National Capital Region DRAFT Environmental Impact Statement PUBLIC HEARING Matthews Memorial Baptist Church Washington, DC October 18, 2007
Introduction Welcome and team introduction Hearing procedures NEPA and Sections 106 and 110 of NHPA processes Site history Project history DHS need Purpose and need for the action Alternatives Impacts Public comment 2
Hearing Procedures GSA presentation Public comment If you did not sign-up in advance of tonight to speak, please sign-up in the back of the room. When you come up front, speak and spell your name clearly into the microphone. Limit comments to three (3) minutes for individuals and five (5) for organizations. 3
NEPA Under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Federal agencies must: Prepare an environmental impact statement for actions that may have significant environmental impacts, and consider alternative ways of meeting objectives Use a systematic, interdisciplinary approach in analyzing environmental impacts Factor environmental considerations into decisions 4
NEPA Where we are today Notice of Intent/Scoping Final EIS Environmental Analysis Public Comments/Hearing Public Review Draft EIS Record of Decision
Section 106 Under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act: Federal agencies must take into account the effects of their actions on archaeological and architectural resources listed or eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places. 6
Section 110 Under Section 110(f) of the National Historic Preservation Act: Federal agencies shall, to the maximum extent possible, undertake such planning and actions as may be necessary to minimize harm to such landmark. 7
Site History St. Elizabeths West Campus 176 acres Established in 1852 Located in Southeast DC. Part of Ward 8 neighborhoods National Historic Landmark 1.1 million gross square feet of existing structures Proximate to the Capitol and White House 8
Project History 2004 Site transferred to GSA from Department of Health and Human Services 2005 GSA began preparing a master plan for the redevelopment of the site Coast Guard identified as first tenant 2006 DHS headquarters, including Coast Guard, identified as entire site tenant 9
DHS Need Employees scattered in about 70 buildings throughout National Capital Region. Current housing diminishes the agency s ability to perform its mission in an effective and efficient manner. Dispersion also adversely impacts critical communication, coordination and cooperating among DHS components. Consolidation will foster one-dhs culture 10
Purpose and Need for Action Purpose of the action: Development 4.5 million gross square feet (GSF) of office space plus 1.8 million GSF parking for a total of 6.3 million GSF to accommodate consolidated DHS Need for action: Support DHS collocation requirement 11
St. Elizabeths West Campus Greenhouse Gate 1 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave Gate 2 Lettered Bldgs. Gate 3 Barry Farm The Point Pavilion Center Building Ravine Warehouse Congress Heights I-295 Shepherd Parkway 12
No Action Alternative DHS Headquarters would not be consolidated DHS inefficiencies would continue St. Elizabeths West Campus would not be redeveloped Buildings would be mothballed with minimal maintenance GSA would study retaining or disposing of property 13
Redevelopment Goals Achieve the maximum build-out of the site for federal use, while maintaining the historic character of the West Campus Provide a world-class federal workplace planned and designed by the nation s leading architects Use federal development in ways that consider community development goals and efforts Satisfy federal security requirements in a manner that remains sensitive to neighboring communities 14
Redevelopment Goals Provide facilities that meet the programmatic needs of the U.S. Coast Guard and the DHS Preserve, to a practicable extent, the natural context of the site Promote sustainable development by achieving a Silver Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating Facilitate an open and inclusive process Improve transportation access to the campus Optimize the federal investment 15
Redevelopment Alternatives 4.5 million gross square feet of office, operations, and shared-use space New and existing buildings 14,000 DHS employees 1.8 million gross square feet of parking 1 parking space for every 3 employees New access road between Firth Sterling Ave to Malcolm X Ave 16
Site and Program Parameter 100 foot security setback Parking at the perimeter of the site; no parking under buildings 30% vehicles from Martin Luther King, Jr. Avenue 70% vehicles from new access road between Firth Sterling and Malcolm X 17
Alternative 1 18
Alternative 2 19
Alternative 3 20
Alternative 4 21
Impacts All development alternatives would impact Cultural resources Natural environment Social and economic environment Air quality Noise Utilities Environmental contamination Traffic 22
Historic Buildings Alternative 1 Alternative 2 Alternative 3 Alternative 4 Total Contributing Buildings Demolished 30 (48%) 29 (47%) 25 (40%) 18 (29%) Total Contributing Buildings Sq Ft Demolished 206,925 (23%) 199,256 (22%) 165,240 (18%) 100,306 (11%) Total Contributing Buildings Retained 32 (52%) 33 (53%) 37 (60%) 44 (71%) Total Contributing Buildings Sq Ft Retained 705,822 (77%) 713,491 (78%) 747,507 (82%) 812,441 (89%) 23
Cultural Landscape Alternative 1 Alternative 2 Alternative 3 Alternative 4 Total Landscape Features 60 60 60 60 Total Adversely Affected Features 43 41 42 27 Total Features Not Affected 17 19 18 33 24
Views St. Elizabeths Hospital location chosen for therapeutic views of rivers and downtown Views would be affected by new buildings Affected views include: To and from Center Building From south lawn From Congress Heights From West Campus Cemetery To the Shepherd Parkway 25
Archeological Resources Foundation of Hospital Gardener s House Foundation of Oakes Building Area between Martin Luther King, Jr. Avenue and Buildings #72 and #75 26
Natural Resources Geology, topography, and soils Surface waters Wetlands Vegetation and wildlife Protected species 27
Water Resources Existing Stream Length (Linear Feet) Stream Impacts (Linear Feet) Alternative 1 Alternative 2 Alternative 3 Alternative 4 2,984 926 926 1,070 1,092 Existing Wetlands (Acreage) Alternative 1 Wetland Impacts (Acreage) Alternative 2 Alternative 3 Alternative 4 0.80 0.54 0.53 0.55 0.55 Shepherd Parkway Wetland Impacts 4,200 square feet 28
Vegetation Cover Type Herbaceous Rangeland Shrub and Brush Rangeland Acres Existing Alternative 1 Alternative 2 Alternative 3 Alternative 4 7.9 0.92 0.34 0.20 0.31 3.3 0.72 0.37 0.57 0.71 Deciduous Forested 59.5 11.11 11.31 15.55 15.50 Malcolm X/I-295 Interchange Impacts Alternative I-1 Alternative I-2 Alternative I-3 Alternative I-4 Deciduous Forested 30.46 21.16 44.16 42.29 29
Wildlife Minor loss of habitat Larger species may relocate to adjacent lands Smaller species would move within site during construction Temporary noise impacts during construction 30
Protected Species No species protected under the Endangered Species Act on or adjacent to the West Campus Bald Eagle nest located near the campus Protected under Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act and Migratory Bird Treaty Act GSA is complying with the National Bald Eagle Management Guidelines 31
Social & Economic Resources Land Use Planning Population and Housing Economy, Employment and Income Community Facilities and Services Safety and Security 32
Land Use Planning Comprehensive Plan for the National Capital Two Elements: Federal Elements District Elements 33
Land Use Planning No Action Alternative inconsistent with plans Redevelopment alternatives are consistent with plans Reuse existing resources Locate federal employees near mass transit and central business area Facilitate economic growth Include parking ratio of 1 space for 3 employees Impact open space and natural features Limit public access to campus Redevelopment alternatives are inconsistent with plans Reduce size of Shepherd Parkway Reuse and demolish historic buildings 34
Population & Housing 74 percent of land near West Campus is public Housing and property values may increase 35
Environmental Justice Executive Order 12898, Environmental Justice Low-income and minority populations are in local neighborhoods Redevelopment alternatives would not have adverse ecological or human health effects 36
Economy & Employment Redevelopment of West Campus may create beneficial economic changes to Congress Heights Construction may generate employment opportunities for 26,655 in Metropolitan area Payroll earnings $931 million Total economic output $2.9 billion 37
Community Facilities & Services Redevelopment alternatives would increase usage of: Public transportation Fire and Emergency Medical Services Police Services Community facilities such as libraries, education/childcare facilities, parks, and religious facilities 38
Safety & Security Security provided by Federal Protective Services Controlled access to Point during special events West Campus Cemetery outside security fence Security features designed to deter threats 39
Air Quality Redevelopment consistent with Clean Air Act Mobile sources, such as vehicles, would not exceed National Ambient Air Quality Standards Stationary sources, such as building equipment, would not exceed New Source Review limits Construction would create minor, short-term adverse impacts to air quality 40
Noise Noise levels modeled at 11 locations on and off-site Increases in noise levels would be imperceptible Construction would create minor, shortterm adverse impacts to noise levels 41
Utilities Installed from 1850s to 1990s and are in poor condition No stormwater management on-site All utilities would be replaced under redevelopment Solid waste would increase during construction and operation Stormwater management would be included in site design 42
Environmental Contamination Buildings contain asbestos, lead paint Fly ash used as insulation in at least one building Groundwater contamination has been remediated Fly ash on southern and western portion of site contains heavy metals and dioxin 43
Traffic 44 So. Capitol St. Malcolm X I-295 Firth Firth Sterling Sterling Martin Luther King Suitland Parkway Suitland Parkway
Malcolm X/I-295 Interchange To be reconstructed to allow for access to the West Campus from Malcolm X Reconstruction would be undertaken by FHWA and DDOT Four alternatives considered in Draft EIS 45
Alternative I-1 46
Alternative I-2 47
Alternative I-3 48
Alternative I-4 49
Traffic Planned Development Anacostia Gateway Salvation Army East of the River Corps Bolling Air Force Barry Farm redevelopment St. Elizabeths East Campus redevelopment 50
Traffic Planned Transportation Projects Suitland Parkway/MLK Avenue Interchange South Capital Street Bridge Reconstruction 11 th Street Bridges I-295/Suitland Parkway Interchange Anacostia Streetcar 51
Traffic Level of Service measured as A through F 19 intersections studied Only the Malcolm X/I-295 interchange ramps currently operates at LOS F in AM 52
Traffic No Action Levels of Service: Malcolm X/I-295 interchange would continue to fail in AM By 2013, Firth Sterling Avenue/Suitland Parkway and Suitland Parkway/South Capital Street would fail in PM By 2015, I-295 SB/Suitland Parkway would fail in PM 53
Traffic Redevelopment Alternatives GSA has proposed to reduce impacts to traffic through mitigation measures, such as turn lanes on MLK Reconstruction of Malcolm X/I-295 interchange would have beneficial impacts on traffic conditions Increased use of mass transit services All the West Campus Alternatives include sidewalks and bicycle access around and on the campus 54
Comments Public comment If you did not sign-up in advance of tonight to speak, please sign-up in the back of the room. When you come up front, speak and spell your name clearly into the microphone. Limit comments to three (3) minutes for individuals and five (5) for organizations. 55
Comments Written comments due by: November 13, 2007 May submit comments to: www.stelizabethswestcampus.com 56
Thank you