NOTICE OF THE AVAILABILITY OF AN ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has prepared an Environmental Assessment to evaluate impacts to natural and cultural resources that would occur as a result of a proposed project to install and operate solar photovoltaic arrays at the George Washington Carver Center (GWCC) in Beltsville, Maryland. This notice announces the availability of the Environmental Assessment for public review and comment.

The George Washington Carver Center is a 360,000-square-foot office building built in 1997 that provides office space for nearly 1,500 USDA federal government employees.  This project would support the USDA Office of Operations’ pursuit of a Solar Photovoltaic Energy Service Agreement with Washington Gas Light Company and help it comply with legislative requirements to increase the use/purchase of renewable energy.

The USDA prepared the EA for the proposed installation and operation of solar photovoltaic arrays at the GWCC, in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended and implementing regulation, 40 CFR Parts 1500-1508.  The USDA explored and objectively evaluated two alternatives in the EA — the No Action Alternative and the Proposed Action Alternative (to install solar photovoltaic arrays at the George Washington Carver Center).

The environmental assessment will be open for a 30-day public review from September 12 through October 12, 2013.  The document has been posted electronically on the USDA Web site, located at www.greening.usda.gov. Printed copies of the Environmental Assessment are also available for review at the George Washington Carver Center security desk, 5601 Sunnyside Ave, College Park, MD 20740, and at the Greenbelt Library, 11 Crescent Road, Greenbelt, MD 20770. Any person interested in commenting on this Environmental Assessment should submit comments by October 12, 2013 to Mr. Edward Murtagh, Sustainable Operations Manager, Office of Operations, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1400 Independence Ave., SW, Suite 1444 South Building, Washington, D.C. 20250. For more information, please contact Mr. Murtagh at 202.720.5961 or at Ed.Murtagh@dm.usda.gov.