Final Environmental Impact Statement; Acquisition of Site for Development of a Replacement Underground Safety Research Program Facility for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention/National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (CDC/NIOSH) in Mace, West Virginia; Availability and Public Information Meeting, 37755-37756 [2021-15139]
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Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 134 / Friday, July 16, 2021 / Notices
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND
HUMAN SERVICES
Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention
[Docket No. CDC–2018–0057]
Final Environmental Impact Statement;
Acquisition of Site for Development of
a Replacement Underground Safety
Research Program Facility for the
Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention/National Institute for
Occupational Safety and Health (CDC/
NIOSH) in Mace, West Virginia;
Availability and Public Information
Meeting
Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC), Department of Health
and Human Services (HHS).
ACTION: Notice of availability.
AGENCY:
The Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention (CDC) within
the Department of Health and Human
Services (HHS), in cooperation with the
General Services Administration (GSA),
announces the availability of a Final
Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS)
for the proposed acquisition of a site in
Mace, West Virginia, and the
development of this site into a
replacement for the National Institute
for Occupational Safety and Health
(NIOSH) Underground Safety Research
Program facility (Proposed Action). The
proposed acquisition and development
would replace the former Lake Lynn
Experimental Mine in Fayette County,
Pennsylvania and would support
research programs focused on miner
health and safety issues. The site being
considered for acquisition and
development includes 461.35 acres
located off U.S. Route 219 in Randolph
and Pocahontas Counties near Mace,
West Virginia (Site). The Final EIS and
this notice are published pursuant to the
requirements of the National
Environmental Policy Act of 1969
(NEPA) as implemented by the Council
on Environmental Quality (CEQ)
Regulations (40 CFR parts 1500–1508).
In parallel with the NEPA process, CDC
also completed consultation with the
West Virginia State Historic
Preservation Office under Section 106 of
the National Historic Preservation Act to
evaluate the potential effects, if any, of
the Proposed Action on historic
properties.
DATES:
Public Information Meeting: The
public meeting will be held on August
5, 2021 from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. The
meeting will be held via Zoom. See the
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for more
information.
jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with NOTICES
SUMMARY:
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:26 Jul 15, 2021
Jkt 253001
If you have any questions or
comments that you would like to see
addressed during the virtual
information meeting, please email those
to cdc-macewv-eis@cdc.gov no later
than July 26, 2021.
Deadline for Requests for Special
Accommodations: Persons wishing to
participate in the public meeting who
need special accommodations should
contact Sam Tarr at 770–488–8170 by
5:00 p.m. Eastern Time, July 26, 2021.
CDC will issue a final decision on the
Proposed Action on or after August 16,
2021.
ADDRESSES:
Copies of the Final EIS can be
obtained at:
• Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://
www.regulations.gov (reference Docket
No. CDC–2018–0057)
• Linwood Community Library, 72
Snowshoe Drive, Slatyfork, West
Virginia 26291.
• Elkins Randolph County Public
Library, 416 Davis Ave, Elkins, WV
26241.
• By written request (electronic
copies only) to: cdc-macewv-eis@
cdc.gov.
An electronic copy of the public
information meeting materials can be
obtained after 6:00 p.m., July 30, 2021
at:
• https://gsa.gov/about-us/regions/
welcome-to-the-midatlantic-region-3/
buildings-and-facilities/west-virginia/
cdc-niosh-mine-site-selectionacquisition-environmental-impactstatement.
Sam
Tarr, Office of Safety, Security, and
Asset Management (OSSAM), Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention,
1600 Clifton Road NE, H20–4, Atlanta,
Georgia 30329–4027, phone: (770) 488–
8170, or email: cdc-macewv-eis@
cdc.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Public Information Meeting:
Public participation is an essential
part of the NEPA process. Therefore,
although CDC has fulfilled the public
meeting requirements under NEPA, due
to the changes in the Final EIS that have
resulted from stakeholder input and to
ensure that the stakeholders have the
opportunity to learn of the changes and
mitigation measures, CDC is holding an
information meeting to discuss the key
changes in the Final EIS. The
information meeting will be virtual due
to COVID–19 restrictions. The virtual
information meeting will be held on:
August 5, 2021 from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m.
at Zoom Webinar: https://
us02web.zoom.us/j/83943045020 Or
PO 00000
Frm 00028
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
37755
Telephone: +1 312 626 6799, Webinar
ID: 839 4304 5020.
CDC has taken into consideration the
limited internet availability in the
project vicinity. The PowerPoint
presentation will be available for
download in advance of the meeting
here: [https://gsa.gov/about-us/regions/
welcome-to-the-midatlantic-region-3/
buildings-and-facilities/west-virginia/
cdc-niosh-mine-site-selectionacquisition-environmental-impactstatement]. Those with limited internet
connectivity can download the
presentation in advance and then call
into the meeting using the Zoom phone
number. Electronic materials will be
available for download by close of
business on July 30, 2021.
Should you need a hardcopy of the
PowerPoint presentation, please email
your request, including name and
address, to cdc-macewv-eis@cdc.gov no
later than July 26, 2021. Representatives
of CDC and GSA will not be taking
questions during the meeting and
request questions be submitted in
advance of the meeting so the agencies
can incorporate those questions into the
presentation so that all participants
receive the same hardcopy information.
If you have any questions or comments
that you would like to see addressed
during the virtual information meeting,
please email those to cdc-macewv-eis@
cdc.gov no later than July 26, 2021.
Background: CDC is dedicated to
protecting health and promoting quality
of life through the prevention and
control of disease, injury, and disability.
NIOSH, one of CDC’s Centers, Institute,
and Offices, was established by the
Occupational Safety and Health Act of
1970. NIOSH plans, directs, and
coordinates a national program to
develop and establish recommended
occupational safety and health
standards, conduct research and
training, provide technical assistance,
and perform related activities to ensure
safe and healthful working conditions
for every working person in the United
States.
In 1997, when the mine safety and
health function was transferred from the
Bureau of Mines (BOM) to NIOSH,
NIOSH took over the lease for a facility
referred to as the Lake Lynn
Experimental Mine (LLEM). BOM had
leased the LLEM facility since 1982. The
LLEM is located 60 miles south of
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The LLEM
and its aboveground fire testing facility
were primarily used for studies and
research on mine explosions, mine
seals, mine rescue, ventilation, diesel
exhaust, new health and safety
technologies, ground control, and fire
suppression. After December 2012, the
E:\FR\FM\16JYN1.SGM
16JYN1
jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with NOTICES
37756
Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 134 / Friday, July 16, 2021 / Notices
property was no longer available for
long-term leasing. CDC attempted to
purchase the underlying property on
which LLEM is located, but NIOSH
vacated the LLEM after market-based
purchase offers were rejected by the
property owners.
In 2013, CDC completed a Project
Development Study to outline a design
solution to replace the LLEM. The study
presented the facility and site
requirements and design concepts for
the replacement facilities. In 2016, to
identify potentially available locations
that could accommodate the space
requirements defined in the 2013 study,
GSA issued (on behalf of CDC) two
separate Requests for Expressions of
Interest (REOI) for a site, developed or
undeveloped, that could be used for the
new underground safety research
facility. The first REOI, advertised in
June 2016, contained a limited
delineated area within a 200-mile radius
of the LLEM. The REOI set forth criteria
that would be used to evaluate the
suitability of the submitted sites. One
expression of interest that had the
potential to meet the minimum criteria
was received. After further evaluation,
however, the site was found to be nonviable.
The second REOI was issued in
October 2016 and expanded the
delineated area to the entire contiguous
United States. Three expressions of
interest were received for sites in
Kentucky, Missouri, and West Virginia.
The Kentucky site did not meet the
minimum criteria, and the Missouri site
expression of interest did not contain all
necessary information to evaluate. The
offeror of the Missouri site did not
respond to subsequent GSA inquiries.
The potential site in West Virginia
met the minimum criteria and was
determined to be a viable site. The site
is located near Mace, West Virginia, and
straddles the Randolph and Pocahontas
County lines.
In accordance with NEPA, as
implemented by the CEQ regulations (40
CFR parts 1500–1508), with GSA as a
cooperating agency, CDC prepared a
Draft EIS for the proposed acquisition of
the Site and construction of a new
underground safety research facility on
the Site. Under NEPA, federal agencies
are required to evaluate the
environmental effects of their proposed
actions and a range of reasonable
alternatives to the proposed action
before making a decision. On February
14, 2019, in accordance with NEPA,
CDC published a Notice of Availability
announcing that a Draft EIS for the
proposed acquisition and development
had been prepared. The Draft EIS
evaluated two alternatives: The
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:26 Jul 15, 2021
Jkt 253001
Proposed Action Alternative
(acquisition of the Site and construction
of a new underground safety research
facility) and the No Action Alternative.
No other alternatives were considered
because only one qualifying site was
identified through the site selection
process discussed above.
Publication of the Draft EIS notice
initiated a 51-day review period, which
ended on April 5, 2019. During this
period, CDC received comments from
government agencies, a Native
American tribe, and the public. These
comments pertained to the proposed
action in general, including the purpose
and need; water quality/groundwater
impacts; traffic impacts; tourism
impacts; noise and vibration impacts;
viewshed impacts; and wildlife impacts.
All comments were considered when
preparing the Final EIS and responses to
the comments are provided in the Final
EIS. The Final EIS identifies the
Proposed Action Alternative as CDC’s
Preferred Alternative.
CDC will make a decision on whether
to proceed with the Proposed Action on
or after August 16, 2021. At that time,
CDC will issue a Record of Decision
documenting and explaining its
decision based on the Final EIS.
Dated: July 13, 2021.
Sandra Cashman,
Executive Secretary, Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention.
[FR Doc. 2021–15139 Filed 7–15–21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163–18–P
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND
HUMAN SERVICES
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid
Services
[Document Identifier: CMS–10768]
Agency Information Collection
Activities: Proposed Collection;
Comment Request
proposed action. Interested persons are
invited to send comments regarding our
burden estimates or any other aspect of
this collection of information, including
the necessity and utility of the proposed
information collection for the proper
performance of the agency’s functions,
the accuracy of the estimated burden,
ways to enhance the quality, utility, and
clarity of the information to be
collected, and the use of automated
collection techniques or other forms of
information technology to minimize the
information collection burden.
DATES: Comments must be received by
September 14, 2021.
ADDRESSES: When commenting, please
reference the document identifier or
OMB control number. To be assured
consideration, comments and
recommendations must be submitted in
any one of the following ways:
1. Electronically. You may send your
comments electronically to https://
www.regulations.gov. Follow the
instructions for ‘‘Comment or
Submission’’ or ‘‘More Search Options’’
to find the information collection
document(s) that are accepting
comments.
2. By regular mail. You may mail
written comments to the following
address: CMS, Office of Strategic
Operations and Regulatory Affairs,
Division of Regulations Development,
Attention: Document Identifier/OMB
Control Number: ll, Room C4–26–05,
7500 Security Boulevard, Baltimore,
Maryland 21244–1850.
To obtain copies of a supporting
statement and any related forms for the
proposed collection(s) summarized in
this notice, you may make your request
using one of following:
1. Access CMS’ website address at
website address at https://www.cms.gov/
Regulations-and-Guidance/Legislation/
PaperworkReductionActof1995/PRAListing.html.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Centers for Medicare &
Medicaid Services, Health and Human
Services (HHS).
ACTION: Notice.
Contents
The Centers for Medicare &
Medicaid Services (CMS) is announcing
an opportunity for the public to
comment on CMS’ intention to collect
information from the public. Under the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (the
PRA), federal agencies are required to
publish notice in the Federal Register
concerning each proposed collection of
information (including each proposed
extension or reinstatement of an existing
collection of information) and to allow
60 days for public comment on the
This notice sets out a summary of the
use and burden associated with the
following information collections. More
detailed information can be found in
each collection’s supporting statement
and associated materials (see
ADDRESSES).
CMS–10768—The ESRD Network Peer
Mentoring Program
Under the PRA (44 U.S.C. 3501–
3520), federal agencies must obtain
approval from the Office of Management
and Budget (OMB) for each collection of
AGENCY:
SUMMARY:
PO 00000
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Fmt 4703
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William N. Parham at (410) 786–4669.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
E:\FR\FM\16JYN1.SGM
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 134 (Friday, July 16, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 37755-37756]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-15139]
[[Page 37755]]
=======================================================================
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
[Docket No. CDC-2018-0057]
Final Environmental Impact Statement; Acquisition of Site for
Development of a Replacement Underground Safety Research Program
Facility for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention/National
Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (CDC/NIOSH) in Mace, West
Virginia; Availability and Public Information Meeting
AGENCY: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Department of
Health and Human Services (HHS).
ACTION: Notice of availability.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) within
the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), in cooperation with
the General Services Administration (GSA), announces the availability
of a Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) for the proposed
acquisition of a site in Mace, West Virginia, and the development of
this site into a replacement for the National Institute for
Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Underground Safety Research
Program facility (Proposed Action). The proposed acquisition and
development would replace the former Lake Lynn Experimental Mine in
Fayette County, Pennsylvania and would support research programs
focused on miner health and safety issues. The site being considered
for acquisition and development includes 461.35 acres located off U.S.
Route 219 in Randolph and Pocahontas Counties near Mace, West Virginia
(Site). The Final EIS and this notice are published pursuant to the
requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) as
implemented by the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) Regulations
(40 CFR parts 1500-1508). In parallel with the NEPA process, CDC also
completed consultation with the West Virginia State Historic
Preservation Office under Section 106 of the National Historic
Preservation Act to evaluate the potential effects, if any, of the
Proposed Action on historic properties.
DATES:
Public Information Meeting: The public meeting will be held on
August 5, 2021 from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. The meeting will be held via
Zoom. See the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for more information.
If you have any questions or comments that you would like to see
addressed during the virtual information meeting, please email those to
[email protected] no later than July 26, 2021.
Deadline for Requests for Special Accommodations: Persons wishing
to participate in the public meeting who need special accommodations
should contact Sam Tarr at 770-488-8170 by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time, July
26, 2021.
CDC will issue a final decision on the Proposed Action on or after
August 16, 2021.
ADDRESSES:
Copies of the Final EIS can be obtained at:
Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://www.regulations.gov
(reference Docket No. CDC-2018-0057)
Linwood Community Library, 72 Snowshoe Drive, Slatyfork,
West Virginia 26291.
Elkins Randolph County Public Library, 416 Davis Ave,
Elkins, WV 26241.
By written request (electronic copies only) to: [email protected].
An electronic copy of the public information meeting materials can
be obtained after 6:00 p.m., July 30, 2021 at:
https://gsa.gov/about-us/regions/welcome-to-the-midatlantic-region-3/buildings-and-facilities/west-virginia/cdc-niosh-mine-site-selection-acquisition-environmental-impact-statement.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sam Tarr, Office of Safety, Security,
and Asset Management (OSSAM), Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road NE, H20-4, Atlanta, Georgia 30329-4027,
phone: (770) 488-8170, or email: [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Public Information Meeting:
Public participation is an essential part of the NEPA process.
Therefore, although CDC has fulfilled the public meeting requirements
under NEPA, due to the changes in the Final EIS that have resulted from
stakeholder input and to ensure that the stakeholders have the
opportunity to learn of the changes and mitigation measures, CDC is
holding an information meeting to discuss the key changes in the Final
EIS. The information meeting will be virtual due to COVID-19
restrictions. The virtual information meeting will be held on:
August 5, 2021 from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Zoom Webinar: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83943045020 Or Telephone: +1 312 626 6799, Webinar
ID: 839 4304 5020.
CDC has taken into consideration the limited internet availability
in the project vicinity. The PowerPoint presentation will be available
for download in advance of the meeting here: [https://gsa.gov/about-us/regions/welcome-to-the-midatlantic-region-3/buildings-and-facilities/west-virginia/cdc-niosh-mine-site-selection-acquisition-environmental-impact-statement]. Those with limited internet connectivity can
download the presentation in advance and then call into the meeting
using the Zoom phone number. Electronic materials will be available for
download by close of business on July 30, 2021.
Should you need a hardcopy of the PowerPoint presentation, please
email your request, including name and address, to [email protected] no later than July 26, 2021. Representatives of CDC and GSA
will not be taking questions during the meeting and request questions
be submitted in advance of the meeting so the agencies can incorporate
those questions into the presentation so that all participants receive
the same hardcopy information. If you have any questions or comments
that you would like to see addressed during the virtual information
meeting, please email those to [email protected] no later than
July 26, 2021.
Background: CDC is dedicated to protecting health and promoting
quality of life through the prevention and control of disease, injury,
and disability. NIOSH, one of CDC's Centers, Institute, and Offices,
was established by the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970.
NIOSH plans, directs, and coordinates a national program to develop and
establish recommended occupational safety and health standards, conduct
research and training, provide technical assistance, and perform
related activities to ensure safe and healthful working conditions for
every working person in the United States.
In 1997, when the mine safety and health function was transferred
from the Bureau of Mines (BOM) to NIOSH, NIOSH took over the lease for
a facility referred to as the Lake Lynn Experimental Mine (LLEM). BOM
had leased the LLEM facility since 1982. The LLEM is located 60 miles
south of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The LLEM and its aboveground fire
testing facility were primarily used for studies and research on mine
explosions, mine seals, mine rescue, ventilation, diesel exhaust, new
health and safety technologies, ground control, and fire suppression.
After December 2012, the
[[Page 37756]]
property was no longer available for long-term leasing. CDC attempted
to purchase the underlying property on which LLEM is located, but NIOSH
vacated the LLEM after market-based purchase offers were rejected by
the property owners.
In 2013, CDC completed a Project Development Study to outline a
design solution to replace the LLEM. The study presented the facility
and site requirements and design concepts for the replacement
facilities. In 2016, to identify potentially available locations that
could accommodate the space requirements defined in the 2013 study, GSA
issued (on behalf of CDC) two separate Requests for Expressions of
Interest (REOI) for a site, developed or undeveloped, that could be
used for the new underground safety research facility. The first REOI,
advertised in June 2016, contained a limited delineated area within a
200-mile radius of the LLEM. The REOI set forth criteria that would be
used to evaluate the suitability of the submitted sites. One expression
of interest that had the potential to meet the minimum criteria was
received. After further evaluation, however, the site was found to be
non-viable.
The second REOI was issued in October 2016 and expanded the
delineated area to the entire contiguous United States. Three
expressions of interest were received for sites in Kentucky, Missouri,
and West Virginia. The Kentucky site did not meet the minimum criteria,
and the Missouri site expression of interest did not contain all
necessary information to evaluate. The offeror of the Missouri site did
not respond to subsequent GSA inquiries.
The potential site in West Virginia met the minimum criteria and
was determined to be a viable site. The site is located near Mace, West
Virginia, and straddles the Randolph and Pocahontas County lines.
In accordance with NEPA, as implemented by the CEQ regulations (40
CFR parts 1500-1508), with GSA as a cooperating agency, CDC prepared a
Draft EIS for the proposed acquisition of the Site and construction of
a new underground safety research facility on the Site. Under NEPA,
federal agencies are required to evaluate the environmental effects of
their proposed actions and a range of reasonable alternatives to the
proposed action before making a decision. On February 14, 2019, in
accordance with NEPA, CDC published a Notice of Availability announcing
that a Draft EIS for the proposed acquisition and development had been
prepared. The Draft EIS evaluated two alternatives: The Proposed Action
Alternative (acquisition of the Site and construction of a new
underground safety research facility) and the No Action Alternative. No
other alternatives were considered because only one qualifying site was
identified through the site selection process discussed above.
Publication of the Draft EIS notice initiated a 51-day review
period, which ended on April 5, 2019. During this period, CDC received
comments from government agencies, a Native American tribe, and the
public. These comments pertained to the proposed action in general,
including the purpose and need; water quality/groundwater impacts;
traffic impacts; tourism impacts; noise and vibration impacts; viewshed
impacts; and wildlife impacts.
All comments were considered when preparing the Final EIS and
responses to the comments are provided in the Final EIS. The Final EIS
identifies the Proposed Action Alternative as CDC's Preferred
Alternative.
CDC will make a decision on whether to proceed with the Proposed
Action on or after August 16, 2021. At that time, CDC will issue a
Record of Decision documenting and explaining its decision based on the
Final EIS.
Dated: July 13, 2021.
Sandra Cashman,
Executive Secretary, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
[FR Doc. 2021-15139 Filed 7-15-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P
