STAFF RECOMMENDATION

C. Hart

NCPC File No. 6962

JOINT BASE ANDREWS NAVAL AIR FACILITY WASHINGTON () MUNITIONS STORAGE AND MAINTENANCE COMPLEX

Prince George’s County, Maryland

Submitted by the Department of the Air Force

October 29, 2009

Abstract

This 31-acre project proposes to combine the 316th Civil Engineer Squadron and 113th Civil Engineer Squadron munitions storage facilities at one location on the southeastern portion of Naval Air Facility Washington, formerly known as Andrews Air Force Base. The proposal consists of numerous buildings inside a new facility including: an administration building, maintenance and inspection shops, multi-cubicle magazines, inert storage, and both large and small underground igloo magazines. The site development inside a new security fence includes an interior roadway, several stormwater management ponds, parking for munitions trailers, and government vehicle parking. In addition, outside the new security fence will be employee and visitor parking spaces and a base shuttle stop.

Commission Action Requested by Applicant

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

Executive Director’s Recommendation

The Commission:

Approves the preliminary and final site and building plans for the Munitions Storage and Maintenance Complex at Joint Base Andrews Naval Air Facility Washington in Camp Springs, Prince George’s County, Maryland as shown on NCPC Map File No. 32.07(38.00)42828. * * * NCPC File No. 6962 Page 2

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

Site Joint Base Andrews Naval Air Facility Washington (Joint Base Andrews) is the location of the Headquarters of the 316th , the Air Force Reserve Command's 459th Air Refueling Wing, the District of Columbia 's 113th Wing, the , and its operations. The air base frequently plays host to the President and Vice President of the United States, congressional delegations, foreign heads of state and many other dignitaries and distinguished visitors. More than 60 other separate units and special missions are located there. Joint Base Andrews is adjacent to Camp Springs, in Prince George’s County, Maryland, and is ten miles southeast of Washington, D.C. The 4,320-acre base hosts more than 20,000 active duty military, civilian employees and family members.

Joint Base Andrews Naval Air Facility Washington

Munitions Storage and North Maintenance Complex NCPC File No. 6962 Page 3

The site of the proposed Munitions Storage and Maintenance Complex is currently a 31-acre wooded area at the southeastern portion of the base. The site itself is southeast of the main runway facility. The site is approximately 2,700 feet in length and 500 feet wide. An existing gravel road extends from an access point along Perimeter Road to the project site. This road is currently used by base security forces. This gravel road crosses the disturbed wetland buffer area and an underground culvert allows water to flow during rain events.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers delineated a wetland in 2005 along the northern portion of the site. In August 2009, the Maryland Department of the Environment determined that there was not a stream associated with the delineated wetland. Under provisions of Section 404 of the Clean Water Act and Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act the Department of the Army approved the Maryland State Programmatic General Permit (MDSPGP-3) October 1, 2006. This established the procedures the State of Maryland is required to undertake regarding disturbances to wetlands and wetland buffer areas less than one acre that have minimal adverse impacts. Constraints affecting the siting of this facility include: airfield clear zones, base perimeter and force protection security requirements, explosive blast radii, and wetland setbacks.

Munitions Storage and Maintenance Complex Existing Conditions

ANDREWS AIR FORCE BASE Perimeter Fence

NCPC File No. 6962 Page 4

Background In May 2009, the Air Force presented an update to the Commission on the current Joint Base Andrews Naval Air Facility Washington Master Planning process. The Joint Base Andrews Naval Air Facility Washington Master Planning process is currently 50% complete and NCPC staff expects the final document to be submitted by November 2009. The Munitions Storage and Maintenance Complex is one of several projects included in the upcoming master plan. The proposed Munitions Storage and Maintenance Complex site is located in an area identified for industrial land uses in the master plan update.

In October 2009, NCPC commented on conceptual plans for the Munitions Storage and Maintenance Complex. An unresolved topic raised in the staff report was the need to bridge the wetland in a manner consistent with the environmental assessment or to amend the environmental assessment to address impacts to the wetland.

Proposal The proposal is to construct 53,000 square feet of storage, maintenance and administrative office space on a 31-acre site. This will consolidate both the 316th Civil Engineer Squadron (316th CES) and the 113th Civil Engineer Squadron (113th CES) operations into one area. The relocation of this complex is necessary to comply with all the criteria set forth by the Department of Defense Explosive Safety Board.

Included in the proposal are the following buildings: an administration building, three maintenance and inspection shops, three multi-cubicle magazines, an inert storage building, four large underground igloo magazines and nine small underground igloo magazines. Twenty-two people will be assigned to this facility.

The complex is designed for munitions storage: multi-cubicle magazines for small munitions and underground igloo magazines for other types of munitions. These buildings have been sited by taking into account blast radii for the various types of munitions that will be stored on site. Some of these buildings will be underground, to reduce the blast radii distance. No blast radii will extend outside the Joint Base Andrews property.

The site development inside the fence includes an interior roadway, several stormwater management ponds, parking for munitions trailers, and government vehicle parking. In addition, outside the new security fence will be 22 parking spaces for visitors and employees and a base shuttle stop. The road connecting the complex to the Perimeter Road will cross an area the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) has delineated as a disturbed wetland buffer area. This new road will have a similar alignment as the existing gravel road. An arched structure, also called a bottomless culvert, will be installed to replace the existing culvert and this will continue to allow water to flow under the road during storm events. NCPC File No. 6962 Page 5

Development Program Applicant: Department of the Air Force

Estimated Cost: $23.0 million dollars

Architect: CH2M Hill, in consultation with the U.S. Air Force Center for Engineering and the Environment

Munitions Storage and Maintenance Complex (Aerial perspective, looking north)

Maintenance and Administration Buildings

Munitions Storage Buildings

North

NCPC File No. 6962 Page 6

PROJECT ANALYSIS

Executive Summary Staff finds that the Air Force has developed a site design for this complex that minimizes its impact on the entire base, removes an existing complex from a more populated part of the base to one that is not populated and locates the new complex far from any civilian residential neighborhoods. Staff recommends approval of this project.

Site Constraints A number of constraints affect the siting of this facility including: airfield clear zones, base perimeter and force protection security requirements, explosive blast radii setbacks, and wetland setbacks. The airfield clear zones Storage Complex and base perimeter and force protection security requirements With constraints influenced greatly the design and location of this site. Culvert The airfield clear zone runs along the entire western edge of the location proposed munitions storage site and is the safety zone for the airfield to the northwest of the proposed site. This zone is 1,500 feet from the centerline of the runway and 3,000 feet from the threshold or end of the runway. Wetlands The base perimeter and force protection standoff distances require and Airfield buffer that inhabited buildings in the entire munitions storage site be set at Clear least 82 feet from the perimeter fence for security purposes. Zone

All proposed explosive and non-explosive facilities located within explosive clear zones must meet Explosive Safety Standards (ESS) and receive explosives site planning approval from the Department of Defense Explosive Safety Board (DDESB) prior to construction. Site Perimeter Fence After reviewing the concept plan, NCPC staff had concerns regarding potential impacts to the wetland buffers. Since the concept review, the Air Force met with the Maryland Department North of the Environment (MDE) and conducted an onsite visit with them. After discussing the issue with MDE, the Air Force agreed to install a bottomless culvert to bridge the disturbed area. A five-foot wide wetland was identified in the environmental assessment crossing the Base Perimeter Fence site and this bottomless culvert will span this five-foot wide area. (with stand off In a letter dated October 5, 2009 MDE stated that under the distance) provisions of MDSPGP-3 and the Code of Maryland Regulations (Section 26.23.01) it would be issuing a letter of authorization provided the total square footage of disturbed wetland buffer area for the entire Munitions Storage site is less than 5,000 square feet and the Air Force meets all conditions in MDSPGP-3 for Category I projects. The Air Force stated that the disturbed wetland buffer area that will be impacted is approximately 4,300 square feet and they met all of the conditions.

NCPC File No. 6962 Page 7

The preliminary and final site and building plans meet the applicant's mission and provides a safer environment for the overall base by relocation an existing potentially hazardous use farther from populated areas. Staff recommends that the Commission approve the preliminary and final site and building plans for the proposed Munitions Storage and Maintenance Complex at Joint Base Andrews.

CONFORMANCE

Comprehensive Plan for the National Capital The proposal is not inconsistent with the Comprehensive Plan for the National Capital. The Federal Workplace Element of the Plan designates Joint Base Andrews as a federally owned workplace in the region and this proposal furthers the Comprehensive Plan policy of reusing existing land for new projects.

Federal Capital Improvements Plan The 2010-2015 Fiscal Year Federal Capital Improvements Plan (FCIP) approved by the Commission in September 2009 includes the Munitions Storage and Maintenance Complex. The proposal is identified as a project requiring additional planning coordination because the base master plan is currently being updated.

Joint Base Andrews Naval Air Facility Washington Facility Master Plan The location of this facility is identified as open space in the present Base master plan (see land use map). The last Andrews Air Force Base Master Plan was approved by NCPC on May 31, 1979.

Andrews Air Force Base Land Use Map This project was referred out to 1979 Master Plan the Maryland Clearinghouse on July 7, 2009 in accordance with the Commission's Procedures for Intergovernmental Cooperation in Federal Planning in the National Capital Region. The only comments received on this project Munitions Storage and were from the Maryland Maintenance Complex Department of the Environment on October 14, 2009. These were general comments concerning the need for Joint Base Andrews to conform to all applicable state and federal laws regarding the installation of petroleum storage tanks, the proper disposal of waste NCPC File No. 6962 Page 8

products from the site and the handling and disposal of any hazardous materials at the site.

The base command has commenced the process of updating its master plan, which currently is at the 50% completion level. This process is expected to be completed in the winter. Staff has reviewed a draft master plan update and the Munitions Storage and Maintenance Facility is shown at this proposed location on the base. At the completion, the master plan will be submitted to the Commission for review.

National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) The Air Force completed an Environmental Assessment (EA) for the project in October 2008 and issued a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) later the same month. The EA included a description of the wetland area and the intention to bridge the narrow five foot wide wetland at the northern portion of the site to allow for a roadway to connect Perimeter Road to the new facility. In the EA, the alignment of this connecting road was expected to be in a similar location as the existing gravel road. The EA did not include any wetland mitigation because the wetlands would be bridged.

Under provisions of Section 404 of the Clean Water Act and Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act the Department of the Army approved the Maryland State Programmatic General Permit (MDSPGP-3) October 1, 2006. This established the procedures the State of Maryland is required to undertake regarding disturbances to wetlands and wetland buffer areas less than one acre that have minimal adverse impacts. Those projects listed as Category I under MDSPGP-3 are allowed to be regulated by MDE provided they meet the conditions set for in MDSPGP-3. MDE has determined that this project is included in the Category I list and meets the conditions set forth in MDSPGP-3.

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 Air Force reviewed the proposal for compliance with the National Historic Preservation Act, Section 106, and established that the Munitions Storage and Maintenance Complex and its immediate vicinity are not historic resources, since the complex is not in proximity to any eligible historic or cultural source. The Maryland Historic Trust concurred with the Air Force finding.

The project is a proposal outside the District of Columbia and consequently NCPC does not have an independent National Historic Protection Act, Section 106 responsibility in accordance with NCPC Environmental and Historic Preservation Polices and Procedures.

CONSULTATION NCPC File No. 6962 Page 9

Referral to relevant local planning agencies On July 7, 2009, the NCPC referred out the proposal to the Maryland State Clearinghouse for review in accordance with the Commission's Procedures for Intergovernmental Cooperation in Federal Planning in the National Capital Region. The Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) met with the Air Force to discuss possible wetland buffer impacts and determine what mitigation would be necessary, if any. MDE and the Air Force are satisfied with the roadway and arched structure design that will minimize impacts to the disturbed wetland buffer area.

The only comments received on this project were from the Maryland Department of the Environment on October 14, 2009. These were general comments concerning the need for Joint Base Andrews to conform to all applicable state and federal laws regarding the installation of petroleum storage tanks, the proper disposal of waste products from the site and the handling and disposal of any hazardous materials at the site.