Staff Recommendation

STAFF RECOMMENDATION

C. Kelly

NCPC File No. 6997

FORT BELVOIR NORTH AREA (ENGINEERING PROVING GROUND) RE-VEGETATION PLAN

Fairfax County, Virginia

Submitted by the U.S. Department of the Army

December 30, 2009

Abstract

The U.S. Department of the Army has submitted for preliminary and final approval a re- vegetation plan for the Fort Belvoir North Area, formally the Engineering Proving Ground. Fort Belvoir’s tree replacement policy requires the replacement of trees removed for the construction of new facilities on the site. Recent construction projects within Fort Belvoir North Area include the National Geospatial Agency and the Emergency Services Center. The re-vegetation plan will replace trees removed as a result of those projects and includes landscape plans detailing the locations and types of planting to occur to comply with the Army’s tree replacement policy.

Commission Action Requested by Applicant

Approval of preliminary and final site development plans, pursuant to 40 U.S.C. § 8722(b) (1).

Executive Director’s Recommendation

The Commission:

Approves the preliminary and final site development plans for the re-vegetation plan at the Fort Belvoir North Area (Engineering Proving Ground), Fort Belvoir, Virginia as shown on NCPC Map File No. 3101.00(05.00)42597;

Notes that Fairfax County, Virginia has submitted comments on the re-vegetation plan and encourages the Department of the Army to take into consideration these comments as it moves forward with the project, in particular the County’s recommendations to remove the following species from the plan: • Tulip poplars because the species will plant itself; • Sugar maples because it only occurs in isolated patches of Fairfax County; and NCPC File No. 6997 Page 2

• Red maples because the species is overrepresented in the bottomland forest communities.

Commends the Department of the Army on its proactive approach and environmental stewardship in creating a re-vegetation plan for the Fort Belvoir North Arena and establishing a no net loss tree policy at Fort Belvoir.

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PROJECT DESCRIPTION

Site The Fort Belvoir North Area, formally known as the Engineering Proving Ground, is located approximately two miles northwest of the Fort Belvoir Main Post, in Fairfax County, Virginia near Interstate Route 95. The northern edge of the property is approximately 0.75 miles south of the Franconia-Springfield Parkway. The Fairfax County Parkway extension will be adjacent to the North Area, along its western border, when construction of the Parkway is complete.

VICINITY PLAN SHOWING RELATIONSHIP OF THE NORTH AREA TO THE MAIN POST OF FORT BELVOIR

Background By 2011, the total proposed campus development for the North Area will include over two million square feet of facilities and structured parking for about 5,000 cars. The North Area will hold the National Geospatial Intelligence Agency New Campus East, a Remote Inspection Facility, an Emergency Services Center and other uses.

The following are past Commission actions pertaining to Fort Belvoir North Area:

The Commission commented favorably on the consolidation of the NGA at Fort Belvoir and its concept site and building plans on September 6, 2007.

At its October 4, 2007 meeting, the Commission approved a master plan land use modification from research and testing to professional/institutional use for the NGA campus at the NCPC File No. 6997 Page 3

Engineering Proving Ground (EPG), and approved the preliminary and final site and building plans for the Tech Center and Central Utility Plant for the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency at Fort Belvoir, Virginia.

Also in October 2007, the Commission approved the preliminary and final site development plans for the North Loop Road, Bridge, Stormwater Management Facilities, and Perimeter Fence at the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency at Fort Belvoir, Virginia.

In February 2008, the Commission approved the preliminary and final building plans for the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency Main Building at the Fort Belvoir Engineering Proving Ground, Fort Belvoir, Virginia, and the NGA Transportation Management Plan.

Proposal The re-vegetation plan for the North Area was developed for the entire 630-acre site. The purpose of the re-vegetation plan is to document trees that were lost based on construction projects and other activities, and to develop strategy afor how and where vegetation will be replaced. It responds to Fort Belvoir’s tree replacement policy, which requires the replacement of trees removed for the construction of new facilities on the site.

The re-vegetation plan includes landscape plans detailing the locations and types of planting that will fulfill the tree replacement policy. Sections of the North Area designated as having a high re-vegetation opportunity will be re-vegetated at 300 seedlings per acre with hardwood mixes or 500 seedlings per acre with pines. Low re-vegetation opportunity areas will have re-vegetation density of 300 seedlings per acre.

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Fort Belvoir North Area – Vegetation Opportunity

NGA site

The basic policy of tree replacement for the North Area was established by the following design parameters: - All trees over four inches in diameter breast height removed by construction must be replaced - A 4:1 ratio of seedlings or a 2:1 ratio of landscaped size trees to replace existing trees - Proposed re-vegetation areas shall match the adjacent forest cover types - Understory trees, shrubs, and ground covers do not fulfill the tree replacement policy - Adhere to approved tree species from the Chesapeake Bay Preservation Ordinance when planting within disturbed a Resource Protection Area (RPA). - Provide canopy trees along the loop roads - Provide dense buffer landscaping in areas of development close to residential areas, such as the water tank site. NCPC File No. 6997 Page 5

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PROJECT ANALYSIS

Staff recommends the Commission approve the preliminary and final site development plans for the re-vegetation plan at the Fort Belvoir North Area (Engineering Proving Ground), Fort Belvoir, Virginia as shown on NCPC Map File No. 3101.00(38.00)42597 and commend the Department of the Army on its proactive approach and environmental stewardship in creating a re-vegetation plan for the Fort Belvoir North Arena and establishing a no net loss tree policy at Fort Belvoir.

At its December 3, 2009 meeting, the Commission approved the final site and building plans for the Water Tank and Pump House at Fort Belvoir North Area (Engineering Proving Ground), Fairfax County, Virginia, contingent upon the Department of the Army implementing the proposed North Area Re-vegetation Plan that will screen the water tank and pump house from adjacent residential neighborhoods, as shown on NCPC Map File No. 2204.10(38.00)42921. The plan outlines a landscape buffer of forty (40) feet between the water tank site and the adjacent residential neighborhood. The buffer will be landscaped with pine oak, willow oak, green mountain sugar maple, American holly, Serbian spruce, oriental spruce, Virginia pine, eastern red cedar, and hollies.

~40 ft.

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CONFORMANCE

Comprehensive Plan for the National Capital The proposed re-vegetation plan is not inconsistent with the Comprehensive Plan for the National Capital in particular the Federal Environment Element, which indicates federal actions within the region should conform to the following:

• Incorporate new trees and vegetation to moderate temperatures, minimize energy consumption, and mitigate stormwater runoff; and • Maintain and preserve woodlands and vegetated areas on steep slopes and adjacent to waterways, especially to aid in the control of erosion and sediment.

Relevant Federal Facility Master Plan In October 2007, the Commission approved a land use modification to the existing 1993 Master Plan. An updated Fort Belvoir Post Master Plan, covering the main post with incorporation of the elements of the North Area, will be officially submitted to NCPC for review summer 2010. The proposed project is consistent with the draft Master Plan.

National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA) In conformance with its National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) compliance procedures, the U.S. Army completed an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), with the final EIS issued July 2007. The Army issued a Record of Decision for the EIS on August 7, 2007, completing the NEPA process for the EPG.

The project is a proposal outside the District of Columbia and consequently the Commission does not have an independent NEPA responsibility in accordance with NCPC Environmental and Historic Preservation Polices and Procedures.

National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) The Department of the Army has determined that none of the North Area is considered eligible for the National Register, and no areas are designated on any state or local registers (New South Associates, 2006 as reported in the FEIS). A review of the Fairfax County Inventory of Historic Sites, current Fairfax County Historic Overlay Districts, the Virginia Landmarks Register and the National Register show that no listed resources or historic overlay districts are in close proximity to the North Area (FEIS, July 2007).

NCPC does not have an independent Section 106 responsibility as result of the project location outside the central area. NCPC File No. 6997 Page 8

CONSULTATION

Regional Coordination NCPC staff referred the re-vegetation plan to the Northern Virginia Regional Commission (NVRC), Fairfax County, Virginia, the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (VDEQ), on October 27, 2009. The NRVC had no comments on the proposal and VDEQ did not submit comments. NCPC received comments from Fairfax County, dated December 3, 2009. Those comments are attached. Staff recommends the Commission note that Fairfax County, Virginia has submitted comments on the re-vegetation plan and encourages the Department of the Army to take into consideration these comments as it moves forward with the project, in particular the County’s recommendations to remove the following species from the plan: • Tulip poplars because the species will plant itself; • Sugar maples because it only occurs in isolated patches of Fairfax County; and • Red maples because the species is overrepresented in the bottomland forest communities.

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