Notice of Availability of the Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Foreign Missions Center at the Former Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Washington, DC, 16870-16871 [2017-06789]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 65 (Thursday, April 6, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16870-16871]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-06789]


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DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice: 9950]


Notice of Availability of the Supplemental Draft Environmental 
Impact Statement for the Foreign Missions Center at the Former Walter 
Reed Army Medical Center, Washington, DC

AGENCY: Department of State.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of State (DOS) announces the availability 
of the Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Statement (SDEIS) on the 
master plan for the long-term development of a Foreign Missions Center, 
under authorities of the Foreign Missions Act of 1982, on the site of 
the former Walter Reed Army Medical Center (WRAMC) in the District of 
Columbia. Actions evaluated in the master plan consist of assignment of 
federal land to foreign missions for the purpose of constructing and 
operating new chancery facilities. DOS has prepared this SDEIS on the 
alternatives considered for the master plan, consistent with the 
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, as amended, 
regulations developed by the Council on Environmental Quality (40 CFR 
part 1500), and DOS regulations for implementing NEPA (22 CFR part 
161).
    The master plan is intended to guide the development of a cohesive 
campus by establishing design and land-use planning principles for the 
construction of new buildings, roadways, open green space, and 
utilities, while minimizing environmental impacts. The SDEIS analyzes 
the potential impacts associated with a no action alternative and an 
action alternative that could potentially satisfy the purpose and need 
defined in the SDEIS and master plan.
    A Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) was previously 
circulated publicly in February 2014. Subsequent to the publication of 
the DEIS, the total acreage of the land available for transfer from the 
Army to DOS was reduced from 43.5 to 31.7 acres through the National 
Defense Authorization Act of 2015. Because of the change in the 
proposed action, DOS has prepared an SDEIS to describe the new 
preferred alternative, and evaluate any change in potential impacts 
from the reduction in size of the proposed action.
    In addition, the DOS is carrying out the Section 106 review process 
under the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, through which it 
consults with interested parties on the potential effect of the 
proposed undertaking on identified historic properties.

DATES: This notice announces the opening of the public comment process 
the DOS will use to gather input from the public on the proposed 
project. Please note that the public comment period will close on May 
18, 2017.

ADDRESSES: Requests for information on the SDEIS should be directed to 
Geoffrey Hunt, Department of State, A/OPR/RPM, Room 1264, 2201 C St. 
NW., Washington, DC 20520-1264.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A ``chancery'' is the principal offices of a 
foreign mission used for diplomatic or related purposes, and annexes to 
such offices (including ancillary offices and support facilities), and 
includes the site and any buildings on the site which are used for such 
purposes. A ``foreign mission'' is any mission to or agency or entity 
in the United States which is involved in diplomatic, consular or other 
activities of, or which is substantially owned or effectively 
controlled by, a foreign government; or an organization representing a 
territory or political entity which has been granted diplomatic or 
other official privileges and immunities under the laws of the United 
States or which engages in some aspect of the conduct of international 
affairs of such territory or political entity, including any real 
property of such a mission and the personnel of such a mission.
    The need for the project is based on increased and high demand for 
foreign mission facilities in the District of Columbia, a lack of large 
sites for foreign mission development or redevelopment in the District 
of Columbia, and the need for land to use in property exchanges with 
other countries. The proposed foreign missions center is needed to 
primarily address the increasing scarcity of suitable properties within 
the District of Columbia to locate the operations of foreign missions. 
This scarcity has impacted, in certain cases, the DOS's ability to 
acquire properties of considerable size in foreign capitals nations.

Alternatives Considered

    The DOS identified, developed, and analyzed the No Action 
Alternative and seven action alternatives that could potentially 
satisfy the proposed action's purpose and need. One action alternative, 
Alternative 1, and the No Action Alternative, were retained for 
detailed study in the DEIS. Alternative 1 was dismissed from detailed 
study within the SDEIS because it is no longer viable given the change 
in total acreage

[[Page 16871]]

required by the National Defense Authorization Act of 2015. DOS, in 
coordination with U.S. Commission of Fine Arts, the National Capital 
Planning Commission, The District of Columbia Historic Preservation 
Office, and District of Columbia Department of Transportation, then 
developed Alternative 7. Alternative 7 and the No Action Alternative 
were retained for detailed study within the SDEIS.
    Alternative 7 would provide up to 15 lots for chancery development, 
retain the historic Memorial Chapel building for adaptive reuse, and 
potentially retain other buildings for adaptive reuse, depending on 
marketability. Dahlia Street and 14th Street would be developed as 
connections to the surrounding neighborhoods. The existing historic 
perimeter fence along 16th Street and Alaska Avenue would remain. The 
existing landscape on the western boundary of the site would be 
enhanced to create a 50-foot vegetated buffer, maximizing the tree 
canopy in that area. Access to individual lots would be internal to the 
former WRAMC campus.
    The No Action Alternative was included to provide a basis for 
comparison to the action alternative described above as required by the 
NEPA regulations (40 CFR 1002.14(d)).
    After careful consideration of the alternatives developed in 
response to the study's purpose and needs and in coordination with 
jurisdictional and interested agencies, DOS has identified Alternative 
7 as its Preferred Action Alternative because it best satisfies the 
study purpose and needs, would fulfill their statutory mission and 
responsibilities, and has the least adverse environmental impact.

Public Comment/Distribution

    You are encouraged to become involved in this process and provide 
your comments or concerns about the proposed project. The public 
comment period provides the public with an opportunity to present 
comments regarding the content and findings of the SDEIS for the 
Foreign Missions Center at the former Walter Reed Army Medical Center. 
The SDEIS is available to the public at the Web site: https://www.state.gov/ofm/property/fmc/index.htm. The DOS sends information 
related to this environmental review to individuals, organizations, and 
government entities interested in and/or potentially affected by the 
proposed project and maintains a distribution list for this purpose. 
The distribution list includes: Federal, state, and local government 
representatives and agencies; elected officials; environmental and 
public interest groups; other interested parties; and local libraries 
and newspapers. Copies are being distributed for public review at the 
Advisory Neighborhood Commission 4A and 4B offices, the Juanita E. 
Thornton-Shepherd Park Library, the Takoma Park Neighborhood Library, 
and the Petworth Neighborhood Library.
    DOS invites individuals, organizations and agencies to submit 
comments. DOS requests comments on the SDEIS that focus on the 
potential environmental impacts of the proposed project, reasonable 
alternatives, and measures to further avoid or lessen environmental 
impacts. The public comment period starts with the publication of this 
notice in the Federal Register and will continue through May 18, 2017. 
DOS will consider and respond to comments received on the SDEIS in 
preparing the Final EIS. Comments may be submitted by email to: 
FMC.info@state.gov">FMC.info@state.gov or by U.S. mail to: Geoffrey Hunt, Department of 
State, A/OPR/RPM, Room 1264, 2210 C St. NW., Washington, DC 20520-1264.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Geoffrey Hunt by email at 
FMC.info@state.gov">FMC.info@state.gov.

Cliff C. Seagroves,
Director of the Office of Foreign Missions, Department of State.
[FR Doc. 2017-06789 Filed 4-5-17; 8:45 am]
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