Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the O'Brien Road Access Modernization, Fort Meade, Maryland Publication: Federal Register Department: Department of Defense Byline: Aaron T. Siegel Date: 9 June 2023 Subjects: American Government , Military, Roads & Highways

[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 111 (Friday, June 9, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 37869-37870]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-12350]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Office of the Secretary


Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the O'Brien Road Access 
Modernization, Fort Meade, Maryland

AGENCY: Department of Defense (DoD).

ACTION: Notice of availability; notice of public meeting; request for 
comments.

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SUMMARY: The DoD announces the availability of the Draft Environmental 
Impact Statement (EIS) as part of the environmental planning process 
for the O'Brien Road Access Modernization (ORAM) at Fort George G. 
Meade, Maryland (hereafter referred to as Fort Meade). The DoD proposes 
to implement the ORAM project, which would entail renovation and 
upgrade of inspection facilities, upgrade of access facilities, and 
corresponding roadway improvements for Mapes, O'Brien, Perimeter, and 
Venona Roads on Fort Meade. The purpose of the proposed project is to 
construct facilities and infrastructure to allow for increased capacity 
for required security processing of traffic and deliveries entering 
Fort Meade and the National Security Agency (NSA) campus. The need for 
the proposed project is to address inefficiencies with current 
infrastructure and capacity issues.

DATES: There will be a virtual public meeting from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on 
July 19, 2023 via the Webex platform. Access and registration details 
are available on the project website at https://www.nab.usace.army.mil/oram. The public meeting may end earlier or later than the stated time 
depending on the number of persons wishing to speak. All materials that 
are submitted in response to the Draft EIS should be received by July 
24, 2023 to provide sufficient time to be considered in preparation of 
the Final EIS.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the Draft EIS are available for your review on the 
project website at https://www.nab.usace.army.mil/oram and at the Medal 
of Honor Memorial Library, 4418 Llewellyn Avenue, Fort Meade, MD 20755; 
Glen Burnie Regional Library, 1010 Eastway, Glen Burnie, MD 21060; 
Odenton Regional Library, 1325 Annapolis Road, Odenton, MD 21113; and 
Severn Community Library, 2624 Annapolis Road, Severn, MD 21144. You 
may also call (301) 688-2970 or send an email to ORAM@hdrinc.com to 
request a copy of the Draft EIS.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Jeffrey Williams at 301-688-2970, 
or email jdwill2@nsa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This notice announces a 45-day comment 
period and provides information on how to participate in the public 
review process. The public comment period for the Draft EIS will 
officially end July 24, 2023.
    Background: NSA is a tenant DoD agency on Fort Meade, occupying 
approximately 840 acres of the 5,100-acre installation. Renovation and 
upgrade of inspection and access facilities for NSA is required to meet 
increased mission and security capacity. The existing Vehicle Control 
Inspection Facility (VCIF) and Vehicle Control Point 5 (VCP5) represent 
two significant entry points for access to the NSA campus. Both 
facilities require replacement due to process inefficiencies and 
insufficient capacity to meet current and future demand. Original 
sizing of the VCIF provided for inspection facilities only for NSA 
deliveries and traffic. Post 9/11, a decision was made that NSA would 
inspect both Fort Meade and NSA deliveries. Additionally, major 
construction activities on Fort Meade have generated increases in 
traffic access and inspection throughout the installation. These 
conditions have resulted in extensive delays at the VCIF and traffic 
back-ups onto Maryland State Route 32. The design of VCP5 on O'Brien 
Road is also outdated and provides insufficient access capacity between 
the NSA campus and Fort Meade. Relocation of the Fort Meade Access 
Control Facility (ACF) on Mapes Road is included to facilitate the 
design and construction of the overall access gate infrastructure and 
roadway system, as well as minimize environmental impacts.
    Proposed Action and Alternatives: The proposed action would consist 
of: construction of a new VCP5 along O'Brien Road; construction of a 
new VCIF with adjacent visitor control center; construction of a new 
Mail Screening Facility adjacent to the VCIF; reconfiguration of the 
Mapes Road ACF; roadway improvements to provide enhanced routing and 
separation of traffic between NSA and Fort Meade entering from MDs 32 
and 198; and associated infrastructure, including sidewalks, inspection 
canopies, dog kennels, surface parking areas, stormwater management 
facilities, and utilities.
    Alternatives identified include two build alternatives that involve 
distinct configurations of project elements within the same general 
area on the NSA campus and Fort Meade. The No Action Alternative (not 
undertaking the proposed improvements) is also analyzed in detail.
    Summary of Environmental Impacts: The level of environmental 
impacts potentially resulting from the Proposed Action and alternatives 
would be largely similar, regardless of which alternative would be 
selected.
    Generally, construction and demolition would result in some ground 
disturbance, temporary increases in noise, and increased traffic 
congestion and lane closures, which would be expected regardless of the 
alternative selected. Implementation of the ORAM would be expected to 
result in long-term, negligible to major, adverse impacts on noise, 
geological resources, water resources, biological resources, 
infrastructure, and socioeconomics. Long-term, negligible to moderate, 
beneficial impacts on land use and visual resources, air quality, and 
sustainability. Major adverse impacts on wetlands would occur under 
either alternative, for which mitigation measures would be developed in 
coordination with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Maryland 
Department of the Environment. Major beneficial impacts on 
transportation would occur as result of the improvements.
    Best Management Practices and Mitigation Measures: The Proposed 
Action has the potential to result in adverse environmental impacts. 
The Proposed Action includes best management practices, mitigation 
measures, and design concepts to avoid or minimize adverse impacts to 
the extent practicable. Unavoidable impacts would be minimized or 
compensated for to the extent practicable. In accordance with Council 
on Environmental Quality regulations, mitigation measures are

[[Page 37870]]

considered for adverse environmental impacts.
    Copies of the Draft EIS are available for public review on the 
project website, at local repositories, and by request (see ADDRESSES). 
The DoD invites public and agency input on the Draft EIS. Please submit 
comments and materials during the 45-day public review period to allow 
sufficient time for consideration in development of the Final EIS (see 
DATES).
    The DoD will consider all comments received and then prepare the 
Final EIS. As with the Draft EIS, DoD will announce the availability of 
the Final EIS.

    Dated: June 2, 2023.
Aaron T. Siegel,
Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison Officer, Department of Defense.
[FR Doc. 2023-12350 Filed 6-8-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 5001-06-P