Notice of Intent (NOI) To Prepare Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) on the Proposed Military Family Housing Demolition, Construction, Renovation, and Leasing Program, Eglin Air Force Base (AFB) and Hurlburt Field, FL
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[Federal Register: January 26, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 16)]
[Notices]
[Page 3570]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr26ja04-29]
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Air Force
Notice of Intent (NOI) To Prepare Environmental Impact Statement
(EIS) on the Proposed Military Family Housing Demolition, Construction,
Renovation, and Leasing Program, Eglin Air Force Base (AFB) and
Hurlburt Field, FL
AGENCY: Air Force Material Command, United States Air Force.
ACTION: Notice of intent.
SUMMARY: Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of
1969, as amended (42 U.S.C. 4321, et seq.), the Council on
Environmental Quality (CEQ) Regulations for Implementing the Procedural
Provisions of NEPA (40 CFR parts 1500-1508), and Air Force policy and
procedures (32 CFR part 989), the Air Force is issuing this notice to
advise the public of its intent to prepare an EIS to assess the
potential environmental impacts on a proposal to provide a means to
rapidly upgrade housing to current Air Force standards while ensuring
that appropriate housing is available and affordable for military
personnel assigned to Eglin AFB and Hurlburt Field.
A total of 2,739 existing housing units distributed among thirteen
parcels on Eglin AFB and Hurlburt Field would be conveyed to a private
contractor along with associated infrastructure and utilities. Selected
real estate (land) on which housing units are located would remain in
Air Force ownership but would be leased to the private developer for 50
years. The developer will manage and maintain the housing, making it
available to military personnel at rates that will not exceed their
housing allowance. Of the 2,739 total units proposed for conveyance,
there are 138 existing units that meet standards and do not require
improvement, two units that would be renovated in place, and 2,594
units that would be demolished.
The Air Force is proposing that a developer construct 2,015 new
units, for a net total of 2,155 privatized military family housing
units. At least some of the new units would be located on sites not
currently developed for housing. All demolition and construction
activities would occur on Air Force property within the Eglin
Reservation. The Air Force used a screening process to identify
suitable areas for new housing development and identified four such
parcels, all located in the south-central portion of Eglin Reservation.
The Air Force has developed five alternatives for accomplishing the
proposed action. These alternatives differ only in the location and
distribution of the 2,015 new units to be constructed. Under the No
Action Alternative the Air Force would continue owning and managing all
current 2,739 housing units. The standard military construction process
would continue to be used to upgrade housing as needed.
The Air Force will host public scoping meetings in the local area.
The exact dates, times, and location(s) will be announced through the
local media. Oral and written comments presented at the public
meetings, as well as written comments received by the Air Force during
this scoping period and throughout the environmental impact analysis
process, will be considered in the preparation of the EIS. To ensure
the Air Force has sufficient time to consider public input in the
preparation of the Draft EIS, written comments from the public should
be submitted to the address below by March 23, 2004:
Point of Contact: Please direct any written comments or requests
for information to Ms. Julia Cantrell, HQ AFCEE/ISM, 3300 Sydney Brooks
Road, Brooks City-Base, TX 78235-5112 (PH:210.536.3515).
Pamela Fitzgerald,
Air Force Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 04-1537 Filed 1-23-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 5001-05-P
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