[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 35 (Friday, February 21, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8018-8021]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-4026]
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GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION
Record of Decision; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention;
Clifton Road Campus Expansion, Atlanta, GA
Action
This is the Record of Decision (ROD) for the Clifton Road Campus
Expansion for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in
Atlanta, Georgia. The Proposed Action includes demolition, new
construction, and renovation of buildings on CDC's existing Clifton
Road Campus, as well as acquisition and development of a 17.6 acre site
adjacent to the existing campus.
Over a 20-year planning period (1995-2015), the General Services
Administration (GSA) and CDC anticipate the Proposed Action will meet
the following long-range CDC housing requirements:
Increase existing workstations from 2,095 to approximately
3,300;
Increase existing parking spaces from 1,781 to
approximately 3,300, including visitor;
Increase existing gross building area from 1,006,000
square feet to 1,702,000 square feet;
Reduce the number of antiquated and non-functional Clifton
Road facilities; and,
Increase the physical security of the Clifton Road Campus,
which is CDC's World Headquarters and primary infectious disease
research facility.
CDC and GSA plan for the expansion to occur in two general 10-year
phases. From 1995-2005, the Government will renovate and/or replace
existing facilities, and will construct replacement parking facilities
and minor support buildings. During the second period, 2006-2015, CDC
expects to house additional programmatic growth in new construction.
CDC intends for the Clifton Road Campus to continue to serve as its
World Headquarters, and as its primary infectious disease research
facility. Other CDC functions, such as environmental health, and
general office space, will be housed at the CDC Chamblee Campus, or in
leased office space located away from the Clifton Road Corridor. If the
Proposed Action is implemented, additional land acquisition to house
the long-range program will increase the site area of the existing
Clifton Road Campus from 27.6 acres to 45.2 acres;
The purpose and need for the Proposed Action is to provide an
efficient, cost-effective means to accommodate CDC's current and future
space needs in its Clifton Road location through the year 2015. The
Proposed Action is needed to adequately address CDC's current program
needs at Clifton Road through renovation and reconfiguration of
existing antiquated space, as well as to provide new space to
accommodate anticipated future research and operational activities.
Pursuant to Section 102(2)(c) of the National Environmental Policy
Act (NEPA) of 1969, the Council on Environmental Quality Regulations
(40 CFR Part 1500-1508), and GSA Order PBS P 1095.4B, GSA prepared an
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Proposed Action. The
purpose of the EIS is to:
Identify and analyze reasonable alternatives to the
Proposed Action;
Identify the potential impacts resulting from the Proposed
Action and reasonable alternatives;
Identify measures to mitigate adverse impacts resulting
from the Proposed Action and reasonable alternatives, and;
Actively solicit and incorporate public comments into the
CDC/GSA decision making process.
The purpose of the ROD is to clearly communicate the Government's
decision on implementing the Proposed Action or a reasonable
alternative to the Proposed Action, and the basis for that decision,
and to identify any mitigation measures to be implemented as part of
the decision. The Draft and Final EIS documents are incorporated into
this ROD by reference, and are available upon request from GSA.
GSA released the Draft EIS for a 45-day public comment period on
August 16, 1996. The Final EIS was released for a 30-day public comment
period that closed on January 6, 1997. GSA provided written notices of
availability for these documents in the Federal Register, the Atlanta
Journal-Constitution, and through direct mailings to interested
parties. GSA distributed approximately 80 copies of the Draft and Final
EIS to Federal, state and local governments, elected officials,
neighborhood associations, and other interested parties identified
during the 19 month NEPA review process.
GSA and CDC involved the public in the decision making process
through a combination of newspaper notices, direct mailings, written
correspondence, a public scoping meeting (August 1, 1995), a public
hearing on the Draft EIS (September 25, 1996), and several meetings
with Civic Associations and not-for-profit organizations who own
property on the 17.6 acres to be acquired as part of the Proposed
Action. CDC and GSA elected to add one major alternative with two sub-
alternatives (discussed below) to the Draft EIS as a result of these
meetings.
Alternatives Considered
In 1992, CDC and GSA began looking at alternative strategies to
house CDC's current and long-term space requirements through a master
planning approach. CDC and GSA considered many factors in developing
the master plan, including: site acquisition and development costs and
suitability; expandability of sites for future growth; traffic and
environmental considerations; current land use of potential sites; and,
proximity to existing Government-owned CDC campuses (Clifton Road and
Chamblee).
In the initial master planning stages, CDC and GSA considered total
and partial relocation of the Clifton Road Campus (Environmental
Assessment, GSA, July 20, 1993). GSA and CDC examined several
alternative sites near the Clifton Road Campus, including a site near
the Veterans Administration
[[Page 8019]]
Hospital Complex on Clairemont Road near Emory University, and a site
near Mercer University-Atlanta Campus at University Drive and Flowers
Road. Neither of these sites met the CDC/GSA criteria for partial
relocation of the Clifton Road Campus. Based on the conclusions of the
Environmental Assessment, CDC and GSA concentrated on meetings CDC's
housing needs closer to the existing CDC World Headquarters, the
Clifton Road Campus.
Through the environmental review process, GSA and CDC identified a
technically preferred alternative and several feasible alternatives,
defined below, as well as the ``No Action'' alternative required under
NEPA.
Technically Preferred Alternative (i.e., the Proposed Action): The
Government would acquire 17.6 acres of existing residential, commercial
and institutional property immediately to the west of the existing CDC
Clifton Road Campus. The site is generally bounded by Clifton Road,
Clifton Way and Michael Streets. The Government would acquire and
demolish up to 43 existing structures on site, and would modify
portions of Clifton Way and Michael Street to improve traffic ingress/
egress, and improve physical security on the site. Existing
residential, commercial and institutional occupants would be
compensated and relocated from the 17.6 acre site under the provisions
of the Uniform Relocation Assistance and Real Property Acquisition for
Federal and Federally Assisted Programs relations (40 CFR Part 24).
This alternative maximizes design options and development potential for
both the existing and proposed CDC campuses, and would also greatly
enhance the security of the CDC World Headquarters Complex.
Limited Expansion Alternatives: Under these alternatives, the
Government would acquire less than the full 17.6 acres adjacent to the
existing Clifton Road Campus in order to minimize adverse impacts to
several institutional uses located immediately adjacent to Clifton
Road, namely a Dekalb County Fire Station, the Emory University
Research Committee Graduate School Annex (Emory Annex), located in a
single-family detached home, office of the Georgia Association for
Pastoral Care (GAPC), and the offices of Global Health Action (GHA),
formally the International Service Association for Health. The bulk of
the 20-year CDC program would be constructed on a site approximately
one to three acres smaller than the proposed action site, and would
exclude all or a combination of the above mentioned properties from
Government acquisition.
On-Site Consolidation: Under this alternative, CDC and GSA would
implement the construction and modernization program discussed under
the Proposed Action on the existing Clifton Road Campus: that is, the
Government would not acquire any additional land proximate to the
existing Clifton Road Campus.
No Action Alternative: Under this alternative, CDC and GSA would
not implement the construction program and the land acquisition
described under the Proposed Action. This means that CDC would adopt a
status quo approach to its long-term housing needs, staying in over-
crowded, antiquated buildings on campus, and housing any overflow needs
in leased space off-campus. For purposes of this EIS, the No Action
alternative serves as a baseline for measuring future conditions in the
vicinity of the proposed action in key impact areas such as traffic,
air and water quality, and development type and density, against the
projected impacts of the proposed Action and feasible alternatives.
Environmental Consequences of the Proposed Action and Feasible
Alternatives
The Proposed Action (Technically Preferred Alternative): Based on
the research and analyses conducted in the preparation of the Draft and
Final EIS, the Proposed Action is expected to have minor adverse
impacts on ambient air quality, housing, and transportation & parking,
minor positive impacts on comprehensive planning and zoning, and a
major adverse impact on vegetation & wildlife.
Short-term and highly localized air quality impacts would occur
primarily during the construction periods for new facilities, and
during highly congested AM and PM peak traffic hours. Air quality
impacts will be partially mitigated through CDC's continued use of
Transportation Demand Management (TDM) strategies designed to increase
use of alternatives to single-occupant vehicle commuting. CDC will
continue to work closely with MARTA, with other large employers in the
Clifton Road Corridor, and with concerned citizens to improve TDM
measures.
Minor housing impacts will occur through the demolition of 35
single family residences, and one small multi-family apartment complex.
Within the census tract containing the proposed site, this reduction
constitutes approximately four percent of existing housing stock, and
only one percent of housing stock in the Druid Hills census designated
place (CDP). Adverse impacts to displaced owners will be mitigated
under the provisions of the Uniform Relocation Assistance and Real
Property Acquisition for Federal and Federal Assisted Programs
regulations (40 CFR Part 24).
The Proposed Action will result in adverse traffic impacts to
several important intersections in the form of increased delay time,
expressed as Level of Service (LOS) degradation. Intersections where at
least one future year LOS component will be worse under the Proposed
Action versus the No Action Alternative are: Clifton Road and
Briarcliff Road (2005); Clifton Road and Houston Mill Road (year 2015);
Clifton Road and North Decatur Road (2015); Briarcliff Road and La
Vista Road (2015); Shepherds Lane and La Vista Road (2005); and Clifton
Road and Clifton Way (2005). CDC will partially mitigate the Clifton
Road/Clifton Way intersection LOS degradation through redesign and
possible resignalization of the intersection, in consultation with
Dekalb County. Neither GSA nor CDC is authorized to spend Government
funds for off-site road improvements, but will attempt to partially
mitigate LOS degradation at other key intersections through the use of
TDM measures.
The Proposed Action is expected to have minor positive impacts to
planning and zoning because it is more consistent with future intended
land use patterns than current uses.
Vegetation and wildlife will be adversely affected by the Proposed
Action due primarily to habitat destruction when the site is graded.
CDC will implement a comprehensive tree identification and retention
element as part of a master landscaping plan for the entire 17.6 acre
site to mitigate these impacts to the greatest extent practicable.
Limited Expansion Alternatives: Based on the research and analyses
conducted in the preparation of the Draft and Final EIS, GSA and CDC
expect the Limited Expansion Alternatives to have impacts similar to
and of approximately the same magnitude as the Proposed Action. These
include minor adverse impacts on ambient air quality, housing, and
transportation & parking, minor positive impacts on comprehensive
planning and zoning, and major adverse impacts on vegetation &
wildlife, and landforms & topography.
Short-term and highly localized air quality impacts would occur
primarily during the construction periods for new facilities, and
during highly congested AM and PM peak traffic hours. These air quality
impacts would be partially mitigated through CDC's continued use
[[Page 8020]]
of TDM strategies designed to increase use of transportation
alternatives to single-occupant vehicle commuting. CDC would continue
to work closely with MARTA and with other large employers in the
Clifton Road Corridor and concerned citizens to improve TDM measures.
Minor housing impacts will occur through the demolition of 35
single family residences, and one small multi-family apartment complex.
Within the census tract containing the proposed site, this reduction
constitutes approximately four percent of existing housing stock, and
only one percent of housing stock in the Druid Hills CDP. Adverse
impacts to displaced owners will be mitigated under the provisions of
the Uniform Relocation Assistance and Real Property Acquisition for
Federal and Federally Assisted Programs regulations (40 CFR Part 24).
The Limited Expansion Alternatives would minimize adverse impacts to
several institutional uses along the Clinton Road portion of the site,
including a Dekalb County Fire Station, the Emory Annex, GHA, and GAPC,
by excluding all or a combination of them from Government acquisition
and subsequent relocation.
The Limited Expansion Alternatives would result in adverse traffic
impacts to several important intersections in the form of increased
delay time, expressed as LOS degradation. Intersections where at lease
one future year LOS component will be worse under the proposed action
versus the No Action Alternative are: Clinton Road and Briarcliff Road
(2005); Clifton Road and Houston Mill Road (year 2015); Clifton Road
and North Decatur Road (2015); Briarcliff Road and La Vista Road
(2015); Shepherds Land and La Vista Road (2005); and, Clifton Road and
Clifton Way (2005). CDC would partially mitigate the Clifton Road/
Clifton Way intersection LOS degradation through redesign and possible
resignalization of the intersection, in consultation with Dekalb
County, Neither GSA nor CDC is authorized to spend Government funds for
off-site road improvements, but CDC would attempt to partially mitigate
LOS degradation at other key intersections through the use of TDM
measures.
The Limited Expansion Alternatives are expected to have minor
positive impacts to planning and zoning because they are more
consistent with future intended land use patterns than current uses.
Vegetation and wildlife would be adversely affected by the proposed
action due primarily to habitat destruction when the site is partially
graded. CDC would implement a comprehensive tree identification and
retention element as part of a master landscaping plan for the entire
17.6 acre site to mitigate these impacts to the greatest extent
practicable.
The Limited Expansion Alternatives would have adverse effects on
landforms & topography because CDC would not control the entire site
and would have to use less efficient solutions than comprehensive site
grading to overcome the extreme elevation differences and drainage
issues from Clifton Road down to Peavine Creek. For example, large
retaining walls similar to the one behind the existing Dekalb County
Fire Station would have to be constructed behind all the facilities
adjacent to Clifton Road, thus exacerbating elevation differences
between the upper and middle parts of the site.
On Site Expansion: Based on the research and analyses conducted in
preparation of the Draft and Final EIS, GSA and CDC expect the On Site
Expansion Alternative to have minor adverse impacts on hydrology/water
quality, vegetation & wildlife, ambient air quality, ambient noise,
comprehensive planning & zoning, and housing, and a major adverse
impact on transportation & parking.
CDC and GSA anticipate potential minor adverse impacts to
hydrology/water quality, and vegetation & wildlife because even though
the Government would not acquire the 17.6 acre parcel, growth patterns
in the area indicate that it would likely be developed by other parties
over the 20-year analysis period. If the development occurs
sporadically over this period, the opportunities to systematically
address grading, runoff control, tree retention and landscaping, etc.
are significantly reduced.
Short-term and highly localized air quality impacts would occur
primarily during the construction periods for new CDC facilities and
for private development of the 17.6 acre site, and during highly
congested AM and PM peak traffic hours. These impacts would be higher
under this alternative than others because this alternative projects
the greatest additional density in the Clifton Road Corridor. Air
quality impacts would be partially mitigated through CDC's continued
use of TDM strategies designed to increase use of transportation
alternatives to single-occupational vehicle commuting. CDC would
continue to work closely with MARTA and with other large employers in
the Clifton Road Corridor and concerned citizens to maximize effective
TDM measures.
Ambient noise impacts to adjacent residential areas of the 17.6
acre site would increase somewhat during CDC construction periods, but
not to unacceptably high levels.
Minor adverse housing impacts could occur under the On Site
Expansion Alternative because private development of the 17.6 acre site
could take place over the 20-year analysis period in a piecemeal
fashion, leaving some residential properties ``as-is'' while others are
developed. This type of development pattern can create noise, traffic,
and other nuisances for residents while the area is in transition.
The On Site Expansion Alternative would result in adverse traffic
impacts to several important intersections in the form of increased
delay time, expressed as LOS degradation. Intersections where at least
one future year LOS component will be worse under the Limited Expansion
Alternatives versus the No Action Alternative are: Clifton Road and
Briarcliff Road (2005); Clifton Road and Houston Mill Road (2005);
Clifton Road and Haygood Drive (2005); Clifton Road and North Decatur
Road (2015); Shepherds Lane and La Vista Road (2005); Briarcliff Road
and La Vista Road (2005); North Decatur Road and Haygood Drive (2005);
and Clifton Road and Clifton Way (2205). CDC could partially mitigate
the Clifton Road/Clifton Way intersection LOS degradation through
redesign and possible resignalization of the intersection, in
consultation with Dekalb County and surrounding property owners.
Neither GSA nor CDC is authorized to spend Government funds for off-
site road improvements, but will attempt to partially mitigate LOS
degradation at other key intersections through the use of TDM measures.
The On Site Expansion Alternative is expected to have minor
negative impacts to planning and zoning because it does not allow for
the comprehensive development of the 17.6 acre site in a manner
consistent with future intended land use patterns.
No Action: Based on the research and analyses conducted in
preparation of the Draft and Final EIS, GSA and CDC expect the No
Action Alternative to have minor adverse impacts on hydrology/water
quality, vegetation & wildlife, ambient air quality, ambient noise,
comprehensive planning & zoning, housing, and on transportation &
parking.
CDC and GSA anticipate potential minor adverse impacts to
hydrology/water quality, and vegetation & wildlife because even though
the Government would not acquire the 17.6 acre parcel, growth patterns
in the area indicate that it would likely be developed by other
[[Page 8021]]
parties over the 20-year analysis period. If the development occurs
sporadically over this period, the opportunities to systematically
address grading, runoff control, tree retention and landscaping, etc.
are significantly reduced.
Short-term and highly localized air quality impacts would occur
primarily during the construction periods for private development of
the 17.6 acre site, and during highly congested AM and PM peak traffic
hours. Air quality impacts would be partially mitigated through CDC's
continued use of TDM strategies designed to increase use of
transportation alternatives to single-occupant vehicle commuting. CDC
would continue to work closely with MARTA, with other large employers
in the Clifton Road Corridor, and with concerned citizens to improve
TDM measures.
Minor ambient noise impacts to adjacent residential areas of the
17.6 acre site would occur from private development of the 17.6 acre
site over the 20-year analysis period.
Minor adverse housing impacts could occur under the No Action
Alternative because private development of the 17.6 acre site could
take place over the 20-year analysis period in a piecemeal fashion,
leaving some residential properties ``as-is'' while others are
developed. This type of development pattern can create noise, traffic,
and other nuisances for residents while the area is in transition.
The No Action Alternative would result in adverse traffic impacts
to several important intersections in the form of increased delay time,
expressed as LOS degradation, because of ``background development''
that would occur in the area regardless of CDC's development
activities. Intersections where at least one future year LOS component
will be worse under the No Action Alternative versus current conditions
are: Clifton Road and Briarcliff Road (2005); Clifton Road and Haygood
Drive (2005); Clifton Road and North Decatur Road (2005); Shepherds
Lane and La Vista Road (2005); Briarcliff Road and La Vista Road
(2005); North Decatur Road and Haygood Drive (2005); and, Clifton Road
and Clifton Way (2005). CDC could partially mitigate the Clifton Road/
Clifton Way intersection LOS degradation through redesign and possible
resignalization of the intersection, in consultation with Dekalb County
and surrounding property owners. Neither GSA nor CDC is authorized to
spend Government funds for off-site road improvements, but will attempt
to partially mitigate LOS degradation at other key intersections
through the use of TDM measures.
The No Action Alternative is expected to have minor negative
impacts to planning and zoning because it does not allow for the
comprehensive development of the 17.6 acre site in a manner consistent
with future intended land use patterns.
Rationale for Decision
The Proposed Action, which is also the Technically Preferred
Alternative, will enable GSA and CDC to plan for and accommodate CDC's
long-term housing needs at the Clifton Road Campus in the most
economical and efficient manner. The Proposed Action maximizes design
options and development potential for both the existing campus and the
proposed CDC expansion, and, most importantly, will greatly enhance the
security of the Headquarters Complex. This alternative poses the least
adverse environmental impacts compared with other feasible
alternatives, and is, therefore, the Environmentally Preferred
Alternative.
The Limited Expansion Alternatives are feasible, but would not
allow the Government the maximum flexibility to plan for and configure
site security, site infrastructure, or the placement of future
laboratory, parking and support facilities in the most efficient and
cost-effective ways over the 20-year development horizon. The
environmental impacts of the Limited Expansion Alternatives are very
similar to those resulting from the Proposed Action; therefore,
implementing a Limited Expansion Alternative versus the Proposed Action
would not result in additional mitigation of adverse environmental
impacts, but would pose additional constraints and costs on the
Government to implement CDC's long-range facility plans.
Implementing the No Action Alternative neither results in
additional mitigation of environmental impacts, nor allows the
Government to address the purpose and need for the Proposed Action: to
provide an efficient, cost-effective means to accommodate CDC's future
space needs in its Clifton Road location through the year 2015. The
Proposed Action is needed to adequately address CDC's current program
needs at Clifton Road through renovation and reconfiguration of
existing space, as well as to provide new space to accommodate
anticipated future research and operational activities.
Therefore, having given consideration to all of the factors
discovered during the 19 month environmental review process, it is
GSA's decision to proceed with the Proposed Action: Government
acquisition and development of 17.6 acres of existing residential,
commercial and institutional property immediately to the west of the
existing CDC Clifton Road Campus, as described in this ROD, and in the
Draft and Final EIS documents incorporated by reference in this ROD.
Dated: February 10, 1997.
Phil Youngberg,
Regional Environmental Officer.
[FR Doc. 97-4026 Filed 2-20-97; 8:45 am]
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