NOTICE OF AVAILABILITY DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT

    179

    NOTICE OF AVAILABILITY
    DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT
    U. S. Department of Veterans Affairs Acquisition of Real Property 
    Community-Based
    Outpatient Clinic
    14540 Cortez Boulevard,
    Brooksville, FL
    Background
    The U.S. Department of Veteran
    Affairs (VA) is proposing the
    acquisition of the Pine Brook Regional
    Medical Center located at 14540
    Cortez Boulevard, Brooksville, Florida.
    The medical complex is owned
    by Hernando County, and the VA
    currently leases approximately 25% of
    the facility for the existing Community
    Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC) that
    services veterans in the area. With purchase of this medical complex, the
    VA intends to expand the CBOC to
    provide greater outpatient services to
    an increasing population of veterans in
    Hernando County.
    Proposed Action
    The VA’s Proposed Action involves
    the VA acquisition of the Pine Brook
    Regional Medical Center with the
    expansion of the existing CBOC
    operations in general compliance
    with VHA Directive 97-036 for clinic
    operations. This action will require
    interior facility modifications and
    alterations for the expanded CBOC
    services, and building envelope
    repairs, but will not require any
    alterations to the facility footprint or
    the taking of additional land. The
    expanded services would continue
    to include primary care services,
    with added/expanded services for
    audiology & speech, radiology, mental
    health, physical therapy, podiatry,
    prosthetics, pathology, pharmacy
    services, anticoagulation monitoring,
    laboratory (including phlebotomy),
    nutrition, and social work. These
    services are consistent with the
    original design of the Pine Brook
    Regional Medical Center, and the
    Proposed Action will only require
    interior alterations and modifications to
    accommodate the physical expansion
    for a centralized clinic layout.
    Actions Completed
    Pursuant to Section102(2) (c) of the
    National Environmental Policy Act
    (NEPA) of 1969 as implemented by
    the Council on Environmental Quality
    (CEQ) regulations (40 CFR Parts
    1500-1508), the U.S. Department of
    Veterans Affairs (VA) gives notice that
    a Draft Environmental Assessment
    (EA) has been prepared.
    Conclusions
    The Draft EA identifies, analyzes and
    documents the potential physical,
    environmental, cultural, and economic
    impacts associated with the VA’s
    Proposed Action. The Draft EA also
    evaluates the potential direct, indirect
    and cumulative impacts resulting from
    the Proposed Action. The proposed
    action and the no action alternative
    are considered.
    Draft Environmental Assessment
    Location
    The public is advised that it has 30
    days to respond from the date of
    this publication with comments. The
    public comment period runs from July
    28, 2020 to August 28, 2020. Hard
    copies of the Draft EA are available
    for public review at the Hernando
    County Public Library (238 Howell
    Ave, Brooksville, FL; and 6335
    Blackbird Ave, Spring Hill, FL), and at
    the VA CFM Environmental Programs
    website https://www.cfm.va.gov/
    environmental/index.asp.
    For further information please
    contact Marianne Marinucci, CFM
    Realty Specialist, 425 I Street,
    NW, Washington DC 20001, at the
    following phone number: (202) 632-
    5458 or email: [email protected]
    va.gov.
    Comments on the Draft EA shall be
    submitted to Marianne Marinucci,
    CFM Realty Specialist, at 425 I Street,
    NW, Washington DC 20001, or by
    email at [email protected]
    (08/14/2020), (08/21/2020),
    (08/28/2020)