97-5477. Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Exterior Security of Federally Occupied Buildings in the District of Columbia

[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 44 (Thursday, March 6, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10276-10277]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-5477]


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GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION


Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for 
the Exterior Security of Federally Occupied Buildings in the District 
of Columbia

    Pursuant to Section 102(2)(C) the National Environmental Policy Act 
(NEPA) of 1969 as implemented by the Council on Environmental Quality 
(CEQ) regulations (40 CFR parts 1500-1508), the General Services 
Administration (GSA) announces its intent to prepare an Environmental 
Impact Statement (EIS) to evaluate the potential environmental impacts 
of vehicle restrictions near selected federally-occupied buildings in 
the District of Columbia.
    The GSA is investigating measures to improve security at buildings 
in the District of Columbia occupied by federal employees. In 
cooperation with the GSA, tenants of federally occupied buildings 
formed Building Security Committees (BSC) to decide the type and amount 
of security appropriate for their needs. The BSC recommended vehicle 
restrictions in the proximity of federal buildings. GSA will prepare an 
EIS to assess the potential effect of this type of recommendation and 
determine whether the impact of the recommended alternative is 
significant.
    The GSA has identified 80 federally occupied buildings within the 
downtown of the District of Columbia that are currently at a security 
risk. A series of alternatives will be analyzed to determine the 
effectiveness at improving building security and determine the 
environmental impacts:
     No Action--This alternative presents no change in the 
existing vehicle restrictions.
     Partial Vehicular Restriction--Vehicle restrictions in 
proximity to federal buildings would only allow for authorized vehicles 
with a secure windshield sticker, placard, or other identifying marker.
     Total Vehicular Restriction--All vehicles in proximity to 
any at-risk federally occupied buildings would be prohibited.
    The EIS to be prepared by the GSA will address the following 
potential areas of concern: economic impacts to the District of 
Columbia; traffic flow and mass transit; air quality; and public 
safety.
    GSA will initiate a scoping process for the purpose of determining 
the scope of issues to be addressed and for identifying the significant 
issues related to this proposed action.

[[Page 10277]]

    Public scoping meetings are scheduled for:
    April 9, 1997 beginning at 7:30 p.m. at the General Services 
Administration Auditorium located at 18th and F Streets, NW., 
Washington, DC 20405 (enter on the F Street Entrance) and April 10, 
1997 beginning at 1:30 p.m. at the General Services Administration 
Regional Auditorium located at 7th & D Streets, SW., Washington, DC 
20407 (enter on the D Street Entrance) These meetings will be announced 
in local newspapers.
    A brief presentation will precede the request for public comment. 
GSA representative will be available at this meeting to receive 
comments from the public regarding issues of concern. It is important 
that federal, state, and local agencies and interested groups and 
individuals take this opportunity to identify environmental concerns 
that should be addressed during the preparation of the EIS. All 
interested parties are invited to attend this meeting or submit 
comments in writing as described below. When registering, each attendee 
will be requested to indicate whether oral comments will be delivered 
at the meeting. In the interest of available time, each speaker will be 
asked to limit oral comments to five (5) minutes. Longer comments 
should be summarized at the public meeting or mailed to the address 
listed at the end of this announcement. To be most helpful, scoping 
comments should clearly describe specific issues or topics that the 
commenter believes the EIS should address. All written statements and/
or questions regarding the scoping process should be mailed no later 
than April 24, 1997 to: Ms. Christine Kelly, General Services 
Administration, (WPCAA), Property Development Division, Room 2634, 7th 
& D Streets SW., Washington, DC 20407, telephone [phone], ext. 
256, E-mail [e-mail].

    Dated: February 21, 1997.
William R. Lawson,
Assistant Regional Administrator, Public Buildings Service.
[FR Doc. 97-5477 Filed 3-5-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6820-23-M