Notice of Availability of a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Reconfiguration of VA Black Hills Health Care System (BHHCS), 66978-66979 [2015-27684]

Download as PDF 66978 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 210 / Friday, October 30, 2015 / Notices Administration (VBA), Department of Veterans Affairs, will submit the collection of information abstracted below to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and comment. The PRA submission describes the nature of the information collection and its expected cost and burden; it includes the actual data collection instrument. Comments must be submitted on or before November 30, 2015. DATES: Submit written comments on the collection of information through www.Regulations.gov, or to Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, Attn: VA Desk Officer; 725 17th St. NW., Washington, DC 20503 or sent through electronic mail to oira_submission@ omb.eop.gov. Please refer to ‘‘OMB Control No. 2900–0319’’ in any correspondence. ADDRESSES: FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Crystal Rennie, Enterprise Records Service (005R1B), Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20420, (202) 632– 7492 or email crystal.rennie@va.gov. Please refer to ‘‘OMB Control No. 2900– 0319.’’ tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Title: Supplement to VA Form 21P–4703. OMB Control Number: 2900–0319. Type of Review: Revision of a currently approved collection. Abstract: VA maintains supervision of the distribution and use of VA benefits paid to fiduciaries on behalf of VA claimants who are incompetent, a minor, or under legal disability. This form is used as a legal contract between VA and a federal fiduciary. It outlines the responsibilities of the fiduciary with respect to the uses of VA funds. An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number. The Federal Register Notice with a 60-day comment period soliciting comments on this collection of information was published at 80 FR 46388 on August 4, 2015. Affected Public: Individuals or households. Estimated Annual Burden: 3,917. Estimated Average Burden per Respondent: 5 minutes. Frequency of Response: One time. Estimated Number of Respondents: 47,000. VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:37 Oct 29, 2015 Jkt 238001 By direction of the Secretary. Kathleen M. Manwell, Program Analyst, VA Privacy Service, Office of Privacy and Records Management Department of Veterans Affairs. [FR Doc. 2015–27670 Filed 10–29–15; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 8320–01–P DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS Notice of Availability of a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Reconfiguration of VA Black Hills Health Care System (BHHCS) AGENCY: Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). ACTION: Notice of availability. VA proposes to reconfigure health care services throughout the 100,000-square mile VA BHHCS service area, including the addition of purchased care for Veterans from community providers to improve geographic access to care. In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), VA has prepared a Draft EIS that analyzes the potential impacts of six alternatives for changes to VA’s facilities in Hot Springs and Rapid City, South Dakota, to support the proposed services reconfiguration. The Draft EIS uses the substitution approach for integrating compliance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act into the EIS process. The Draft EIS is available for review on the agency Web site and at public libraries in the service area. DATES: Interested parties are invited to submit comments in writing on the VA BHHCS Reconfiguration Draft EIS by January 5, 2016. ADDRESSES: Submit written comments on the VA BHHCS Reconfiguration Draft EIS online through www.blackhillseis.com, by email to vablackhillsfuture@va.gov, or by regular mail to Staff Assistant to the Director, VA Black Hills Health Care System, 113 Comanche Road, Fort Meade, SD 57741. Please refer to ‘‘BHHCS Reconfiguration Draft EIS’’ in any correspondence. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Staff Assistant to the Director, VA Black Hills Health Care System, 113 Comanche Road, Fort Meade, SD 57741 or by email to vablackhillsfuture@va.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: VA proposes to reconfigure health care services throughout the VA BHHCS service area including, under Alternatives A through D, the addition of purchased care for Veterans from community providers; this reconfiguration would improve the SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00113 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 system’s compliance with VA’s ‘‘Geographic Access to Care’’ guidelines. Six alternatives are considered in detail in the Draft EIS, as well as a supplement to four of the alternatives. The alternatives propose different locations and combinations of facilities serving as a community-based outpatient clinic (CBOC), a multispecialty outpatient clinic (MSOC), and a residential rehabilitation treatment program (RRTP) facility; expanding, renovating, or vacating existing facilities; and taking no action: A. Hot Springs—new CBOC, cease services at existing VA campus; Rapid City—new MSOC (replacing leased CBOC) and 100-bed RRTP. B. Hot Springs—new CBOC and 100bed RRTP, cease services at existing VA campus; Rapid City—new MSOC (replacing leased CBOC). C. Hot Springs—renovations for new CBOC in Building 12 and 100-bed RRTP in domiciliary at existing VA campus; Rapid City—new MSOC (replacing leased CBOC). D. Hot Springs—new CBOC and 24bed RRTP, cease services at existing VA campus; Rapid City—new MSOC (replacing leased CBOC) and 76-bed RRTP. E. Save the VA Proposal. Hot Springs—renovations and construction to continue and expand inpatient and outpatient services at existing VA campus, including 200-bed RRTP; Rapid City—services from existing leased CBOC. F. No Action. G. Supplemental alternative to A, B, C, or D for re-use of part or all of existing Hot Springs campus. The analysis uses the substitution procedures defined in the regulations for implementing Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act, by which agencies can develop an integrated NEPA analysis to substitute the NEPA process for effects analysis and consultation under Section 106. Formal consultation and identification and resolution of effects to historic properties are documented throughout the EIS. Environmental topics that are addressed in the Draft EIS include aesthetics, air quality, cultural resources and historic properties, geology and soils, hydrology and water quality, wildlife and habitat, noise, land use, floodplains and wetlands, socioeconomics, community services, solid waste and hazardous materials, transportation and parking, utilities, and environmental justice. Best management practices and mitigation measures that could alleviate environmental effects E:\FR\FM\30OCN1.SGM 30OCN1 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 210 / Friday, October 30, 2015 / Notices have been considered and are included where relevant within the Draft EIS. The VA BHHCS Reconfiguration Draft EIS is available for viewing on the VA BHHCS Web site www.blackhills.va.gov/ vablackhillsfuture/ and at the Hot Springs, Rapid City Downtown, Sturgis, Chadron, Alliance, Lied Scottsbluff, and Pierre (Rawlins Municipal) public libraries; as well as in Pine Ridge at the Oglala Lakota College Pine Ridge Center library on the high school campus. Information related to the EIS process is also available for viewing on the VA BHHCS Web site www.blackhills.va.gov/ vablackhillsfuture/. Meetings Interested parties are invited to participate in any of six public meetings summarizing the results of the Draft EIS. These meetings will be held in Rapid City, SD; Hot Springs, SD; Pine Ridge, SD; Chadron, NE; Alliance, NE; and Scottsbluff, NE. The dates, times, and locations for these meetings will be published online at www.blackhills.va. gov/vablackhillsfuture/. At the public meetings, interested parties will also have the opportunity to comment regarding the National Historic Preservation Act Section 106 process, which has been integrated into this NEPA process. 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. Robert L. Nabors II, Chief of Staff, Department of Veterans Affairs, approved this document on October 26, 2015, for publication. Dated: October 27, 2015. Michael Shores, Chief Impact Analyst, Office of Regulation Policy & Management, Office of the General Counsel, Department of Veterans Affairs. [FR Doc. 2015–27684 Filed 10–29–15; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 8320–01–P DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES National Research Advisory Council; Notice of Meeting The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) gives notice under the Federal Advisory Committee Act, 5 U.S.C., App. 2, that the National Research Advisory Council will hold a meeting on Wednesday, December 9, 2015, at 810 Vermont Ave. NW., Conference Room VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:37 Oct 29, 2015 Jkt 238001 730, Washington, DC 20420. The meeting will convene at 9:00 a.m. and end at 4:00 p.m., and is open to the public. Anyone attending must show a valid photo ID to building security and be escorted to the meeting. Please allow 15 minutes before the meeting begins for this process. The agenda will include a review of the Million Veteran Program and a joint meeting with the Association of American Medical Colleges. No time will be allocated at this meeting for receiving oral presentations from the public. Members of the public wanting to attend, or needing further information may contact Pauline Cilladi-Rehrer, Designated Federal Officer, ORD (10P9), Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20420, at (202) 443–5607, or by email at pauline.cilladirehrer@va.gov, at least 5 days prior to the meeting date. Dated: October 27, 2015. Rebecca Schiller, Advisory Committee Management Officer. [FR Doc. 2015–27680 Filed 10–29–15; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 8320–01–P DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for a Replacement Robley Rex Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Louisville, Kentucky Department of Veterans Affairs. Notice of intent. AGENCY: ACTION: Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321, et seq.), VA intends to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for constructing and operating a new campus to replace the existing VA Medical Center, Veterans Benefits Administration office, and three community-based outpatient clinics in Louisville, Kentucky. VA seeks public scoping input on the EIS. DATES: Interested parties are invited to submit scoping comments for the Replacement Louisville VAMC EIS by Monday, November 30, 2015. ADDRESSES: Submit scoping comments online through www.Louisville-EIS.com, by email to LouisvilleReplacement HospitalComments@va.gov, or by regular mail to Robley Rex VAMC, Attn: Replacement VAMC Activation Team Office, 800 Zorn Avenue, Louisville, KY 40206. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Robley Rex VAMC, Attn: Replacement SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00114 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 66979 VAMC Activation Team Office, 800 Zorn Avenue, Louisville, KY 40206 or by email to LouisvilleReplacement HospitalComments@va.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: VA proposes to construct and operate a new 104-bed hospital, which will include diagnostic and treatment facilities, a Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) regional office, and required site amenities and improvements on a new campus. This proposed project would replace the existing Robley Rex VA Medical Center (VAMC), three community-based outpatient clinics, and the existing VBA regional office with new facilities of sufficient capacity to meet the current and projected future healthcare needs of Veterans in the Louisville service area. The proposed project is needed because the existing Louisville VAMC facilities on Zorn Avenue have reached the end of their serviceable lives. The building conditions and site configuration at the existing 63-year old VAMC are inadequate to effectively and efficiently meet the expanding needs of VA’s health care mission and VBA services in the region. Within the Louisville service area, 60,943 Veterans were enrolled to receive care in Fiscal Year 2014. Enrollment is expected to increase to more than 68,000 by FY 2024. During this same time period, outpatient clinic stops are expected to increase from 763,104 to over 963,000. The existing Louisville VAMC facility is insufficient to meet the current and the increasing future needs of VA’s health care mission in the region. Therefore, VA conducted studies beginning in 2009 that recommended new facilities be constructed on a new site that would be better suited to meet future needs. VA has identified two potential action alternatives to be analyzed in detail in this EIS: Construction and operation of a replacement VAMC campus at the ‘‘Brownsboro Site’’ at 4906 Brownsboro Road, Louisville; and construction and operation of a replacement VAMC campus at the ‘‘St. Joseph Site,’’ on a parcel located east of I–265 and south of Factory Lane in Louisville. The Brownsboro and St. Joseph Sites were identified through a site selection process conducted by VA in 2011. The Brownsboro Site was acquired by VA in 2012 as the proposed location for the replacement VAMC. In addition to these two action alternatives, the EIS also will evaluate the impacts associated with No Action or ‘‘status quo’’ as required by the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and its implementing regulations. The three community-based outpatient clinics and the existing VBA E:\FR\FM\30OCN1.SGM 30OCN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 210 (Friday, October 30, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 66978-66979]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-27684]


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DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS


Notice of Availability of a Draft Environmental Impact Statement 
(EIS) for the Reconfiguration of VA Black Hills Health Care System 
(BHHCS)

AGENCY: Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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

SUMMARY: VA proposes to reconfigure health care services throughout the 
100,000-square mile VA BHHCS service area, including the addition of 
purchased care for Veterans from community providers to improve 
geographic access to care. In accordance with the National 
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), VA has prepared a Draft EIS that 
analyzes the potential impacts of six alternatives for changes to VA's 
facilities in Hot Springs and Rapid City, South Dakota, to support the 
proposed services reconfiguration. The Draft EIS uses the substitution 
approach for integrating compliance with Section 106 of the National 
Historic Preservation Act into the EIS process. The Draft EIS is 
available for review on the agency Web site and at public libraries in 
the service area.

DATES: Interested parties are invited to submit comments in writing on 
the VA BHHCS Reconfiguration Draft EIS by January 5, 2016.

ADDRESSES: Submit written comments on the VA BHHCS Reconfiguration 
Draft EIS online through www.blackhillseis.com, by email to 
vablackhillsfuture@va.gov, or by regular mail to Staff Assistant to the 
Director, VA Black Hills Health Care System, 113 Comanche Road, Fort 
Meade, SD 57741. Please refer to ``BHHCS Reconfiguration Draft EIS'' in 
any correspondence.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Staff Assistant to the Director, VA 
Black Hills Health Care System, 113 Comanche Road, Fort Meade, SD 57741 
or by email to vablackhillsfuture@va.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: VA proposes to reconfigure health care 
services throughout the VA BHHCS service area including, under 
Alternatives A through D, the addition of purchased care for Veterans 
from community providers; this reconfiguration would improve the 
system's compliance with VA's ``Geographic Access to Care'' guidelines.
    Six alternatives are considered in detail in the Draft EIS, as well 
as a supplement to four of the alternatives. The alternatives propose 
different locations and combinations of facilities serving as a 
community-based outpatient clinic (CBOC), a multi-specialty outpatient 
clinic (MSOC), and a residential rehabilitation treatment program 
(RRTP) facility; expanding, renovating, or vacating existing 
facilities; and taking no action:
    A. Hot Springs--new CBOC, cease services at existing VA campus; 
Rapid City--new MSOC (replacing leased CBOC) and 100-bed RRTP.
    B. Hot Springs--new CBOC and 100-bed RRTP, cease services at 
existing VA campus; Rapid City--new MSOC (replacing leased CBOC).
    C. Hot Springs--renovations for new CBOC in Building 12 and 100-bed 
RRTP in domiciliary at existing VA campus; Rapid City--new MSOC 
(replacing leased CBOC).
    D. Hot Springs--new CBOC and 24-bed RRTP, cease services at 
existing VA campus; Rapid City--new MSOC (replacing leased CBOC) and 
76-bed RRTP.
    E. Save the VA Proposal.
    Hot Springs--renovations and construction to continue and expand 
inpatient and outpatient services at existing VA campus, including 200-
bed RRTP; Rapid City--services from existing leased CBOC.
    F. No Action.
    G. Supplemental alternative to A, B, C, or D for re-use of part or 
all of existing Hot Springs campus.
    The analysis uses the substitution procedures defined in the 
regulations for implementing Section 106 of the National Historic 
Preservation Act, by which agencies can develop an integrated NEPA 
analysis to substitute the NEPA process for effects analysis and 
consultation under Section 106. Formal consultation and identification 
and resolution of effects to historic properties are documented 
throughout the EIS.
    Environmental topics that are addressed in the Draft EIS include 
aesthetics, air quality, cultural resources and historic properties, 
geology and soils, hydrology and water quality, wildlife and habitat, 
noise, land use, floodplains and wetlands, socioeconomics, community 
services, solid waste and hazardous materials, transportation and 
parking, utilities, and environmental justice. Best management 
practices and mitigation measures that could alleviate environmental 
effects

[[Page 66979]]

have been considered and are included where relevant within the Draft 
EIS.
    The VA BHHCS Reconfiguration Draft EIS is available for viewing on 
the VA BHHCS Web site www.blackhills.va.gov/vablackhillsfuture/ and at 
the Hot Springs, Rapid City Downtown, Sturgis, Chadron, Alliance, Lied 
Scottsbluff, and Pierre (Rawlins Municipal) public libraries; as well 
as in Pine Ridge at the Oglala Lakota College Pine Ridge Center library 
on the high school campus.
    Information related to the EIS process is also available for 
viewing on the VA BHHCS Web site www.blackhills.va.gov/vablackhillsfuture/.

Meetings

    Interested parties are invited to participate in any of six public 
meetings summarizing the results of the Draft EIS. These meetings will 
be held in Rapid City, SD; Hot Springs, SD; Pine Ridge, SD; Chadron, 
NE; Alliance, NE; and Scottsbluff, NE. The dates, times, and locations 
for these meetings will be published online at www.blackhills.va.gov/vablackhillsfuture/.
    At the public meetings, interested parties will also have the 
opportunity to comment regarding the National Historic Preservation Act 
Section 106 process, which has been integrated into this NEPA process.

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. Robert L. 
Nabors II, Chief of Staff, Department of Veterans Affairs, approved 
this document on October 26, 2015, for publication.

    Dated: October 27, 2015.
Michael Shores,
Chief Impact Analyst, Office of Regulation Policy & Management, Office 
of the General Counsel, Department of Veterans Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2015-27684 Filed 10-29-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8320-01-P
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