Welcome

NIH Bethesda Campus Master Plan And

Environmental Impact Statement

National Environmental Policy ActPublic Meeting

April 8, 2014

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NIH Representatives

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NEPA Management Valerie Nottingham, Deputy Director

Division of Environmental Protection/ORF/NIHMark Radtke, Environmental Protection Specialist

Division of Environmental Protection/ORF/NIHGeorgianna Porter, Environmental Protection Specialist

Division of Environmental Protection/ORF/NIH

Facilities Planning Ricardo C. Herring, Director,

Division of Facilities Planning /ORF/NIHPhillip Neuberg, Chief, Facility Planning and Programming Branch

Division of Facilities Planning /ORF/NIH

What is NEPA?

• National Environmental Policy Act (1969)

• Defines procedural elements– The NEPA Process– Council on Environmental Quality regulations 40 CFR 1500-1508– Department of Health and Human Services General Administration Manual

Chapter 30, Environmental Protection

• Purpose of this Environmental Impact Statement for the NIH Master Plan is to examine potential impacts and mitigation

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Why Perform NEPA?

• It is Federal Law

• Allows for the agency to consider the environmental impacts of its actions

• Allows for public participation

• Ensures the agency makes an informed decision on its action

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NEPA Process

• Issue Notice of Intent (NOI) • Hold Public Scoping Meeting • Issue Draft EIS – March 21, 2014

- Copies of draft were given to the Environmental Protection Agency and

a Notice of Availability (NOA) was posted in the Federal Register

- There is a 60 day comment period on the draft EIS

• Hold public comment meeting on DEIS• Issue Final EIS

- The final EIS must respond to relevant comments received from other

agencies and the public

- The final EIS is again given to the EPA and a NOA is published within the

federal register

- 30 day waiting period

• Record of Decision

- Final step for the EIS process

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The NIH Master Plan

Ricardo C. Herring, Director, Division of Facilities Planning /ORF/NIH

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The Master Plan

NIH Bethesda Campus Master Plan would guide campus development over a 20-year period.

A Plan would assure that research and research support facilities are provided at the appropriate time, as need dictates, and as resources permit, taking into consideration local and community planning objectives.

Why Does the NIH Bethesda Campus Need a Master Plan?

A Master Plan would establish a physical framework which:

• Allows NIH to continue to fulfill its biomedical research needs by defining the program based on research goals, and priorities.

• Results in a consistent and appropriate physical appearance for the site.

• Is in accord with local and regional planning and environmental objectives.

• Defines the priorities for new building construction and renovation of current facilities.

• Ensure accordance with Department of Health and Human Services facility planning policy.

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Master Planning Process

• Vision– Formulate goals and planning principles

• Data– Data collection

• Concept– Develop Preliminary Master Plan for agency and public review

• Master Plan– Develop Master Plan– Issue Draft NIH Bethesda Campus Master Plan for agency and public

review– Issue Final NIH Bethesda Campus Master Plan

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Master Plan/EIS Timeline

Assemble planning information on the Bethesda Campus and Winter 2011 project campus population and space

Issue Notice of Intent to Prepare EIS and Master Plan Winter 2012

Hold Scoping Meeting to Receive Comments and Concerns February 28, 2012 Comments will also be received during the 45-day public comment period ending March 26, 2012.

Prepare Draft Master Plan and Draft EIS Spring 2012

Hold Draft EIS Public Meeting April 8,2014 Receive Comments on Draft EIS and Master Plan

Prepare Final EIS Summer 2014

Issue Record of Decision Fall 2014

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NIH Mission

The NIH mission is to seek fundamental knowledge about the nature and behavior of living systems and the application of that knowledge to enhance health, lengthen life, and reduce the burdens of illness and disability.

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Master Plan Goals

Goal 1: Foster innovative research to improve the nation’s health.

Goal 2: Support the evolving requirements for biomedical research

Goal 3: Provide secure and supportive campus for staff & visitors

Goal 4: Respect the integrity of the surrounding community.

Goal 5: Protect the environment of campus and the region.

Goal 6: Foster communication about NIH goals and policies.

Goal 7: Meet the Federal Real Property Council’s Performance

Measures

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Current Land Use

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22%

36%17%

9%

16%

Buffer ZoneOpen SpaceRoadways/WalksParkingBuildings

Proposed Action Land Use

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23%

39%

18%

5%16%

Buffer ZoneOpen SpaceRoadways/WalksParkingBuildings

Features of the Proposed Action

• 3,955,000 gsf of new construction over the next 20 years– 855,000 gsf of new administrative space– 1,700,000 gsf of new research space– 1,400,000 gsf of new support space

• 190 acres of open space which is 61% of the campus.• Population increase by 3,000 over the next 20 years• Adaptive reuse of older historic laboratories• Place administrative and public buildings east of the campus along

Rockville Pike close to the Medical Center METRO station.• Organized the campus into a series community clusters in order to

create synergies and informal interactions among the scientific community.

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The NIH Environmental Impact Statement for the Bethesda Campus Master Plan

Mark Radtke, Environmental Protection SpecialistDivision of Environmental Protection/ORF/NIH

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Draft Environmental Impact Statement

• Serves as an action-forcing device to insure that the policies and goals defined in NEPA are infused into the ongoing programs and actions of the NIH

• Evaluating the potential environmental effects associated with the three alternatives• Characterizing the affected environment• Identifying potential environmental consequences of each alternative• Identify mitigation measures for consequences

• The EIS is a decision making document• Serves as the means of assessing the environmental impact of the actions, rather than

trying to justify a decision that has already been made• 30 day waiting period between Final EIS and the Record of Decision

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Scope and Content of an EIS

Purpose and need

Alternatives being considered

Affected environment

Consequences

Mitigation measures

Cumulative impacts

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Notice of Intent & Scoping

Draft EIS

Public Review & Comment

Final EIS

Public Availability and ROD

Alternatives Being Considered

• The Proposed Action- Relocate laboratories from older and historic buildings to new research laboratory buildings

- Continue to upgrade and modernize the support utilities and infrastructure

- Consolidate surface parking to multiple level parking structures

- Enhance the natural buffer zone around the periphery of the campus

• The No Action Alternative- No net growth or change in employee numbers or facilities- Some building were or are in various stages of planning and design and are included in this

Alternative. - Northwest Childcare Center and the Porter Neuroscience Research Center

• Maximum Development Alternative- Includes features from Proposed and No Action Alternatives- Construct up to seven additional new buildings- Increase in population by 10,000 employees and contractors- Increase in AM and PM traffic by 31.5 percent

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Approach to Impacts Analysis

• Characterized affected environment– Conducted site visits of campus and affected facilities– Interviewed campus personnel– Collected existing data– Consulted with federal and state agencies– Conducted new studies to fill data gaps

• Identified potential environmental consequences of each evaluated alternative

– Direct and indirect effects resulting from temporary activities (construction and demolition) and continuing activities (changes in operational levels)

– Cumulative effects (other recent/ongoing/foreseeable actions in campus vicinity)

• Identified mitigation measures to avoid, minimize, or offset adverse impacts

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Resource Areas Evaluated

The Draft EIS evaluates the potential impacts of the Master Plan on the following aspects of the natural and human environment:

• Land use and socioeconomics

• Transportation

• Utilities and infrastructure

• Sustainable development

• Light pollution

• Noise

• Air quality

• Greenhouse gas emissions

• Waste

• Topography• Soils and Farmland• Geology and groundwater• Vegetation and Wildlife• Surface Waters• Wetlands• Floodplains• Environmentally Sensitive areas• Historic Properties

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Effective Public Commenting

You can make a difference

Comments may be the most important contribution from citizens

Effective Comments:• Clear, concise and relevant to the analysis• Solution oriented and provide specific examples• Identify any areas of environmental concern that are important to you• Suggest additional alternatives• Suggest sources of relevant data or information for consideration

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How Do I Get Information on the NIH Master Plan and Provide Comments on the DEIS?

Public comments should be directed to:

Valerie NottinghamDeputy Director

Division of Environmental ProtectionNational Institutes of Health, ORFB13/2S11, 9000 Rockville Pike,

Bethesda, Maryland 20892

telephone 301-496-7775

e-mail: nihnepa@mail.nih.gov

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