97-24647. Final Programmatic Environmental Assessment (FPEA) and Finding of No Significant Impact (FNSI) for the Joint Vaccine Acquisition Program (JVAP)

[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 180 (Wednesday, September 17, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Page 48823]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-24647]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army


Final Programmatic Environmental Assessment (FPEA) and Finding of 
No Significant Impact (FNSI) for the Joint Vaccine Acquisition Program 
(JVAP)

AGENCY: Department of the Army, DoD.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: The Department of the Army announces the availability for 
public review and comment of an FPEA and FNSI for the JVAP. The primary 
objective of the JVAP is to develop, produce, store, test, and field 
sufficient quantities of U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) 
licensed vaccines to implement U.S. government policy for protecting 
its armed forces against biological warfare agents. Because of the 
current threat of biological warfare and its continuing proliferation, 
there is an urgent need to protect our fighting men and women who go in 
harm's way. The JVAP is implemented by the Department of Defense 
through the Joint Program Office for Biological Defense for which the 
Army is the lead agency. The JVAP FPEA characterizes and assesses the 
possible and probable environmental consequences associated with the 
JVAP as proposed and the alternatives considered. The FPEA concludes 
that the proposed JVAP activities and the alternatives analyzed are not 
likely to have significant adverse effects upon the quality of the 
environment.
    Alternatives:
    a. Implement and operate the JVAP through which the Army proposes 
to develop, produce, store, test, and field vaccines for biological 
defense which are otherwise unavailable (Preferred Alternative).
    b. No action (cessation of all JVAP activities now and in the 
future).
    c. Conduct current and currently planned JVAP activities in a 
consolidated government facility.
    d. Conduct current and currently planned JVAP activities at a 
consolidated contractor facility.
    Comments: The JVAP FPEA/FNSI is available for public review and 
comment. Mr. Bruce G. Kay is the Department of the Army clearinghouse 
for requests for the JVAP FPEA and documentation from previous 
environmental analyses referenced in the FPEA. The JVAP FPEA 
documentation with supporting reports is available through the internet 
at http://www.armymedicine.army.mil/jvap-fpea. Written comments 
regarding the FPEA/FNSI should be submitted to the address provided 
below.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before October 17, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Mail comments or document copy requests to: Joint Vaccine 
Acquisition Project Management Office, ATTN: Mr. Bruce Kay, 568 
Doughten Drive, Suite 100, Fort Detrick, Maryland 21702-5040; phone at 
[phone]; or fax at [phone]; e-mail: 
[e-mail].

    Dated: September 11, 1997.
James P. Huber,
Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army (Environment, Safety and 
Occupational Health) OASA (I, L&E).
[FR Doc. 97-24647 Filed 9-16-97; 8:45 am]
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