Under 40 CFR Part 1501.4(e), OLDCC may adopt and apply a categorical exclusion listed in another agency's NEPA procedures to a proposed action or a category of proposed actions. Below are instances of projects where OLDCC applied another agency’s categorical exclusion to one of their grant actions. Adoption of these categorical exclusions are also included in the Federal Register.
Public Schools on Military Installations Program, Sierra Sands Unified School District– Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake, California: The current Richmond Elementary School on NAWSCL was significantly damaged during an earthquake in 2019 and has remained closed since. Prior to the earthquake, a DoD assessment found that the older Richmond Elementary School had facility condition deficiencies, specifically critical maintenance needs, and was therefore listed on the July 2011 and April 2019 Deputy Secretary of Defense, “Public Schools on Military Installation Priority Lists.” SSUSD and the installation considered the benefits and costs of replacement or repair, and determined replacement would best meet current and future student needs.
Rehabilitate Runway 5/23 at the Albert J. Ellis Airport, Defense Community Infrastructure Pilot Program, Onslow County – Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina: The OLDCC Grantee, Onslow County, proposes to mill and replace the existing pavement on Runway 5/23, including its taxiway connectors and hold lines. The Proposed Action will ensure continued safe use of the airfield and extend the useful life of the runway, which serves Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, Marine Corps Air Station New River, and Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point.
Rock Branch Anti-Terrorism Force Protection Project, Defense Community Infrastructure Pilot Program, West Virginia Military Authority, West Virginia Army National Guard, West Virginia: The OLDCC Grantee, the West Virginia Military Authority (WVMA), proposes to install security fencing, cameras, and card readers around this warehouse that serves both state and Army National Guard storage needs. The Proposed Action will secure the perimeter of the facility and comply with the access control requirements of DoD’s Anti-Terrorism Force Protection standards.
Fiber Optic Security Infrastructure Project, Defense Community Infrastructure Pilot Program, Philadelphia Authority for Industrial Development – Philadelphia Navy Yard Annex, Naval Support Activity Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: The OLDCC Grantee, Philadelphia Authority for Industrial Development (PAID), proposes to install new fiber-optic cable through an existing, subterranean duct bank system to enhance control of the PAID-owned electric grid and connectivity to existing and new security cameras and smart security devices. The Proposed Action will enhance security communications and monitoring of site conditions by permitting rapid incident response and resiliency of the electric grid powering PNYA.
West Hawaii Warehouse Project, Kamuela State Tree Nursery Base Yard, Hawaii, Defense Community Infrastructure Pilot Program, Hawaii Department of Lands and Natural Resources – Pōhakuloa Training Area, US Army Garrison Hawaii: The OLDCC Grantee, the State of Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DLNR-DOFAW), proposes to install a prefabricated steel warehouse in their nursery base yard to store and protect emergency response equipment. The Proposed Action will improve DLNR-DOFAW and other agencies’ wildfire response and resulting conservation actions because the base yard serves as the local wildfire incident command center used by personnel from multiple agencies, including the Pōhakuloa Training Area (PTA).
Groundwater Well and Distribution Lines Project, Defense Community Infrastructure Pilot Program, City of Mountain Home – Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho: The OLDCC Grantee, the City of Mountain Home, proposes to construct a groundwater well, pump house, and lines connecting to the existing water distribution system at the city public works facility on South Main Street (Proposed Action). The Proposed Action will help meet the Grantee’s increasing water demands in support of the growing affordable housing needs of Mountain Home AFB.
Community Cyber Support Facility Project, Defense Community Infrastructure Pilot Program, University of Massachusetts Lowell – Hanscom Air Force Base, Massachusetts: The OLDCC Grantee, UMass Lowell, proposes to construct a classified operations center and sensitive compartmented information facility at their Community Cyber Support Facility (Proposed Action). The Proposed Action will integrate the 66th Air Base Group at Hanscom AFB within the Community Cyber Support Facility, to improve Hanscom’s operational readiness for the installation force protection mission and to ensure infrastructure availability.
North Apron Wash Rack Project at the Alexandria International Airport, Defense Community Infrastructure Pilot Program, England Economic and Industrial Development District – Fort Polk, Louisiana: The OLDCC Grantee, the England Economic and Industrial Development District (England Airpark), proposes to construct the North Apron Wash Rack and rehabilitate the North Apron Sewer Lift Station (Proposed Action). AEX supports the Fort Polk Joint Readiness Training Center (JRTC) mission by hosting training exercises, facilitating thousands of military aircraft operations per year, and processing several thousand tons of Army cargo annually. The Proposed Action will benefit the surrounding community and Fort Polk by providing a wash rack to allow for the immediate cleaning, maintenance, and protection of aircraft, vehicles, and equipment before they are stored on site or transported back to Fort Polk.
Devens Public Safety Building Project, Defense Community Infrastructure Pilot Program, Massachusetts Development Finance Agency – US Army Garrison Devens Reserve Forces Training Area, Massachusetts: The OLDCC Grantee, the Massachusetts Development Finance Agency (MassDevelopment), proposes to renovate the county communications center on Barnum Road and construct a new emergency services addition with large equipment apparatus bays, training tower, site improvements, and decontamination area, Devens, Worchester County, Massachusetts. The Proposed Action will improve the area’s emergency services facilities and response times in support of Devens RFTA and the surrounding community.
Harwood’s Mill Reservoir Dam Improvement Project, Defense Community Infrastructure Pilot Program, City of Newport News – Naval Weapons Station Yorktown, Virginia: The OLDCC Grantee, the City of Newport News Water Works, proposes to increase the dam height by installing a raised weir crest across the top, replace the spillway infrastructure to ensure continued safe operation during high volume events, and demolish four ancillary structures that are no longer necessary. The Proposed Action will expand flood protection for the dam and spillway to account for probable flood conditions in consideration of both increased runoff associated with regional development and increased storm intensities, all of which protects drinking water that sustains Naval Weapons Station Yorktown (NWSY) and the surrounding.
Sherry Drive Water Main Extension Project, City of Atlantic Beach – Naval Station Mayport, Florida: The OLDCC Grantee, the City of Atlantic Beach, proposes facilitating an intertie between the base and the City of Atlantic Beach by installing a new 12-inch water main to improve capacity and pressure in the northeastern section of the potable water system. The Proposed Action will benefit NS Mayport and the surrounding community by expanding the City’s potable water distribution and providing a secondary backup water source if either entity loses their ability to supply water from their own systems.
Port of Alaska Microgrid Battery Energy Storage System, Municipality of Anchorage – Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska: The OLDCC Grantee, the Municipality of Anchorage and Port of Alaska, proposes to construct a large concrete pad to install multiple battery and transformer enclosures atop the pad, and to also include trenching for electrical utilities along an existing road corridor (Proposed Action). The Proposed Action will benefit JBER and the surrounding community by providing reliable, resilient, and redundant electrical supply to meet the Port’s operational power demands. The proposed microgrid BESS will also reduce the Port’s carbon (greenhouse gas) emissions, level energy demand swings, and will be capable of providing JBER with auxiliary energy capabilities.
Choctaw Beach Fire Station Number 10 Construction Project, Walton County – Eglin Air Force Base, Florida: The OLDCC Grantee, Walton County, proposes to construct a multi-bay approximately 8,400-square foot fire station, parking lot, and driveway on State Road 20 near the southeastern boundary of Eglin AFB (Proposed Action). The Proposed Action will benefit Eglin AFB and the surrounding community by improving emergency response capabilities in support of existing intergovernmental mutual aid agreements, which allow for shared fire protection, emergency medical service, and hazardous material containment and confinement. The Proposed Action will also improve Eglin’s wildfire response capabilities that reduce training interruptions, and the new station will allow for local deployment of advanced life support and vehicle extrication equipment to this underserved portion of Walton County.
Hampton Firing Range Renovation Project, City of Hampton – Joint Base Langley-Eustis Air Force Base, Virginia: The OLDCC Grantee, City of Hampton, proposes to renovate the former Army Post Exchange, located at 102 Griffith Street, Hampton, Virginia, to construct an indoor firing and small arms training range with approximately 23,000 net-square-feet, 27 shooting lanes, firing line, ready line, control booth, bullet trap, and range storage (Proposed Action). The Proposed Action will benefit JBLE and the surrounding community by improving municipal and DoD indoor small arms training facilities and eliminating outdoor, nighttime firing operations. The existing outdoor range (located at 1501 Bethel Avenue) will no longer be used as a firing and small arms training range. The Proposed Action construction is planned to occur in two phases: the first phase will consist of stabilization and minor construction renovation to seal the building and remove existing hazards; the second phase is planned for full renovation, improvements, and building expansion for the firing range.
Watermain Connection Project, Defense Community Infrastructure Pilot Program, Lowndes County – Moody Air Force Base, Georgia: The OLDCC Grantee, Lowndes County, proposes to connect the Moody AFB potable water system to the County’s system under Bemiss Road. The Proposed Action will benefit Moody AFB and the surrounding community by providing additional resilience to Moody’s water supply during emergencies or water shortages, and for fire extinguishing operations.
Shoreview Facility Stormwater Mitigation, City of White Settlement – Texas Army National Guard, Texas: The OLDCC Grantee, the City of White Settlement, proposes to construct a permanent drainage facility and an 1,800-foot flume and channel to drain stormwater into a creek attached to Lake Worth. The channel will be located approximately 450-feet east of the northern extent of Bourland Drive in White Settlement, Tarrant County, Texas. The Proposed Action will benefit the nearby TXARNG Shoreview Facility and the surrounding community by diverting floodwaters during large rain events. The Shoreview Facility has been damaged by multiple major flooding events over the past several years.
Farragut Water Tank Improvements, Bayview Water and Sewer District – Naval Surface Warfare Center Carderock Division, Acoustic Research Detachment, Idaho: The OLDCC Grantee, the Bayview Water and Sewer District, proposes to renovate and improve the 225,000-gallon Farragut water tank, by sealing cracks, coating the interior and exterior, replacing stairs and platforms, and replacing overflow piping and controls. The Proposed Action will benefit NSWCCD-ARD and the surrounding community by ensuring the Farragut Tank can continue to operate efficiently in support of the Bayview water system.
Water and Sewer Infrastructure Planning and Design Growth Project, City of Box Elder – Ellsworth Air Force Base, South Dakota: The OLDCC Grantee, the City of Box Elder, proposes to develop infrastructure design plans for water and sewer system improvements along Highway 14/16, Cheyenne Boulevard, and other existing roadways in Box Elder, South Dakota. The Proposed Action responds to expected growth around Ellsworth AFB related to mission expansion and benefits the surrounding community by providing planning and design support to improve community resiliency.
R.J. Neutra Elementary School Construction Project, Central Union Elementary School District - Naval Air Station Lemoore, California: Central Union Elementary School District (CUESD) proposes to renovate, modernize, and expand the R.J. Neutra Elementary School which is located on NASL. The new R.J. Neutra Elementary School will expand student capacity from 342 students to 578 students. The Proposed Action will benefit NASL and the R.J. Neutra Elementary School student population by providing additional capacity for Service members’ families and addressing known deficiencies with the existing school.
Hand-in-Hand Early Learning Center Elementary School Relocation Project, Oak Harbor School District-NAS Whidbey Island, Washington: The prospective OLDCC Grantee, Oak Harbor School District, proposes to rebuild the Hand-in-Hand Early Learning Center and Home Connection school buildings in a new location, which the Navy is preparing to lease to the applicant. The new Hand-in-Hand Learning Center will increase its capacity to 514 students. Construction is estimated at approximately 76,705 square feet for buildings and 25,000 square feet, 9,000 square feet, and 200,000 square feet for outdoor play hard surface play areas, soft surface play areas, and a grass field, respectively. The Proposed Action will benefit NAS Whidbey Island and the Hand-in-Hand Learning Center student population by placing the school out of an Accident Potential Zone and region with noise levels above 75 dBA.
Tinker School Reconstruction Project, Hillsborough County Public Schools-MacDill AFB, Florida: Hillsborough County Public Schools proposes to fully replace the existing Tinker School campus with new, updated facilities. The proposed action would demolish approximately 73,000 square feet of facilities and 78,000 square feet of pavement. Following demolition, 5 new buildings totaling approximately 135,000 square feet and 78,000 square feet of impervious pavement would be constructed in the newly cleared area. The new Tinker School will increase its capacity to approximately 1,000 students.
Taxiway Construction, Santa Rosa County – Naval Air Station Whiting Field, Florida: The OLDCC Grantee, the County of Santa Rosa, Florida, proposes to construct an approximately 3077-foot-long taxiway connecting White Aviation Park and NASWF. Approximately 2077 feet of this taxiway will be constructed on NASWF property and approximately 1000 feet will be constructed on Whiting Aviation Park property. The project will allow aircraft from NASWF to access a Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) facility to be constructed on Whiting Aviation Park at a later date. This project will serve both NASWF and Santa Rosa County by allowing the MRO facility to service NASWF with minimal response time. The MRO facility is expected to provide additional economic opportunities to Santa Rosa County residents upon completion.
Ackerman Road Rehabilitation Project, City of San Antonio – Martindale Army Heliport, Texas: The OLDCC Grantee, the City of San Antonio, Texas, proposes to repave and reconstruct Ackerman Road, a 700-foot roadway connection Interstate 10 (IH-10) and the single of point of entry at Martindale Army Heliport (MAH). The project will reconstruct the roadway using concrete pavement to support general traffic, civilians, and military personnel serving at MAH, and heavy military vehicles, along with reconstructing the curbs, driveways, and sidewalk. The road improvements will extend the sidewalk approximately two feet beyond the existing footprint of the pavement. The project will benefit both MAH and the surrounding community by improving traffic flow onto the installation and the nearby section of IH-10.
Fire Station 48 Construction, Jacksonville Port Authority-Marine Corps Support Facility-Blount Island, Florida: The OLDCC Grantee, the Jacksonville Port Authority (JAXPORT), proposes to reconstruct Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department’s Fire Station 48 in a new location. The new Fire Station 48 will be approximately 9,000 square feet and have a modernized design for equipment and personnel. The current location of Fire Station 48 is prone to flooding, whereas the proposed location is not. The Proposed Action will benefit MCSF-BI and the surrounding community by reducing emergency response times to the installation and allowing operations from Fire Station 48 to not be inhibited by inadequate space and flooding.
Forrestal Elementary School Reconfiguration Project, North Chicago School District 187-Naval Station Great Lakes, Illinois: The prospective OLDCC Grantee, North Chicago School District 187 (N. Chicago SD187), proposes to reconfigure and renovate the existing Forrestal Elementary School. Construction will include demolishing existing structures, renovating existing building and adding building space. Associated utility and transportation systems will also be upgraded, including installation of geothermal heat pump systems. Construction will increase the footprint of the school from 66,822 square feet to 107,450 square feet. The proposed upgrades will increase the capacity of the school from 399 students to 580 students.
Creeds Law Enforcement Training Facility, City of Virginia Beach - Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story – Virginia Beach, Virginia: The OLDCC Grantee, the City of Virginia Beach, Virginia, proposes to improve current site conditions and renovate existing structures at the Creeds Law Enforcement Training Center in Virginia Beach, VA. Creeds Law Enforcement Training Center is a 225-acre training facility located in the Pungo area of Virginia Beach. Improvements will be focused on five priority areas: An Urban Simulation City Training Area, a Skid Track Training Area, a Precision Track Training Area, a Traffic Signal, and a Driving Track Training Area. Construction will include repaving, upgrading utilities, installation of prefabricated buildings, trenching, and replacing faulty lighting equipment. The total affected area of this action is estimated at of approximately 17.4 acres and will occur on previously renovated surfaces.
Pensacola International Airport Corporate Apron, City of Pensacola – Pensacola International Airport, Florida: The OLDCC Grantee, the City of Pensacola, proposes a project to construct a corporate apron, expand a taxiway, and develop hangars at the Pensacola International Airport (PNS). The project will provide additional parking space at PNS’s civilian corporate apron and provide a location to isolate international aircraft that have not cleared U.S. Customs. Construction includes an approximately 12,000 square yard aircraft parking apron, an upgrade to Taxiway C2 to Taxiway Design Group 3 standards (wingspans from 79 feet to less than 118 feet, and tail heights from 30 feet to less than 45 feet), three 10,000 square foot corporate hangars and 2,500 office areas, and a 7,100 square yard automobile access/parking pavement and parking lot. The project will enhance military operations by providing additional capacity to accommodate military aircraft that use the airport temporarily during training exercises. OLDCC funding will be used to construct the proposed parking apron and paint the taxiway (Proposed Action).
Basin 2 Improvements, Plaquemines Parish -Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base New Orleans, Louisiana: The OLDCC Grantee, Plaquemines Parish proposes to widen and deepen a drainage basin adjacent to Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base (NAS JRB) New Orleans (hereafter referred to as Basin 2) by 30 feet and five feet, respectively, to increase flow capacity to an adjacent pump station. Ground disturbance is anticipated to be no more than ten feet below the surface. Construction also includes the installation of sheet pile and gates. The proposed project will mitigate the threat of flooding to the installation by removing the constriction and expanding the inlet basin to facilitate storm water flows. Upon completion of the project, NAS JRB New Orleans and the surrounding community will be able to more effectively respond to storm events that cause flooding and sea level rise.
Joint Emergency Coordination Center, Plaquemines Parish - Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base New Orleans, Louisiana: The OLDCC Grantee, Plaquemines Parish proposes to convert the existing 40-acre Medal of Honor Park into a Joint Emergency Coordination Center (J-ECC). The J-ECC will be constructed immediately off installation property and will allow a multi-governmental and non-governmental disaster response team to organize during emergencies. Construction includes a Multi-Agency Emergency Command Center, an Emergency Provisions Assembly and Issuance Point, a Governmental and Non-Governmental staging area, and an Early Childhood Disaster Coping, Healing, and Resiliency Area. The Proposed Action also consists of the removal of the existing chain-link fence, drain lines, pavement, curb, sidewalks, trees, driveway, power poles, and overhead lines. The project area consists of two separate tracts (Tract 1 and Track 2) located between the Intercoastal Waterway and Bayou Barrier in Belle Chase, Louisiana. Tract 1 is approximately 4.3-acres and Tract 2, just north of Tract 1, is approximately 0.68-acres. Aerial photographs of the project area are included in Attachment 2. This “joint” use facility will allow for coordination and provision of support to occur, without the delays and inefficiencies in trying to clear personnel for NAS JRB New Orleans access during an emergency event.
Taxiway H Improvements, Western Reserve Port Authority - Youngstown Warren Regional Airport, Vienna, Ohio: The OLDCC Grantee, the Western Reserve Port Authority (WRPA), proposes to rehabilitate Taxiway H and connected pavements at Youngstown Warren Regional Airport in Vienna, Ohio. The project includes pavement rehabilitation of Taxiway H and associated connectors, crack sealing, pavement mill and overlay, seal coating, updating the pavement markings as per FAA requirement and installation of the underdrain pipes. Taxiway H needs this rehabilitation due to its deteriorated condition which, if not taken care of, will impede the Air Force and National Defense operations along with cargo and passenger operations.
Waimea Nui Emergency Operation Center - U.S. Army Garrison Hawaii– Waimea Nui, Hawaii: The OLDCC Grantee, the Department of Hawaiian Homelands (DHHL), proposes to construct a 7000 square foot Emergency Operation Center (EOC) approximately one mile from the Waimea Airport on Waimea Nui Community Development Corporation (CDC). Construction includes two miles of road, a 1500-foot water line, and 7000 feet of electric and telecom lines to support the facility. Total construction is estimated at an area of 5 acres. The EOC will house emergency fire equipment and support community discussions to enable unified emergency responses between the Waimea homestead community, Hawaii County, and Army personnel. The project will support the surrounding community and the nearby Pōhakuloa Training Area by facilitating enhanced responses during emergencies, such as wildfires.
Demolish And Construct Crescent Harbor Elementary School Project, Oak Harbor School District- Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Washington: The OLDCC Grantee, Oak Harbor School District (OHSD), proposes to demolish and rebuild CHES. The new CHES will increase its capacity from 459 to 500 students. The Proposed Action would result in an increased building size from 48,165 square feet to approximately 71,000 square feet. The new school would be constructed according to updated building codes that would ensure the safety, health, well-being, and quality of education for military connected students in the OHSD.
Hampton Boulevard Flood Mitigation Project, City of Norfolk Virginia - Naval Support Activity Hampton Roads, Norfolk, Virginia: The City of Norfolk, Virginia proposes to improve flood mitigation along Hampton Boulevard outside of Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command Atlantic, located at Naval Support Activity Hampton Roads (NSA HR). The first phase of the project will be rehabilitating three existing stormwater outfalls, to increase outfall pipe size, install new headwalls and install new energy-dissipating plunge pools. Concrete pipe will be added or replaced within the stormwater conveyance system to increase capacity and to better balance flows through the three outfalls in the system. Once the new runs of pipe are connected to the manhole/junction box located at the south entrance to the parking lot, the existing pipe will be abandoned in place and the outfall will be sealed with concrete and covered in riprap. Backflow preventing check valves will be installed for each of the three outfalls. These valves will be placed at the outfalls or housed in a junction box or manhole immediately upstream of the outfall. The Lexan Avenue and Hampton Boulevard intersection and adjacent segments of Hampton Boulevard, from approximately 270 feet north of the intersection to approximately 280 feet south of the intersection, will be raised to approximately 4.4 feet North American Vertical Datum of 1988 (NAVD 88). Two trees will be removed to install the new pipe and outfall and the trench for new pipes will require removal of vegetation and some demolition of impervious surfaces such as pavement, curb, and sidewalk. Upon completion, the project is expected to reduce flood damage at NSA HR and the surrounding community.