NOTICE OF AVAILABILITY
DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT FOR THE EXPANSION AND IMPROVEMENTS OF THE QUANTICO NATIONAL CEMETERY
AGENCY: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
ACTION: Notice
SUMMARY: Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1970, as amended, as implemented by the Council on Environmental Quality Regulations (40 CFR 1500–1508), the VA announces the availability of the Draft Environmental Assessment (EA) for the Expansion and Improvements of the Quantico National Cemetery (QNC) located in Triangle, Virginia. The purpose of the Proposed Action is to continue to provide eligible veterans and their families in the Triangle, Virginia, area a national cemetery of sufficient size and capacity to serve the projected needs in this region over the next five years. A 30-day public comment period is being held to receive comments on the Draft EA. Federal, state, and local agencies and tribal Governments and the public are invited to comment on the Draft EA.
CONTACT INFORMATION: For additional information concerning the Draft EA and/or to submit comments to the Draft EA, please contact:
Alicia Logalbo
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
803 Front Street
Norfolk, VA 23510
Email: Alicia.Logalbo@usace.army.mil
Telephone: (757) 201-7210
PUBLIC REVIEW AND COMMENT PERIOD: Comments can be submitted via mail or email to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Point of Contact in this notice. To be considered, all comments must be received by Monday, June 20, 2016. An electronic copy of the Draft EA is available for public viewing at http://www.nao.usace.army.mil/Media/PublicNotices/tabid/3060/Article/755858/nao-05102106.aspx. Hard copies or electronic compact disk copies of the Draft EA will be made available upon request by contacting the USACE Point of Contact in this notice.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The USACE, on behalf of the VA, has prepared and made available for public review a Draft EA for the next phase of expansion and improvements to the QNC. The Draft EA evaluates the potential direct, indirect, and cumulative impacts on the human environment resulting from VA Proposed Action to construct and expand operations on an additional seven acres within the existing cemetery boundary to provide for multiple burial options that includes the supporting infrastructure, parking, irrigation, landscaping, visitor amenities, signage, operational facility improvements, and stormwater management features. The burial expansion will include the construction of in-ground cremation burial sites, a memorial wall and ossuary site, preplaced crypts, standard burial sites, and columbarium niches. This phase of expansion and improvements would include expansion of the parking lot of the Old Administration Building and renovations to the Old Administration Building. Renovations to the Old Administration Building will include electrical, water, sanitary sewer, HVAC, and data upgrades.