Last updated 09/12/10

 Site-Specific EA for Disposition of Existing VAMC campus

 

 

Introduction

 

The US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has initiated the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process for development of the Site-Specific Environmental Assessment (SEA) for Disposition of the existing Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC) located at 1601 Perdido Street, New Orleans, Orleans Parish, Louisiana.  Public participation is a significant part of VA’s NEPA compliance process.  Scoping at the beginning of a NEPA effort affords the opportunity for the public to submit comments, questions, and new information to help ensure the completeness of the environmental review.   With initiation of scoping for the Disposition SEA, VA invites veterans, general public, local businesses, associations, stakeholders, affected governmental agencies and other interested parties to contribute to the environmental review process by submitting comments, questions, and relevant information to assist in the decision-making process.

 

 

Project Background

 

The federal government's involvement in this effort triggers the requirements of NEPA, which requires federal agencies to evaluate the potential impact of proposed major federal actions and consider such impacts during the decision making process.  The Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) NEPA regulations encourage agencies to prepare “tiered” environmental analyses to assist in the evaluation of a large-scale program or project involving a series of related decisions.  The following NEPA evaluations and documents have already been completed:

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Questions for Consideration

 

· Do you agree these resource areas were appropriately addressed in the PEA?  If not, what additional information would you like to see included?

· Is there any new or pertinent information which would suggest any of these resource areas should be updated in the Disposition SEA?  Please provide details if relevant.

Questions for Consideration

 

· Do you agree these resource areas are appropriate for consideration in the Disposition SEA?  If not, what information suggests they should be excluded?

· Is there any new or pertinent information on any of these resource areas that VA should consider during development of the Disposition SEA?  Please provide details if relevant.

· What additional resource areas not included in either list above should be included in the Disposition SEA?

Questions for Consideration

 

· Do you agree these alternatives are appropriate for consideration in the Disposition SEA?  If not, what information suggests they are inappropriate?

· Are there other alternatives that should be considered in the Disposition SEA?  Please provide details if relevant.

Submit Comments by

October 11, 2010

 

AECOM Environmental

1555 Poydras Street, Suite 1860

New Orleans, LA 70112

public.comments@aecom.com

 

Tier I – Programmatic Environmental Assessment (PEA)

 

In November 2008, VA, in partnership with the City of New Orleans, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and the State of Louisiana, completed the Programmatic Environmental Assessment (PEA) for Site Selection of the Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC) and Louisiana State University Academic Medical Center (LSU AMC).*  In a concurrent effort to develop mitigation measures to reduce potential adverse impacts to historic properties, the same agencies executed the Programmatic Agreement (PA) in accordance with Section 106 of the National Historic Policy Act (NHPA) of 1966 as amended.  Following completion of the public comment period on the draft PEA and incorporation of the comments received, VA and FEMA published the final PEA, three Findings of No Significant Impact (FONSIs) were issued by each of the two federal agencies involved, as well as the City of New Orleans:  a) VA issued a FONSI on 24 November 2008 for the site selection of the replacement VAMC; b) FEMA issued a FONSI on the same date for the site section of the LSU AMC; and c) The City of New Orleans, issued a FONSI on 29 December 2008 adopting the findings of the PEA.  (The City of New Orleans, though not a federal agency, is the “Responsible Entity” under the HUD regulations as the recipient of CDBG funds which are being used to acquire and prepare the Tulane/Gravier site.)  The site selected for the replacement VAMC was the 30-acre Tulane/Gravier site bounded by Canal Street to the northeast, South Galvez Street to the southeast, Tulane Avenue to the southwest, and South Rocheblave Street to the northwest, Alternative # 1 in the PEA.

 

* In August 2009, the LSU AMC was re-designated as the University Medical Center (UMC) following completion and approval of a governance plan for administration of the new facility.

 

Tier II – Site-Specific Actions

 

1.     Building # 2 SEA:  In September 2009, VA completed the Site-Specific Environmental Assessment for Building # 2 of the Veterans Affairs Medical Center.  This SEA incorporated and built upon the findings of the PEA to evaluate the environmental impacts of establishing temporary medical support facilities for supply, processing, and distribution (SPD) functions at the existing VAMC campus to expedite quality healthcare for veterans in Southeast Louisiana during construction of the replacement VAMC.  (The existing SPD functions were inadequate and out of compliance with VA regulations.)  In a concurrent effort to develop mitigation measures to reduce potential adverse impacts to the surrounding New Orleans Medical Historic District, VA executed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) in accordance with Section 106 of the National Historic Policy Act (NHPA) of 1966 as amended, which requires documentation and an expanded determination of eligibility for all the buildings included in the VAMC campus, as they relate to the New Orleans Medical Historic District. Upon completion of the SEA, VA issued a FONSI for the Proposed Action (Alternative #1 in the SEA), demolition of Building # 2 and mobilization, installation, and setup of mobile support units.

 

2.    Replacement VAMC SEA:  In April 2010 VA completed the Site-Specific Environmental Assessment for the Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC SEA).  This SEA incorporated and built upon the findings of the PEA to evaluate the environmental impacts of the design, construction, and operation of the replacement VAMC facility.  Following the conclusion of the public comment period on the draft SEA and incorporation of comments received, VA published the final SEA, and issued a FONSI for the Proposed Action (Alternative # 4 – Hybrid Infrastructure Concourse and Pavilions).  This design evolved over the course of the project through input received from veterans groups, VAMC staff, focus groups, consulting parties, the general public and others.

 

3.    Disposition SEA:  At present VA is initiating the development of the Site-Specific Environmental Assessment for Disposition of the Veterans Affairs Medical Center, 1601 Perdido Street, New Orleans, Louisiana.  This current SEA also incorporates and builds upon the findings of the PEA to evaluate the environmental impacts associated with the disposition of the existing VAMC property and facilities. 

Resource Areas Adopted By Reference in the Disposition SEA

 

Resource areas evaluated in the PEA intended to be adopted by reference and therefore not discussed in detail in the Disposition SEA:

 

· Physical Environment

· Water & Coastal Resources

· Floodplain Management

· Socioeconomics

· Air Quality

· Noise and Vibration

· Infrastructure

· Transportation

· Biological Resources

· Cultural Resources (Archaeology)

 

Resource Areas Included in the Disposition SEA

Resource areas intended to be updated and or newly evaluated:

 

· Land Use - updated

· Aesthetics - new

· Human Health & Safety - updated

· Cultural Resources (Historic Properties) – updated

Project Alternatives

VA is currently considering three potential alternatives with respect to future disposition of the existing VAMC property and facilities:

· No Action Alternative:   VA retains control of the existing facilities and continues to secure and ventilate in accordance with the stipulations in the PA

· Transfer to the City of New Orleans:  Transfer ownership (possession and title) in direct exchange for the Tulane/Gravier site (VA would continue to operate the Outpatient Clinic on-site until completion of the replacement VAMC)

· Enhanced-Use Lease (EUL):  VA would retain ownership of the site while allowing a third party to re-use the site in exchange for consideration to the VA (VA would continue to operate the Outpatient Clinic on-site until completion of the replacement VAMC)

Comment Period

VA welcomes comments on the Disposition SEA with the respect to the questions for consideration and/or any other additional   questions, comments, or presentation of new information relevant to this phase of the project.  Comments will be accepted through October 11, 2010.  Comments may be submitted by in person, by mail, or by email: