Notice: Notice of Availability Record of Decision for the Update to the 
Master Plan for the Consolidation of the Food and Drug Administration 
Headquarters at the Federal Research Center at White Oak in Silver 
Spring, MD

Federal Register: March 1, 2010 (Volume 75, Number 39)             
                  Page 9218-9219

AGENCY: U.S. General Service Administration (GSA); National Capital 
Region.

ACTION: Notice; record of decision.

SUMMARY: Pursuant to the requirements of the National Environmental 
Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), the Council on Environmental Quality 
Regulations (40 CFR parts 1500-1508), GSA Order PBS P1095.1F 
(Environmental considerations in decisionmaking, date October 19, 
1999), and the GSA Public

[[Page 9219]]

Buildings Service NEPA Desk Guide, GSA has signed a Record of Decision 
(ROD) for the update to the Master Plan to support the consolidation of 
the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Headquarters at the Federal 
Research Center at White Oak in Silver Spring, Maryland. The ROD 
identifies that Alternative 2: Dispersed Density Action Alternative, as 
defined in the FDA Headquarters Consolidation Master Plan Update Final 
Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) (GSA, July 2009), is 
the alternative selected for implementation. The complete ROD can be 
viewed at: http:[sol][sol]www.gsa.gov/ncrnepa.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Suzanne Hill, NEPA Lead, General 
Services Administration, National Capital Region, at (202) 205-5821.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Decision:
    It is the decision of the Acting Regional Administrator of GSA, 
National Capital Region to: Implement Alternative 2: Dispersed Density 
Action Alternative. This alternative includes the following:
    (1) Construction of facilities to accommodate the increase of FDA 
employees from 7,719 to 8,889;
    (2) Construction of a new office building on the northwestern 
portion of the site;
    (3) Relocation of the 21,000-square foot Child Care Center and 
25,000-square foot Broadcast Studio;
    (4) Construction of a 10,000-square foot fitness center;
    (5) Expansion of the CUP by 50,000-square feet and construction of 
a thermal water storage tank;
    (6) Construction of a 300,000 gallon elevated water storage tank 
for potable water; and
    (7) Elimination of the need for an antenna farm because of advances 
in technology.

Background

    In 1997, GSA completed an environmental impact statement that 
analyzed the impacts from the consolidation of 5,974 FDA employees at 
the FRC. In 2005, GSA also completed a supplemental environmental 
impact statement that analyzed the impacts of increasing the number of 
employees from 5,947 to 7,720 and the impacts of creating a new eastern 
access point into the FRC. In September 2007, new legislation was 
enacted that expanded FDA's mandate to support the Prescription Drug 
User Fee Act (PDUFA) and the Medical Device User Fee and Modernization 
Act (MDUFMA). In order for FDA to fulfill the legislated mandates, 
additional employees may be needed, and the new legislation will likely 
result in an increase of employees at the FRC from 7,720 to 8,889. The 
increase in the campus population is needed to conduct the complex and 
comprehensive reviews necessary for new drugs and medical devices.
    The purpose of the action is to update the Master Plan for the FDA 
Campus at FRC to accommodate employee growth from 7,720 to 8,889 within 
the 130 acres appropriated by Congress for the FDA Campus. Need for the 
proposed action is to continue to support FDA Headquarters 
consolidation at FRC and provide the necessary office and laboratory 
space to support the expanded PDUFA and MDUFMA programs.
    The ROD documents the specific components of and rationale for 
GSA's decision. This decision is based on analyses contained in the 
Draft Supplemental EIS issued March 2009; the Final Supplemental EIS 
issued in July 2009; the comments of Federal, state, and local 
agencies, members of the public, and elected officials; and other 
information in the administrative record.

    Issued September 2, 2009 by Sharon J. Banks, Acting Regional 
Administrator, General Services Administration, National Capital 
Region.

    February 16, 2010.
Patricia T. Ralston,
Director, Portfolio Management, Public Buildings Service, National 
Capital Region.
[FR Doc. 2010-4120 Filed 2-26-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6820-23-P