[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 170 (Friday, September 2, 1994)]
[Notices]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-21749]
[[Page Unknown]]
[Federal Register: September 2, 1994]
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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Army
Finding of No Significant Impact and Environmental Assessment for
Disposal and Reuse of Tacony Warehouse, Philadelphia, PA
AGENCY: Department of the Army, DoD.
ACTION: Finding of no significant impact.
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SUMMARY: The proposed action analyzed by this document is the disposal
and reuse of the Tacony Warehouse facility, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
as required by the Defense Authorization Amendments and the Base
Closure and Realignment Act (Pub. L. 100-526). The Army will dispose of
an approximately 14 acre parcel of land with improvements. The Fort Dix
Directorate of Public Works has been maintaining the facility since
closure in September 1992.
The alternatives are expressed in terms of Army imposed conditions
for real estate disposal. An ``Unencumbered Alternative'' represents
the ability to turn over the property with no Army imposed conditions.
An ``Encumbered Alternative'' deals with property transferred with
conditions imposed by the Army. This may be due to mitigation required
by another regulatory agency or may be required to protect Army
interests. Council on Environmental Quality and Army regulations
implementing the National Environmental Protection Act require a no-
action alternative as a benchmark against which proposed actions are
evaluated. For this document, this is the ``Caretaker'' alternative.
The ``Unencumbered Alternative'', the ``Encumbered Alternative'',
and the ``No Action Alternative'' (Caretaker) have been addressed in
the Environmental Assessment (EA). In the ``Unencumbered Alternative'',
the facility will be available for reuse under a range of projected
levels of reuse. Those projected levels of reuse are: High Intensity
Use, Medium Intensity Use, Low Intensity Use and Open Space.
High Intensity Use is defined when all of the property is offered
for sale for a light industrial/commercial reuse. There would be
renovation of existing structures to house a light industrial/
commercial enterprise. Some construction activities, including building
office and showroom space, will be performed within existing
structures.
Medium Intensity Use is when all of the property is used as a
regional distribution center. The facility's area of distribution will
be the Mid-Atlantic States region. There will be renovations of
existing structures and renovation of the rail lines entering the site.
Low Intensity use would occur if all of the property is sold or
transferred for reuse as warehouse. An example of Open Space is when
the remainder of the parcel will be transferred to the city for use as
an outdoor recreation area.
Land use in the ``Encumbered Alternative'' is similar to ``Low
Intensity Use'' addressed in the ``Unencumbered Alternative.'' The
identified encumbrance is associated with groundwater remediation
activities and will restrict use of groundwater for human ingestion or
industrial purposes. Additionally, the 0.9 acre parcel adjacent to the
state owned boat ramp will be transferred to the Pennsylvania Fishing
Commission as part of the boat ramp parking and picnic area. In the no
action alternative, also known as the ``Caretaker'' alternative, the
Army will retain and close the facility. The structures will be allowed
to stand, with minimum maintenance activity conducted at the facility.
The disposal of Tacony Warehouse would not result in significant
environmental or socioeconomic impacts. The transfer of 0.9 acres to
the Pennsylvania Fishing Commission will have no impact on the
environment since the activities and conditions at the 0.9 acre site
will not change as a result of the transfer.
Army Environmental Center studies have identified the extent of
contamination at the site. A remediation plan was prepared and
coordinated with the Environmental Protection Agency and the
Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Resources. The following
remediation has been planned: Removal of underground storage tanks and
above ground storage tanks; replacement of polychlorinated biphenyl
contaminated transformers; asbestos removal and management; steam
cleaning of contaminated building surfaces; contaminated soil and
sediment removal; and groundwater collection and monitoring. Since the
structures on the property were constructed prior to 1978, the
potential for lead based paints exist. The Army does not plan to remove
any lead based paint.
Reuse of the property will have potential impacts to air quality,
water quality, soils, and hazardous and toxic materials. The extent of
these impacts will be dependent on: (1) The extent of renovation,
demolition, and construction activities; and (2) the products produced
and stored at the facility. High intensity reuse and Open Space reuse,
addressed in the ``Unencumbered Alternative'', will have the greatest
impacts on these resources. Best management techniques will lessen the
impacts of construction and renovation. Prior to and during operations,
consultation will occur with environmental resource agencies, as
required, to ensure compliance with all federal, state, and local
regulations and guidelines.
Increases to the facility's utility usage and the surrounding
traffic patterns as a result of reuse will not pose a significant
impact to the surrounding community. No plant and animal ecologies
exist on the property. No cultural resources exist on the site to be
affected by reuse. The State Historic Preservation Office has concurred
with the Army's determination that no historic properties exist on the
site. Since the disposal of Tacony Warehouse does not constitute a
major federal action significantly affecting the human environment, an
Environmental Impact Statement will not be prepared.
DATES: Comments must be received on or before October 3, 1994.
ADDRESSES: Persons wishing to comment may obtain a copy of the EA or
inquire regarding this Finding of No Significant Impact by writing to
the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, ATTN: Mr. Larry D. Eastman, Planning
Division, P.O. Box 1715, Baltimore, Maryland 21203-1715.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: Questions regarding this FNSI may be directed
to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, ATTN: Mr. Larry D. Eastman, at
(410) 962-3208.
Dated: August 29, 1994.
Lewis D. Walker,
Assistant Secretary of the Army, (Environment, Safety and Occupational
Health) OASA (IL&E).
[FR Doc. 94-21749 Filed 9-1-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3710-08-M
