers.
Thermal Energy Storage System
Other Supporting Infrastructure
This system would be located at the
Building 34 site and would store up to
The Thermal Energy Storage System
and the Industrial Water Storage System
Selected Alternative
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would each require new or upgraded
utility infrastructure at locations outside
the limit of disturbance for each system.
Potential locations for many
components of this infrastructure have
been identified during the planning
process. However, precise details
including piping locations and sizes are
not fully developed. Examples of the
types of infrastructure that the NIH may
install or upgrade include additional
equipment (e.g., pumps, variable
frequency drives, electrical equipment,
switchgear, emergency generator,
control valves, backflow preventers,
pressure reducing valves, controls, and
instrumentation); other utility buildings;
aboveground or buried piping;
aboveground or buried utilities; and site
improvements (e.g., repairs to existing
features, new concrete slabs).
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Alternatives Considered
The Proposed Action, Alternative
Action and No Action Alternative were
the three alternatives analyzed in the
Final EIS. The Alternative Action would
implement water infrastructure
improvements that would enable the
NIH to adequately accomplish the
project goals. The characteristics,
features, and location of the Thermal
Energy Storage System would be
identical to the Proposed Action. What
separates the Alternative Action from
the Proposed is the proposal of the
Potable Water Storage System. The
Potable Water Storage System would
store up to nine million gallons of
potable water to ensure an adequate
supply of industrial water to the chillers
and for potable water requirements on
the Campus. The proposed location for
the Potable Water Storage System would
be the same as that described for the
Industrial Water Storage System under
the Proposed Action. The characteristics
and components of the Potable Water
Storage System would be similar to the
Industrial Water Storage System, except
that the storage tank would be larger.
The tank would be about 90 feet in
height, which is similar to the planned
height of MLP–12 once fully built. The
pump house, support equipment, and
utilities and site improvements would
otherwise be identical to the described
features of the Industrial Water Storage
Tank.
Factors Involved in the Decision
The NIH prefers the Proposed Action
over the Alternative Action because the
Alternative Action would require the
NIH to become a continuous water
source, which would incur more
upfront and ongoing costs for treatment,
maintenance, and monitoring of the
campus potable water system.
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Additionally, relative to the Alternative
Action, the Proposed Action would
retain more connections to WSSC water
mains (for redundancy), would not
require installation and operation of
pumps to maintain adequate pressure
for fire service, would maintain existing
flow dynamics of potable water within
the Campus, and would require less
construction (and therefore pose less
potential for construction-related
impacts to campus neighbors).
Resources Impacted
The Final EIS describes potential
environmental effects of the Selected
Alternative. These potential effects are
documented in Chapter 3 of the Final
EIS. Any potential adverse
environmental effects will be avoided or
mitigated through design elements,
procedures, and compliance with
regulatory and NIH requirements.
Potential impacts on air quality are all
within government standards (federal,
state, and local). NIH does not expect
significant negative effects on the
environment or on the citizens of
Bethesda from construction and
operation at NIH.
Summary of Impacts
The following is a summary of
potential impacts resulting from the
Selected Alternative that the NIH
considered when making its decision.
No adverse cumulative effects have been
identified during the NEPA process.
Likewise, no unavoidable or adverse
impacts from implementation of the
Selected Action have been identified.
The Selected Action will be beneficial
to the long-term productivity of the
national and world health communities.
Biomedical research conducted at the
NIH facility will have the potential to
advance techniques in disease
prevention, develop disease
immunizations, and prepare defenses
against naturally emerging and reemerging diseases and against
bioweapons. Additionally, the local
community will benefit from increased
employment, income and, government
and public finance.
Housing
Implementation of the Selected
Alternative would result in temporary
minor impacts on the population and
the availability of housing, due to
construction workers who might
temporarily relocate to the area.
Education
Educational resources in the area
surrounding the Campus include public
schools, the Uniformed Services
University of the Health Sciences
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(located on NSA Bethesda), and the
Foundation for Advanced Education in
the Sciences (located at 9109 Old
Georgetown Road). Public schools near
the Campus include three high schools,
five middle schools, and nineteen
elementary schools. Implementation of
the Selected Alternative will not have a
significant impact to education.
Transportation
Implementation of the Selected
Alternative would result in minor
temporary impacts to off-campus roads,
transit, and traffic due to construction
activities. This would include
additional traffic due to construction
vehicles as well as shifts in employee
traffic patterns. Implementation of the
Selected Alternative would involve the
construction of approximately 1–3
parking spaces to accommodate access
for operation or maintenance vehicles.
The construction of the Industrial Water
Storage System would reduce parking
capacity at Parking Lot 41 by
approximately 90 parking spaces. In
total, this will lead to a net decrease of
approximately 90 parking spaces.
Security
Implantation of the Selected
Alternative may have the NIH install
security fencing to prevent
unauthorized access to the tanks. There
would be no significant impacts to
security.
Employment
The Selected Alternative would result
in minor benefits to the local economy
during construction activities (e.g.,
meals and incidentals for construction
workers). The Proposed Action would
not result in a permanent change in job
availability at the Campus or associated
effects on the local economy.
Environmental Justice
Bethesda as a whole has relatively
low proportions of minority, or lowincome populations. Although there are
areas of higher minority populations (30
to 35 percent) adjacent to the Campus,
the percent minority is still low relative
to Montgomery County (40.5 percent)
and Maryland (37.9 percent). Impacts to
social resources such as population and
housing would be minor and temporary.
Visual Quality
The Selected Alternative would result
in minor adverse impacts to external
viewscapes. Existing topographical
features and vegetation that largely
block many potential views from
adjacent neighborhoods would not be
significantly altered as a result of the
Selected Alternative.
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The Selected Alternative would result
in minor to moderate adverse impacts to
internal viewscapes. The construction of
the Industrial Water Storage System
would require removal of a grassy area
with trees. This would result in a minor
negative impact to the visual character
of that area of the Campus. The
construction of the Thermal Energy
Storage System would have a moderate
adverse impact, as the associated tank
would be viewable from the central part
of the Campus. Also, implementation of
the Selected Alternative could result in
removal of existing trees and vegetation
from the Building 34 site that currently
reduces views from the north. The scale
of this potential impact is somewhat
tempered as the tank would be adjacent
to a parking garage and the CUP, so it
would not be entirely out of character
with surrounding structures.
Under the Selected Alternative, all
structures would be constructed to a
height that does not exceed the Master
Plan building height guidance.
Construction of the Industrial Water
Storage System into the hillside slope
near Parking Lot 41 would be consistent
with Master Plan guidance for
minimizing the visual impact of new
construction.
Noise
Implementation of the Selected
Alternative would result in temporary
minor noise impacts due to construction
activities as well as long-term moderate
noise impacts due to operational
changes at the CUP.
Air Quality
Implementation of the Selected
Alternative would result in minor direct
and indirect impacts to air quality.
tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Construction and demolition
activities would generate temporary
greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, while
periodic emergency generator use,
would generate recurring GHG
emissions. Current GHG methodologies
outlined in the TSD do not describe
how to account for construction
activities; therefore, they are not
included in the current NIH GHG
inventory. NIH would strive to
minimize GHG emissions by
implementing construction, renovation,
and demolition best practices.
Stormwater
Temporary Construction Impacts
Implementation of the Selected
Alternative would result in minor
temporary impacts to stormwater
quantity and quality due to earth
disturbances during construction
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activities. The Limit of Disturbance
(LOD) for the Selected Alternative
would be approximately 467,000 SF of
earth during construction activities.
Potential erosion and sediment runoff
impacts would be mitigated through
stormwater management, including the
development of an erosion and
sediment control plan that is approved
by MDE. The construction of the
Thermal Energy Storage System and
Industrial Water Storage System would
each disturb more than one acre and
therefore would obtain coverage under
the MDE 2014 General Permit for
Stormwater Associated with
Construction Activity. As a result,
construction activities under the
Proposed Action would have a minor
impact on stormwater quality.
Long-Term Stormwater Management
Implementation of the Selected
Alternative would result in minor longterm stormwater management impacts.
The Selected Alternative would increase
impervious surface at the Campus by
approximately 153,000 SF, which
would increase runoff within the Rock
Creek Watershed relative to baseline
conditions. However, the construction
of the Thermal Energy Storage System
and Industrial Water Storage System
would each disturb greater than 5,000
SF, and therefore site design would be
required to meet The Energy
Independence and Security Act of 2007
(EISA 2007) Section 438 requirements to
restore each site to predevelopment
conditions. This requirement would
minimize hydrologic impacts resulting
from increased stormwater runoff
volumes, such as damage to storm sewer
infrastructure, increased likelihood of
flooding, and increased erosion.
The Selected Alternative would
require permanent site stormwater
management to control runoff and
provide water quality treatment per
federal and Maryland stormwater
regulations. Long-term stormwater
management facilities would be
designed and installed per an MDE
approved stormwater management plan.
The NIH would incorporate appropriate
and feasible Environmental Site Design
(ESD) practices into the project designs
to restore the predevelopment
hydrology to the maximum extent
technically feasible. Overall, these ESD
practices would reduce runoff volume
and rate, disperse flow, remove
pollutants, and provide for groundwater
recharge by facilitating infiltration into
the soil.
Construction of the Industrial Water
Storage System and Thermal Energy
Storage System would likely incorporate
bioretention areas including stormwater
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planter boxes. These vegetated areas
would infiltrate runoff from impervious
surfaces at the site, reducing the
quantity of stormwater runoff and
improving the water quality.
The Selected Alternative would not
impact coverage under the Campus’s
Municipal Separate Storm Sewer
System, MS4 permit.
Historic Resources
Construction of the Thermal Energy
Storage System and associated
infrastructure would result in temporary
construction impacts (e.g., noise) and a
permanent change in the appearance of
the Building 34 site. These impacts
would be perceptible from the rear of
the historic Biologics Standards
Laboratory and Annex (Buildings 29
and 29A), located north of the project
site. The new infrastructure would also
result in a minor change in the
appearance of the Campus when viewed
from the historic National Library of
Medicine (NLM) complex (Buildings 38
and 38A). Additionally, construction of
the Industrial Water Storage System
may result in a minor change in the
appearance of the Campus when viewed
from the upper levels of Building 38A.
Construction of these new facilities,
however, would not affect the integrity
of setting of these historic properties;
would not obscure or compromise their
original design intent; and would not
otherwise affect the characteristics that
qualify these historic properties for
listing in the National Register.
Based on this analysis, the NIH has
determined that the Selected Alternative
would not adversely affect any historic
properties or MIHP-listed properties.
Pursuant to Section 106 of the NHPA,
the NIH initiated consultation with the
MD SHPO to obtain their concurrence
with this finding. MD SHPO’s
concurrence of no adverse effect was
received on 20 April 2015.
Practicable Means To Avoid or
Minimize Potential Environmental
Harm From the Selected Alternative
All practicable means to avoid or
minimize adverse environmental effects
from the Selected Alternative have been
identified and incorporated into the
action. The proposed Chilled Water
System Improvement construction will
be subject to the existing NIH pollution
prevention, waste management, and
safety, security, and emergency
response procedures as well as existing
environmental permits. Best
management practices, spill prevention
and control, and stormwater
management plans will be followed to
appropriately address the construction
and operation of the new Chilled Water
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System and comply with applicable
regulatory and NIH requirements. No
additional mitigation measures have
been identified.
Pollution Prevention
Air quality permit standards will be
met, as will all federal, state, and local
requirements to protect the environment
and public health.
Conclusion
Based upon review and careful
consideration, the NIH has decided to
implement the Selected Alternative for
a Chilled Water System Improvement
System located in Bethesda, Maryland.
The decision accounts for a potential
outside disturbance interrupting the
campus water supply. The system will
provide sufficient storage capacity to
meet two days of chilled water demand
and two days of industrial water
demand should an interruption occur.
The decision was based upon review
and careful consideration of the impacts
identified in the Final EIS and public
comments received throughout the
NEPA process.
Dated: September 8, 2015.
Daniel G. Wheeland,
Director, Office of Research Facilities
Development and Operations, National
Institutes of Health.
[FR Doc. 2015–23487 Filed 9–17–15; 8:45 am]
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National Institutes of Health
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Name of Committee: Neurological Sciences
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Time: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
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Place: Hyatt Regency Bethesda, One
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Contact Person: Raul A. Saavedra, Ph.D.,
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NINDS/NIH/DHHS/Neuroscience Center,
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HHS)
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Carolyn Baum,
Program Analyst, Office of Federal Advisory
Committee Policy.
[FR Doc. 2015–23444 Filed 9–17–15; 8:45 am]
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Notice of Closed Meetings
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Federal Advisory Committee Act, as
amended (5 U.S.C. App.), notice is
hereby given of the following meetings.
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public in accordance with the
provisions set forth in sections
552b(c)(4) and 552b(c)(6), Title 5 U.S.C.,
as amended. The grant applications and
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[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 181 (Friday, September 18, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 56471-56474]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-23487]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
National Institutes of Health
Bethesda Campus Chilled Water System Improvements Record of
Decision
SUMMARY: The Department of Health and Human Services, the National
Institutes of Health (NIH), has decided, after completion of a Final
Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) and a thorough consideration of
the public comments on the Draft EIS, to implement the Proposed Action,
referred to as the Proposed Action in the Final EIS. This action is to
install a Thermal Energy Storage System and an Industrial Water Storage
System to provide sufficient storage capacity to meet two days of
chilled water demand and two days of industrial water demand should an
outside disturbance interrupt the water supply.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Valerie Nottingham, Deputy Director,
DEP, ORF, NIH, Building 13, Room 2S11, 9000 Rockville Pike, Bethesda,
MD 20892, Phone 301-496-7775, nihnepa@mail.nih.gov. Responsible
Official: Daniel G. Wheeland, Director, Office of Research Facilities
(ORF) Development and Operations, NIH.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Decision
After careful review of the environmental consequences in the Final
Environmental Impact Statement for the Chilled Water System
Improvements, National Institutes of Health, and consideration of
public comment throughout the NEPA process, the NIH has decided to
implement the Proposed Action described below as the Selected
Alternative.
Selected Alternative
The Selected Alternative would implement chilled water system
improvements that would enable the NIH to adequately accomplish the
project goals. This would include sufficient storage capacity to meet
two days of chilled water demand and two days of industrial water
demand should an outside disturbance interrupt the normal supply of
water by the WSSC.
Elements of the Chilled Water System Improvements project that the
NIH would implement under the Proposed Action include the following:
Thermal Energy Storage System
This system would be located at the Building 34 site and would
store up to approximately nine million gallons of chilled water.
Components of the system would include a storage tank, at or partially
below-grade, with a footprint of approximately 12,000 SF; a pump house
building with a footprint of approximately 5,000 SF or less; support
equipment, such as pumps, valves, piping, controls, and an emergency
generator; and security fencing, lighting, and other site improvements.
The NIH would use this system to meet chilled water demands within the
Campus.
Industrial Water Storage System
This system would be located at the Parking Lot 41 site and would
store up to approximately five million gallons of industrial water.
Industrial water is water that the CUP utilizes to generate steam or
chilled water. Components of the system would include a storage tank,
partially below-grade; a pump house building with a footprint of
approximately 5,000 SF; support equipment, such as pumps, valves,
variable frequency drivers, electrical equipment, switchgear, piping,
controls, instrumentation, and an emergency generator; and security
fencing, lighting, and other site improvements. The NIH would use this
system to ensure an adequate supply of water to the chillers.
Other Supporting Infrastructure
The Thermal Energy Storage System and the Industrial Water Storage
System
[[Page 56472]]
would each require new or upgraded utility infrastructure at locations
outside the limit of disturbance for each system. Potential locations
for many components of this infrastructure have been identified during
the planning process. However, precise details including piping
locations and sizes are not fully developed. Examples of the types of
infrastructure that the NIH may install or upgrade include additional
equipment (e.g., pumps, variable frequency drives, electrical
equipment, switchgear, emergency generator, control valves, backflow
preventers, pressure reducing valves, controls, and instrumentation);
other utility buildings; aboveground or buried piping; aboveground or
buried utilities; and site improvements (e.g., repairs to existing
features, new concrete slabs).
Alternatives Considered
The Proposed Action, Alternative Action and No Action Alternative
were the three alternatives analyzed in the Final EIS. The Alternative
Action would implement water infrastructure improvements that would
enable the NIH to adequately accomplish the project goals. The
characteristics, features, and location of the Thermal Energy Storage
System would be identical to the Proposed Action. What separates the
Alternative Action from the Proposed is the proposal of the Potable
Water Storage System. The Potable Water Storage System would store up
to nine million gallons of potable water to ensure an adequate supply
of industrial water to the chillers and for potable water requirements
on the Campus. The proposed location for the Potable Water Storage
System would be the same as that described for the Industrial Water
Storage System under the Proposed Action. The characteristics and
components of the Potable Water Storage System would be similar to the
Industrial Water Storage System, except that the storage tank would be
larger. The tank would be about 90 feet in height, which is similar to
the planned height of MLP-12 once fully built. The pump house, support
equipment, and utilities and site improvements would otherwise be
identical to the described features of the Industrial Water Storage
Tank.
Factors Involved in the Decision
The NIH prefers the Proposed Action over the Alternative Action
because the Alternative Action would require the NIH to become a
continuous water source, which would incur more upfront and ongoing
costs for treatment, maintenance, and monitoring of the campus potable
water system. Additionally, relative to the Alternative Action, the
Proposed Action would retain more connections to WSSC water mains (for
redundancy), would not require installation and operation of pumps to
maintain adequate pressure for fire service, would maintain existing
flow dynamics of potable water within the Campus, and would require
less construction (and therefore pose less potential for construction-
related impacts to campus neighbors).
Resources Impacted
The Final EIS describes potential environmental effects of the
Selected Alternative. These potential effects are documented in Chapter
3 of the Final EIS. Any potential adverse environmental effects will be
avoided or mitigated through design elements, procedures, and
compliance with regulatory and NIH requirements. Potential impacts on
air quality are all within government standards (federal, state, and
local). NIH does not expect significant negative effects on the
environment or on the citizens of Bethesda from construction and
operation at NIH.
Summary of Impacts
The following is a summary of potential impacts resulting from the
Selected Alternative that the NIH considered when making its decision.
No adverse cumulative effects have been identified during the NEPA
process. Likewise, no unavoidable or adverse impacts from
implementation of the Selected Action have been identified. The
Selected Action will be beneficial to the long-term productivity of the
national and world health communities. Biomedical research conducted at
the NIH facility will have the potential to advance techniques in
disease prevention, develop disease immunizations, and prepare defenses
against naturally emerging and re-emerging diseases and against
bioweapons. Additionally, the local community will benefit from
increased employment, income and, government and public finance.
Housing
Implementation of the Selected Alternative would result in
temporary minor impacts on the population and the availability of
housing, due to construction workers who might temporarily relocate to
the area.
Education
Educational resources in the area surrounding the Campus include
public schools, the Uniformed Services University of the Health
Sciences (located on NSA Bethesda), and the Foundation for Advanced
Education in the Sciences (located at 9109 Old Georgetown Road). Public
schools near the Campus include three high schools, five middle
schools, and nineteen elementary schools. Implementation of the
Selected Alternative will not have a significant impact to education.
Transportation
Implementation of the Selected Alternative would result in minor
temporary impacts to off-campus roads, transit, and traffic due to
construction activities. This would include additional traffic due to
construction vehicles as well as shifts in employee traffic patterns.
Implementation of the Selected Alternative would involve the
construction of approximately 1-3 parking spaces to accommodate access
for operation or maintenance vehicles. The construction of the
Industrial Water Storage System would reduce parking capacity at
Parking Lot 41 by approximately 90 parking spaces. In total, this will
lead to a net decrease of approximately 90 parking spaces.
Security
Implantation of the Selected Alternative may have the NIH install
security fencing to prevent unauthorized access to the tanks. There
would be no significant impacts to security.
Employment
The Selected Alternative would result in minor benefits to the
local economy during construction activities (e.g., meals and
incidentals for construction workers). The Proposed Action would not
result in a permanent change in job availability at the Campus or
associated effects on the local economy.
Environmental Justice
Bethesda as a whole has relatively low proportions of minority, or
low-income populations. Although there are areas of higher minority
populations (30 to 35 percent) adjacent to the Campus, the percent
minority is still low relative to Montgomery County (40.5 percent) and
Maryland (37.9 percent). Impacts to social resources such as population
and housing would be minor and temporary.
Visual Quality
The Selected Alternative would result in minor adverse impacts to
external viewscapes. Existing topographical features and vegetation
that largely block many potential views from adjacent neighborhoods
would not be significantly altered as a result of the Selected
Alternative.
[[Page 56473]]
The Selected Alternative would result in minor to moderate adverse
impacts to internal viewscapes. The construction of the Industrial
Water Storage System would require removal of a grassy area with trees.
This would result in a minor negative impact to the visual character of
that area of the Campus. The construction of the Thermal Energy Storage
System would have a moderate adverse impact, as the associated tank
would be viewable from the central part of the Campus. Also,
implementation of the Selected Alternative could result in removal of
existing trees and vegetation from the Building 34 site that currently
reduces views from the north. The scale of this potential impact is
somewhat tempered as the tank would be adjacent to a parking garage and
the CUP, so it would not be entirely out of character with surrounding
structures.
Under the Selected Alternative, all structures would be constructed
to a height that does not exceed the Master Plan building height
guidance. Construction of the Industrial Water Storage System into the
hillside slope near Parking Lot 41 would be consistent with Master Plan
guidance for minimizing the visual impact of new construction.
Noise
Implementation of the Selected Alternative would result in
temporary minor noise impacts due to construction activities as well as
long-term moderate noise impacts due to operational changes at the CUP.
Air Quality
Implementation of the Selected Alternative would result in minor
direct and indirect impacts to air quality.
Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Construction and demolition activities would generate temporary
greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, while periodic emergency generator use,
would generate recurring GHG emissions. Current GHG methodologies
outlined in the TSD do not describe how to account for construction
activities; therefore, they are not included in the current NIH GHG
inventory. NIH would strive to minimize GHG emissions by implementing
construction, renovation, and demolition best practices.
Stormwater
Temporary Construction Impacts
Implementation of the Selected Alternative would result in minor
temporary impacts to stormwater quantity and quality due to earth
disturbances during construction activities. The Limit of Disturbance
(LOD) for the Selected Alternative would be approximately 467,000 SF of
earth during construction activities.
Potential erosion and sediment runoff impacts would be mitigated
through stormwater management, including the development of an erosion
and sediment control plan that is approved by MDE. The construction of
the Thermal Energy Storage System and Industrial Water Storage System
would each disturb more than one acre and therefore would obtain
coverage under the MDE 2014 General Permit for Stormwater Associated
with Construction Activity. As a result, construction activities under
the Proposed Action would have a minor impact on stormwater quality.
Long-Term Stormwater Management
Implementation of the Selected Alternative would result in minor
long-term stormwater management impacts. The Selected Alternative would
increase impervious surface at the Campus by approximately 153,000 SF,
which would increase runoff within the Rock Creek Watershed relative to
baseline conditions. However, the construction of the Thermal Energy
Storage System and Industrial Water Storage System would each disturb
greater than 5,000 SF, and therefore site design would be required to
meet The Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (EISA 2007)
Section 438 requirements to restore each site to predevelopment
conditions. This requirement would minimize hydrologic impacts
resulting from increased stormwater runoff volumes, such as damage to
storm sewer infrastructure, increased likelihood of flooding, and
increased erosion.
The Selected Alternative would require permanent site stormwater
management to control runoff and provide water quality treatment per
federal and Maryland stormwater regulations. Long-term stormwater
management facilities would be designed and installed per an MDE
approved stormwater management plan. The NIH would incorporate
appropriate and feasible Environmental Site Design (ESD) practices into
the project designs to restore the predevelopment hydrology to the
maximum extent technically feasible. Overall, these ESD practices would
reduce runoff volume and rate, disperse flow, remove pollutants, and
provide for groundwater recharge by facilitating infiltration into the
soil.
Construction of the Industrial Water Storage System and Thermal
Energy Storage System would likely incorporate bioretention areas
including stormwater planter boxes. These vegetated areas would
infiltrate runoff from impervious surfaces at the site, reducing the
quantity of stormwater runoff and improving the water quality.
The Selected Alternative would not impact coverage under the
Campus's Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System, MS4 permit.
Historic Resources
Construction of the Thermal Energy Storage System and associated
infrastructure would result in temporary construction impacts (e.g.,
noise) and a permanent change in the appearance of the Building 34
site. These impacts would be perceptible from the rear of the historic
Biologics Standards Laboratory and Annex (Buildings 29 and 29A),
located north of the project site. The new infrastructure would also
result in a minor change in the appearance of the Campus when viewed
from the historic National Library of Medicine (NLM) complex (Buildings
38 and 38A). Additionally, construction of the Industrial Water Storage
System may result in a minor change in the appearance of the Campus
when viewed from the upper levels of Building 38A. Construction of
these new facilities, however, would not affect the integrity of
setting of these historic properties; would not obscure or compromise
their original design intent; and would not otherwise affect the
characteristics that qualify these historic properties for listing in
the National Register.
Based on this analysis, the NIH has determined that the Selected
Alternative would not adversely affect any historic properties or MIHP-
listed properties. Pursuant to Section 106 of the NHPA, the NIH
initiated consultation with the MD SHPO to obtain their concurrence
with this finding. MD SHPO's concurrence of no adverse effect was
received on 20 April 2015.
Practicable Means To Avoid or Minimize Potential Environmental Harm
From the Selected Alternative
All practicable means to avoid or minimize adverse environmental
effects from the Selected Alternative have been identified and
incorporated into the action. The proposed Chilled Water System
Improvement construction will be subject to the existing NIH pollution
prevention, waste management, and safety, security, and emergency
response procedures as well as existing environmental permits. Best
management practices, spill prevention and control, and stormwater
management plans will be followed to appropriately address the
construction and operation of the new Chilled Water
[[Page 56474]]
System and comply with applicable regulatory and NIH requirements. No
additional mitigation measures have been identified.
Pollution Prevention
Air quality permit standards will be met, as will all federal,
state, and local requirements to protect the environment and public
health.
Conclusion
Based upon review and careful consideration, the NIH has decided to
implement the Selected Alternative for a Chilled Water System
Improvement System located in Bethesda, Maryland. The decision accounts
for a potential outside disturbance interrupting the campus water
supply. The system will provide sufficient storage capacity to meet two
days of chilled water demand and two days of industrial water demand
should an interruption occur.
The decision was based upon review and careful consideration of the
impacts identified in the Final EIS and public comments received
throughout the NEPA process.
Dated: September 8, 2015.
Daniel G. Wheeland,
Director, Office of Research Facilities Development and Operations,
National Institutes of Health.
[FR Doc. 2015-23487 Filed 9-17-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4140-01-P
