In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), as amended, the Department of the Army, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Baltimore District, U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM), 1st Capabilities Integration Group (1st CIG), and Humphreys Engineer Center Support Activity (HECSA) have prepared a Draft Environmental Assessment (EA) to evaluate and document the potential environmental effects associated with the proposed construction of the Training Support Facility (TSF) at Humphreys Engineer Center (HEC) in Alexandria, Virginia.
The purpose of the Proposed Action is to support 1st CIG and other tenants at HEC by providing necessary training, storage and administrative space to provide for more efficient, synchronized unit operations by construction of a TSF at HEC and collocating training and storage functions to one, centralized building. The need for the Proposed Action is to provide for more efficient operations for 1st CIG and other tenants by providing flexible training support, administrative and storage space at HEC. Ultimately there is a current and future need for functional training and storage space at HEC which is necessary for synchronized unit operations to execute military operations and contingency missions and for the preservation of unique and sensitive pieces of equipment and artifacts at HEC.
The proposed TSF would be constructed within a 3.2 acre, previously developed area, located within the central‐eastern portion of HEC, east of the Kingman Building (Building 2593) and north of the Hall Building (2596) within the existing HEC soccer field/recreational area. The proposed TSF would be constructed as a two‐story, approximately 66,486 square foot (ft2) sensitive compartmented information facility (SCIF) and would include training, storage and administrative space. Construction of the TSF would include special foundations, redundant power, sustainability/energy features, antiterrorism measures, a raised floor system and one, 600 kilovolt (kV)‐emergency generators.
Construction of the TSF would take approximately 24 months and would include a buffer for antiterrorism/force protection (AT/FP) requirements. The proposed TSF would also include construction of new supporting infrastructure such as electrical, water, sewer and gas utility connections. Site and facility design would also include Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)‐ accessible circulation within and around the facility.
Two 1 alternatives were considered in the Environmental Assessment, including the Proposed Action and the No Action Alternative. Under the Proposed Action, the TSF would be constructed as described above. Under the No Action Alternative, the TSF would not be constructed and training and storage activities would occur in their current state at HEC. HEC would continue to lack appropriate training and storage space for 1st CIG and other tenants on HEC.
The Environmental Assessment analyzes impacts to the following resource areas: aesthetic and visual resources; air quality; biological resources; cultural resources; geological resources; solid and hazardous materials; infrastructure, utilities and traffic; land use; noise; community services; socioeconomics and environmental justice; and water resources. Following the environmental review of these resource areas contained in the Environmental Assessment, it has been determined that construction of the proposed TSF at HEC would not result in significant environmental impacts. As a result of this determination, a Finding of No Significant Impact has been made for the Proposed Action. The preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement is not required for this action.
Dale F. Stoutenburgh
Director