Draft Environmental Impact Statement Addressing Heat and Electrical Upgrades at Fort Wainwright, Alaska, 64133-64134 [2020-22368]
Download as PDF
<![CDATA[
Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 197 / Friday, October 9, 2020 / Notices
order to comply with airfield safety
regulations. As such, the appraisals
indicated both parcels have no
economic use in a competitive
marketplace and therefore worth a
nominal or ‘‘zero’’ monetary value. The
restrictions will stay in place after the
land exchange in order to serve both
parties future interests with regard to
the usage of the land.
On September 18, 2020, the Air Force
notified the appropriate Congressional
committees of the terms and conditions
of the proposed exchange pursuant to 10
U.S.C. 2869(d)(2).
Authority: 10 U.S.C. 2869(d)(1) and 10
U.S.C. 2684a(d)(4)(B)
Adriane Paris,
Acting Air Force Federal Register Liaison
Officer.
[FR Doc. 2020–22359 Filed 10–8–20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 5001–10–P
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Army
Draft Environmental Impact Statement
Addressing Heat and Electrical
Upgrades at Fort Wainwright, Alaska
Department of the Army, DOD.
Notice of availability.
AGENCY:
ACTION:
The Department of the Army
announces the availability of the Draft
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)
as part of the environmental planning
process to address heat and electrical
upgrades at Fort Wainwright, Alaska.
The current condition of the heat and
power plant, one of the oldest coal-fired
central heat and power plants (CHPP) in
the United States, and its aging heat
distribution system requires an upgrade
to provide reliable heat and electrical
infrastructure for the installation that
resolves safety, resiliency, fiscal, and
regulatory concerns. The Draft EIS
evaluates reasonable alternatives,
potential environmental impacts, and
key issues of concern. A preferred
alternative is not identified at this time.
Comments received on the Draft EIS
will be fully considered prior to
determining which alternative would be
the Army’s preferred alternative, a
preference that will be identified when
the Final EIS is published.
DATES: Comments must be received by
December 8, 2020 to be considered in
the preparation of the Final EIS.
ADDRESSES: Please submit written
comments to Laura Sample, NEPA
Program Manager at: Directorate of
Public Works, ATTN: IMFW–PWE (L.
Sample), 1046 Marks Road #4500, Fort
SUMMARY:
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:26 Oct 08, 2020
Jkt 253001
Wainwright, AK 99703–4500, email:
usarmy.wainwright.id-pacific.mbx.heueis@mail.mil.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Please contact Grant Sattler, Public
Affairs Office, IMPC–FWA–PAO
(Sattler), 1060 Gaffney Road #5900, Fort
Wainwright, AK 99703–5900; telephone
(907) 353–6701; email:
alan.g.sattler.civ@mail.mil.
Fort
Wainwright, Alaska is located in the
interior of Alaska in the Fairbanks North
Star Borough, and is home to the U.S.
Army Garrison (USAG) Alaska and units
of United States Army Alaska
(USARAK). The soldiers, families, and
civilians that make up the Fort
Wainwright population are reliant upon
a 65-year old coal-fired CHPP and an
antiquated heat distribution system to
heat and power more than 400 facilities.
The CHPP is one of the oldest
operational coal-fired power plants in
the United States and is operating
beyond the average design life of similar
facilities. Constructing upgraded heat
and electrical infrastructure would
reduce utility costs, minimize the risk of
a catastrophic failure, help safeguard
mission readiness, meet energy
efficiency standards, be compliant with
emissions standards, and conform to
Army-directed energy security criteria.
The Army identified three reasonable
Action Alternatives that would meet the
purpose of and need for the Proposed
Action. Alternatives considered in the
Draft EIS, including a No Action
Alternative, are (1) construction of a
new coal-fired CHPP, (2) construction of
a new dual-fuel combustion turbine
generator CHPP that would be primarily
fueled by natural gas, and (3)
decentralization of heat and power in
which heat would be provided by
distributed natural gas boilers installed
at facilities across the installation and
electricity would be purchased from a
local utility provider.
The Draft EIS evaluates the potential
direct, indirect, and cumulative
environmental and socioeconomic
impacts of these alternatives. Adverse
impacts would be minimized to the
extent possible through implementation
of the avoidance, minimization, and
mitigation measures.
Resource areas analyzed in the Draft
EIS include: Air quality, utilities,
hazardous and toxic materials and
wastes, socioeconomics, environmental
justice, noise, land use, transportation
and traffic, human health and safety,
geology and soil resources, water
resources, cultural resources, and
airspace.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
PO 00000
Frm 00026
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
64133
Unavoidable environmental impacts
would result from implementation of
the Proposed Action. Significant,
adverse impacts would be anticipated
for socioeconomics (Alternatives 2 and
3, reduced coal demand), environmental
justice (Alternatives 2 and 3, reduced
coal demand), and cultural resources
(Alternative 3, utilidor upgrades in Ladd
Field National Historic Landmark). Less
than significant, adverse impacts
include increases in water turbidity;
disturbance of sediments; noise from
construction; localized habitat
degradation; soil disturbance and
erosion; stormwater runoff into surface
water; and increased traffic, air
emissions, and noise associated with
construction vehicles and activities.
Beneficial impacts would be anticipated
for utilities (increased heating efficiency
and improved system reliability). Under
the No Action alternative, significant,
adverse impacts would be anticipated
for utilities, environmental justice, and
human health and safety due to
continued risk of plant failure.
Federal, state, and local agencies;
Alaska Natives; Native Americans;
Native American organizations and
tribes; private organizations; and the
public are invited to be involved in this
EIS process by providing verbal or
written comments. An online open
house is available at https://
home.army.mil/alaska/index.php/fortwainwright/NEPA/HEU-EIS and a
virtual public meeting will be
announced locally. The date and time of
the virtual public participation will be
announced via Fairbanks and Healy,
Alaska local news media and on digital
platforms. Holding the public comment
meeting virtually is required because of
COVID–19 safety concerns.
An electronic copy of the Draft EIS is
available online at: https://
home.army.mil/alaska/index.php/fortwainwright/NEPA/HEU-EIS. Copies of
the Draft EIS will be available for review
at the Noel Wien Library, 1215 Cowles
Street, Fairbanks, AK 99701; the Post
Library, Building 3700, Santiago
Avenue, Fort Wainwright, AK 99703;
and the Tri-Valley Community Library,
400 Suntrana Road, Healy, AK 99743, if
these facilities are open. Copies of the
Draft EIS are also available by
submitting a request to: See ADDRESSES.
Written comments must be sent within
December 8, 2020. The Department of
the Army will consider all comments
received on the Draft EIS when
preparing the Final EIS. As with the
Draft EIS, the Department of the Army
E:\FR\FM\09OCN1.SGM
09OCN1
64134
Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 197 / Friday, October 9, 2020 / Notices
will announce the availability of the
Final EIS.
James W. Satterwhite Jr.,
Alternate Army Federal Register Liaison
Officer.
[FR Doc. 2020–22368 Filed 10–8–20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 5061–AP–P
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Army
Draft Environmental Impact Statement
for Clinton District Area Development,
U.S. Army Garrison West Point, New
York
Department of the Army, DoD.
Notice of intent.
AGENCY:
ACTION:
Pursuant to Section 102(2)(c)
of the National Environmental Policy
Act of 1969 (NEPA), as implemented by
the Council on Environmental Quality
Regulations (40 CFR parts 1500–1508),
the Department of the Army (Army)
announces its intent to conduct public
scoping to gather information to prepare
an Environmental Impact Statement
(EIS) for implementing the Clinton
District Area Development Plan (Clinton
District ADP) at U.S. Army Garrison
West Point (USAG West Point), New
York. USAG West Point is home to the
U.S. Military Academy (USMA), the
U.S. Army’s preeminent leader
development institution. The EIS will
evaluate the environmental impacts
from implementing the Clinton District
ADP.
DATES: Comments must be received by
November 23, 2020.
ADDRESSES: Please send written
comments about the scope of the EIS
and questions concerning the proposed
action to: Mr. Christopher Pray, U.S.
Army Garrison, West Point, NEPA
Coordinator, P.O. Box 102, West Point,
NY 10996. Comments may also be
provided via email to:
WestpointClinton-ADPEIS@
usace.army.mil.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr.
Christopher Pray, U.S. Army Garrison
West Point, NEPA Coordinator, IMML–
PWE, Building 667, Ruger Road, West
Point, NY 10996, Christopher Pray at
(845) 938–7122 or by email at
Christopher.c.pray.civ@mail.mil.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
purpose and need for the proposed
action (implementation of the Clinton
District ADP) is to provide
improvements and effective long-term
management of installation facilities
and infrastructure within the Clinton
District so that USMA can continue to
SUMMARY:
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:26 Oct 08, 2020
Jkt 253001
improve its offerings to meet evolving
educational standards concurrent with
its goal of training its Corps of Cadets
as future leaders in the defense of the
nation and its core values. These
improvements are necessary to satisfy
these high standards while maintaining
the visual character of the historic
landscape in and around USAG West
Point. The Clinton District comprises
the main campus of USMA, and this
ADP is one of seven separate ADPs in
the USAG West Point Real Property
Master Plan (RPMP), which addresses
the effective long-term management of
installation facilities and infrastructure
through a comprehensive and
collaborative planning process. The
Clinton District is the most sensitive
area at USAG West Point due to its
location within the USMA National
Historic Landmark District, and it
encompasses historic buildings and
structures, archeological sites, and
historic landscapes. The Clinton District
ADP is a critical component of the
RPMP because it is home to USMA’s
academic core. It contains the majority
of the academic, athletic, and waterfront
areas, and includes such prominent
sites as Trophy Point, West Point
Cemetery, Eisenhower Hall, and The
Plain.
The implementation of the projects
proposed in the ADP would allow
improvements and effective long-term
management of installation facilities
and infrastructure within the Clinton
District. USMA needs to continue
improving its infrastructure while
observing the constraints of its physical
location and protecting its cultural and
natural resources. The ADP analyses
several projects that are to be built,
renovated, or reorganized to meet the
needs of providing modern structures
for the training of its Corps of Cadets as
future leaders.
The Clinton District ADP includes the
short-, mid-, and long-range components
of development. It reflects ongoing
projects previously considered under
NEPA as well as potential future
development opportunities at USAG
West Point. These components are at
different developmental stages with
some under way and others at the
conceptual level. One of the short-range
components is the proposed
construction and operation of the
Humanities Center at Trophy Point. The
EIS will consider the implementation of
the Clinton District ADP relative to the
various components, depending on their
developmental stages. Components that
are further along in development such
as the Humanities Center will be
evaluated in detail while components at
conceptual stages will be evaluated at a
PO 00000
Frm 00027
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
programmatic level in the EIS. For those
potential future development
opportunities evaluated in the EIS at a
programmatic level, the Army will
ensure that appropriate NEPA review is
completed at the time when the
components reach the stage ripe for
specific decision-making.
The EIS will analyze the alternatives
of full implementation of proposed
projects in the Clinton District ADP,
implementation of the Clinton District
ADP without the revitalization of
Trophy Point and the Humanities
Center, and a No Action Alternative.
The EIS will also evaluate the effects of
the proposed action and past, present,
and reasonably foreseeable future
actions. There may be significant
impacts to historic properties, including
the visual historic component. Other
potential impacts may occur on land
use, biological aspects, and water
resources. Construction activities may
cause traffic, noise, and air quality
impacts. Consultation with the State
Historic Preservation Office will be
required. Permitting actions for
construction, air emissions, and storm
water pollution prevention may be
required.
A tentative schedule has been
developed for this EIS. The scoping
meeting is anticipated to be held in
October of 2020. The Draft EIS and
subsequent public meeting will occur in
the summer of 2021. The Final EIS is
anticipated to be solicited in October of
2022 with the Record of Decision to be
issued in November of 2022. The EIS is
estimated to be signed and completed in
December of 2022.
Native American Tribes; Federal,
state, and local agencies; organizations;
special interest groups; and individuals
are invited to be involved in the scoping
process for the preparation of this EIS
by participating in the scoping meetings
and/or submitting written comments to
assist with identifying alternatives or
providing information to inform the
analysis. Due to the COVID–19
Pandemic and the need to maintain
social distancing, all public meeting
materials will be provided online, and
the public meeting will be hosted by
telephone. The meeting materials can be
found at https://
www.nan.usace.army.mil/Missions/
Environmental/EnvironmentalAssessment/Clinton-Area-DevelopmentPlan/. Interested parties will also be
invited to attend two public telephone
meetings scheduled for October 29,
2020. The phone number and passcode
for both meetings is 1–877–229–8493
and 119890. The first meeting will be
from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., and the
second meeting will be from 6:00 p.m.
E:\FR\FM\09OCN1.SGM
09OCN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 197 (Friday, October 9, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 64133-64134]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-22368]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Army
Draft Environmental Impact Statement Addressing Heat and
Electrical Upgrades at Fort Wainwright, Alaska
AGENCY: Department of the Army, DOD.
ACTION: Notice of availability.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Department of the Army announces the availability of the
Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) as part of the environmental
planning process to address heat and electrical upgrades at Fort
Wainwright, Alaska. The current condition of the heat and power plant,
one of the oldest coal-fired central heat and power plants (CHPP) in
the United States, and its aging heat distribution system requires an
upgrade to provide reliable heat and electrical infrastructure for the
installation that resolves safety, resiliency, fiscal, and regulatory
concerns. The Draft EIS evaluates reasonable alternatives, potential
environmental impacts, and key issues of concern. A preferred
alternative is not identified at this time. Comments received on the
Draft EIS will be fully considered prior to determining which
alternative would be the Army's preferred alternative, a preference
that will be identified when the Final EIS is published.
DATES: Comments must be received by December 8, 2020 to be considered
in the preparation of the Final EIS.
ADDRESSES: Please submit written comments to Laura Sample, NEPA Program
Manager at: Directorate of Public Works, ATTN: IMFW-PWE (L. Sample),
1046 Marks Road #4500, Fort Wainwright, AK 99703-4500, email:
[email protected].
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Please contact Grant Sattler, Public
Affairs Office, IMPC-FWA-PAO (Sattler), 1060 Gaffney Road #5900, Fort
Wainwright, AK 99703-5900; telephone (907) 353-6701; email:
[email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Fort Wainwright, Alaska is located in the
interior of Alaska in the Fairbanks North Star Borough, and is home to
the U.S. Army Garrison (USAG) Alaska and units of United States Army
Alaska (USARAK). The soldiers, families, and civilians that make up the
Fort Wainwright population are reliant upon a 65-year old coal-fired
CHPP and an antiquated heat distribution system to heat and power more
than 400 facilities. The CHPP is one of the oldest operational coal-
fired power plants in the United States and is operating beyond the
average design life of similar facilities. Constructing upgraded heat
and electrical infrastructure would reduce utility costs, minimize the
risk of a catastrophic failure, help safeguard mission readiness, meet
energy efficiency standards, be compliant with emissions standards, and
conform to Army-directed energy security criteria.
The Army identified three reasonable Action Alternatives that would
meet the purpose of and need for the Proposed Action. Alternatives
considered in the Draft EIS, including a No Action Alternative, are (1)
construction of a new coal-fired CHPP, (2) construction of a new dual-
fuel combustion turbine generator CHPP that would be primarily fueled
by natural gas, and (3) decentralization of heat and power in which
heat would be provided by distributed natural gas boilers installed at
facilities across the installation and electricity would be purchased
from a local utility provider.
The Draft EIS evaluates the potential direct, indirect, and
cumulative environmental and socioeconomic impacts of these
alternatives. Adverse impacts would be minimized to the extent possible
through implementation of the avoidance, minimization, and mitigation
measures.
Resource areas analyzed in the Draft EIS include: Air quality,
utilities, hazardous and toxic materials and wastes, socioeconomics,
environmental justice, noise, land use, transportation and traffic,
human health and safety, geology and soil resources, water resources,
cultural resources, and airspace.
Unavoidable environmental impacts would result from implementation
of the Proposed Action. Significant, adverse impacts would be
anticipated for socioeconomics (Alternatives 2 and 3, reduced coal
demand), environmental justice (Alternatives 2 and 3, reduced coal
demand), and cultural resources (Alternative 3, utilidor upgrades in
Ladd Field National Historic Landmark). Less than significant, adverse
impacts include increases in water turbidity; disturbance of sediments;
noise from construction; localized habitat degradation; soil
disturbance and erosion; stormwater runoff into surface water; and
increased traffic, air emissions, and noise associated with
construction vehicles and activities. Beneficial impacts would be
anticipated for utilities (increased heating efficiency and improved
system reliability). Under the No Action alternative, significant,
adverse impacts would be anticipated for utilities, environmental
justice, and human health and safety due to continued risk of plant
failure.
Federal, state, and local agencies; Alaska Natives; Native
Americans; Native American organizations and tribes; private
organizations; and the public are invited to be involved in this EIS
process by providing verbal or written comments. An online open house
is available at https://home.army.mil/alaska/index.php/fort-wainwright/NEPA/HEU-EIS and a virtual public meeting will be announced locally.
The date and time of the virtual public participation will be announced
via Fairbanks and Healy, Alaska local news media and on digital
platforms. Holding the public comment meeting virtually is required
because of COVID-19 safety concerns.
An electronic copy of the Draft EIS is available online at: https://home.army.mil/alaska/index.php/fort-wainwright/NEPA/HEU-EIS. Copies of
the Draft EIS will be available for review at the Noel Wien Library,
1215 Cowles Street, Fairbanks, AK 99701; the Post Library, Building
3700, Santiago Avenue, Fort Wainwright, AK 99703; and the Tri-Valley
Community Library, 400 Suntrana Road, Healy, AK 99743, if these
facilities are open. Copies of the Draft EIS are also available by
submitting a request to: See ADDRESSES. Written comments must be sent
within December 8, 2020. The Department of the Army will consider all
comments received on the Draft EIS when preparing the Final EIS. As
with the Draft EIS, the Department of the Army
[[Page 64134]]
will announce the availability of the Final EIS.
James W. Satterwhite Jr.,
Alternate Army Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 2020-22368 Filed 10-8-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 5061-AP-P
