Environmental Impact Statement
What is the National Environmental Policy Act?
NEPA requires analysis and a detailed statement of the environmental impact of any
proposed federal action that might significantly affects the quality of the human
environment. NEPA ensures that social and environmental factors are considered along
with the technical and economic components of a decision and requires that potential
environmental impacts, and any adverse effects that cannot be avoided, be identified
and alternatives to the proposed action be considered. NEPA also consults with all
relevant federal, state, and local agencies to identify impacts so they can be minimized.
NEPA provides full disclosure with provisions for public access to, and full participation
in, the federal decision-making process. NEPA’s intent is to enhance the environment
through well-informed federal decisions
Two NEPA documents will be created in the course of this action:
- A Draft EIS for public review and then a Final EIS that analyzes potential significant
environmental and socioeconomic impacts.
- A Record of Decision (ROD) that documents the final decision on the proposed action
and specifies mitigation measures (methods to lessen negative impacts) and monitoring
programs to be undertaken.
What is an Environmental Impact Statement?
An EIS is a summary of a detailed study that analyzes the environmental impacts
of a proposed action and its alternatives. It also includes an extensive public
involvement process. The potential for significant environmental effects or high
public interest associated with a proposed action is usually the basis for preparing
an EIS. It will examine the impacts from the sale of Plum Island to both the natural
and the human environment. An EIS will be prepared in Draft form circulated for
comment, then issued as a Final and another comment period will be provided before
the document is finalized and the project proceeds.
Why does GSA need an EIS for the sale of Plum Island?
An EIS was selected for this project because it provides the highest level of analysis
with the greatest opportunity for input by interested parties before decisions or
commitments are made. Under NEPA, the purpose of the EIS is to examine the effects
associated with the anticipated sale of Plum Island, New York and its support facility
at Orient Point, New York.
What will be evaluated in the EIS?
The EIS will address the potential impacts to the environment of two alternatives:
sale of Plum Island (the "Action Alternative"), and continued Federal ownership
(the "No-Action Alternative"). The Action Alternative will be further refined into
a series of reasonably foreseeable land use options. In response to the lack of
certainty concerning future reuse of the Property, the EIS will identify reasonable
land use options that could result upon the sale of the Property.
The EIS will identify potential impacts on biological and cultural resources, noise
and air quality, geology and soils, hazardous waste, infrastructure, land use, socioeconomics,
traffic and transportation, waste management, and water resources, as well as other
environmental issues that could occur as a result of the sale. For potentially significant
impacts, the EIS may determine mitigation measures to reduce these impacts, where
feasible.
Has an EIS been prepared for the site selection of NBAF?
Yes, DHS completed an EIS and issued a Record of Decision on January 16, 2009.
Where can I find information regarding the Record of Decision for NBAF?
The NBAF Record of Decision can be found
here.
Will the construction of NBAF effect the Plum Island EIS?
No, the Plum Island EIS is a report independent of the NBAF project and will analyze
the impacts of the sale of the Property. All analyses pertaining to the relocation
of the mission off of Plum Island have already been presented in the NBAF EIS.