[Federal Register: April 3, 2009 (Volume 74, Number 63)]
[Notices]               
[Page 15272]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr03ap09-33]                         

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GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION

 
Record of Decision for the Department of Homeland Security 
Headquarters Consolidation at St. Elizabeths in Southeast, Washington, 
DC

AGENCY: National Capital Region, U.S. General Services Administration 
(GSA).

ACTION: Notice; record of decision.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to the requirements of the National Environmental 
Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), 42 U.S.C. 4321-4347, the Council on 
Environmental Quality Regulations (40 CFR parts 1500-1508), GSA Order 
PBS P 1095.1F (Environmental considerations in decision-making, dated 
October 19, 1999), and the GSA Public Buildings Service NEPA Desk 
Guide, dated October 1999, on December 16, 2008, GSA issued a Record of 
Decision on the DHS Headquarters Consolidation at St. Elizabeths Final 
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) (GSA, November 2008) to implement 
Campus Redevelopment Alternative 5 as defined in the Final EIS. The 
complete Record of Decision (ROD) can be viewed on the project Web 
site: http://www.stelizabethswestcampus.com.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Denise Decker, NEPA Lead, National 
Capital Region, General Services Administration, at (202) 538-5643.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Decision:
    It is the decision of the Acting Regional Administrator of GSA, 
National Capital Region to:
    (1) Implement Campus Redevelopment Alternative 5, which requires 
part of the 4.5 million GSF of secure office space, plus parking, 
needed for the DHS consolidated headquarters to be located on the St. 
Elizabeths East Campus. Alternative 5 includes the construction of 3.8 
million GSF of office and shared use space in both new and adaptively 
re-used buildings, together with 3,459 parking spaces for the 
consolidation of DHS Headquarters at the St. Elizabeths West Campus in 
Southeast, Washington, DC. Alternative 5 also includes an additional 
750,000 GSF of office and shared use space together with 775 parking 
spaces that will be located on the St. Elizabeths East Campus. The 
selection of Alternative 5 contemplates the use of the East Campus 
parcel for the project. However, the ROD does not authorize any ground 
disturbing activities on the East Campus. Implementation of ground 
disturbing activities on the East Campus will be considered in a 
separate EIS and, unless the no-build alternative is selected, 
implemented in a separate ROD. In accordance with the conditions set 
forth in the December 16, 2008 ROD, certain West Campus ground 
disturbing activities are authorized prior to completion of the 
contemplated East Campus ROD.
    (2) Implement Martin Luther King, Jr. Avenue Traffic Improvement 
Alternative 2, as defined in Volume 2 of the FEIS. Alternative 2 
accommodates left turning lanes into Gates 1 and 2 of the West Campus. 
Selection of this alternative is based on coordination with, and is 
subject to, subsequent final determinations of the District of Columbia 
Department of Transportation (DDOT). Alternative 2 may be implemented 
immediately after approval by DDOT.
    (3) Implement, in cooperation with the Federal Highway 
Administration (FHWA), Interchange Alternative I-2, as described in 
Volume II of the Final EIS. Alternative I-2 provides for the 
construction of a new access road for St. Elizabeths West Campus, from 
Firth Sterling Avenue to Malcolm X Avenue and connecting to the Malcolm 
X interchange as outlined in Volume 2 of the Final EIS. Selection of 
this alternative is based on coordination with FHWA and is subject to 
its subsequent final determinations.
    The ROD documents the specific components of GSA's decision and the 
rationale for the decision. This decision is based on information and 
analyses contained in the Draft EIS issued in September 2007; the Final 
EIS issued in November 2008; the comments of Federal and State 
agencies, stakeholder organizations, members of the public, and elected 
officials; and other information in the administrative record.

    Issued December 16, 2008 by John F. Phelps, Acting Regional 
Administrator, General Services Administration, National Capital 
Region.
Thomas James,
Deputy Assistant Regional Administrator, Public Buildings Service, 
National Capital Region.
 [FR Doc. E9-7469 Filed 4-2-09; 8:45 am]

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