[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 2 (Thursday, January 3, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Page 311]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-77]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Army
Release of the Notice of Availability (NOA) on the Final
Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) on the Disposal and Reuse of the
Oakland Army Base, Oakland, California
AGENCY: Department of the Army, DoD.
ACTION: Notice of Availability.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Army prepared this FEIS in compliance with the National
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969 and the President's Council on
Environmental Quality. The closure of the Oakland Army Base (OARB),
Oakland, California, was mandated in accordance with the
recommendations of the Defense Base Closure and Realignment Act of
1990, Public Law 101-510, as amended (the ``BRAC law''). The July 27,
2001, edition of the Federal Register (66 FR 39153-54 and 39162)
contained the NOA for the Army's OARB Supplemental Draft EIS.
DATES: The review period for the Final EIS will end 30 days after
publication of the Notice of Availability in the Federal Register by
the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
ADDRESSES: Direct questions and/or written comments regarding the Final
EIS to, or a request for a copy of the document from: Mr. Chuck
Hubbard, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Sacramento District (CESPK-PD)
1325 J Street, Sacramento, California 95814-2922.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Chuck Hubbard at (916) 557-6958;
by facsimile at (916) 557-7850; or by e-mail at
[email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FEIS analyzes three alternative courses
of action with respect to the disposal and subsequent reuse of the 425
acres (371 land acres and 54 submerged land acres) comprising the OARB:
(1) The no action disposal alternative, under which the property would
be maintained in a caretaker status after closure; (2) the unencumbered
disposal alternative, under which the Army would transfer the property
without encumbrances, such as environmental restrictions, land use
controls, and easements; and (3) the encumbered disposal alternative,
under which the Army would transfer the property with various
environmental restrictions, land use controls, and easements, limiting
the future use of the property. The FEIS also analyzes the potential
environmental and socioeconomic consequences of a range of community
reuse alternatives: (1) Low intensity reuse alternative; (2) low-medium
intensity reuse alternative, (3) medium intensity reuse alternative;
(4) medium-high intensity reuse alternative (5) medium-high/high
intensity reuse alternative; (6) high intensity reuse alternative; and
(7) very-high intensity reuse alternative.
The FEIS concludes the no action alternative is not reasonable
because the BRAC law mandates closure of the Oakland Army Base, and the
Army has no requirement to retain the property. This FEIS also
concludes that the unencumbered disposal alternative is not feasible
given environmental conditions and legal requirements.
The Army's preferred alternative course of action is the encumbered
disposal of excess property. Possible encumbrances include: covenants
and restrictions pertaining to asbestos-containing material; lead-based
paint; biological resources; historic properties; ground water usage;
excavations; future remedial activities after transfer; infrastructure
easements; and rights-of-way.
The FIES analyzes community reuse of the OARB property as a
secondary action resulting from closure and disposal by the Army. While
the Army does not control the community's reuse of the property, NEPA
requires the Army to analyze the reasonable foreseeable impacts of its
disposal action. The local community established the Oakland Base Reuse
Authority (OBRA) to develop and implement a reuse plan for the
installation. Approval and implementation of the reuse plan are within
the discretion of the OBRA.
Comments on the FEIS, received during the 30-day public comment
period, will be considered in preparing the Army's Record of Decision.
Copies the FEIS are available for review at the following
libraries: the Oakland Public Library Main Branch, Science, Social
Science and Documents Section, 125 Fourteenth Street, Oakland,
California 94612; the West Oakland Branch Library, 1801 Adeline Street,
Oakland, California 94607; and the Base Transition Office, 2475-D West
12th Street, Oakland, California 94607.
Dated: December 21 2001.
Raymond J. Fatz,
Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army, (Environment, Safety and
Occupational Health), OASA(I&E).
[FR Doc. 02-77 Filed 1-2-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3710-08-M