99-2017. Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Disposal, Transfer or Retention of the Family Housing at Fort Buchanan, Puerto Rico

[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 18 (Thursday, January 28, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Page 4399]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-2017]


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

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army


Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement 
(EIS) for the Disposal, Transfer or Retention of the Family Housing at 
Fort Buchanan, Puerto Rico

agency: Department of the Army, DoD.

action: Notice of intent.

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

summary: The Department of the Army will prepare an EIS for the 
disposal, transfer or retention of family housing at Fort Buchanan, 
Puerto Rico.
    The proposed action is to implement the recommendation of the 1995 
Defense Base Closure and Realignment (BRAC) Commission under Public Law 
101-510 to dispose of family housing at Fort Buchanan, Puerto Rico.

addresses: Questions should be directed to Mr. Glen Coffee, U.S. Army 
Engineer District, Mobile (ATTN: CESAM-PD-EO, 109 St. Joseph Street, 
Mobile, Alabama 36602.

for further information contact: Mr. Glen Coffee at [phone].

supplementary information: The EIS will address the environmental and 
socioeconomic effects associated with implementing the Commission's 
recommendation to dispose of the 361 units of family housing located in 
four housing areas on Fort Buchanan. The EIS will analyze the following 
alternatives for disposal, transfer or retention of the housing: reuse 
of the property by the local community; transfer of the family housing 
to other Federal agencies; demolition of some or all of the housing 
units; a commercial residential development alternative; a combination 
of these alternatives; and a no action alternative. Under the no action 
alternative, the Army will analyze the effects of retaining the housing 
to meet the Army's future housing needs. The no action alternative 
affords a baseline for comparison of no other alternatives. The Army, 
with the approval of the Secretary of Defense, could decide to retain 
some or all of the family housing. The Secretary of Defense has 
authority to do so under the 1999 Defense Appropriations Act.
    A draft EIS will be published in 1999 and will be made available 
for a 45-day public comment period. The final EIS is expected to be 
published in 2000 and will be made available for public comment during 
a 30-day waiting period after its publication.
    A public scoping meeting will be held in the San Juan-Fort Buchanan 
area with the time and place to be announced. Comments received will be 
used to assist the Army in developing issues and identifying potential 
impacts to the quality of the human environment.

    Dated: January 20, 1999.
Raymond J. Fatz,
Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army, (Environment, Safety and 
Occupational Health), OASA (I,L&E).
[FR Doc 99-2017 Filed 1-27-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3710-08-M