NOTICE OF AVAILABILITY
FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT for
U. S. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS
BUILDINGS 9, 10, 13 SEISMIC UPGRADES
and CONSTRUCTION OF BUILDING 22
SAN FRANCISCO VA MEDICAL CENTER (SFVAMC)
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announces the preparation and availability of a document titled "Finding of No Significant Impact" (FONSI) for the proposed seismic upgrades of Buildings 9, 10, and 13 and construction of a new Building 22 on the SFVAMC campus. The SFVAMC is located at 4150 Clement Street on a 29-acre site in northwest San Francisco and is a major tertiary care facility that serves as a VA regional referral center for specialized medical and surgical programs.
The proposed action involves conducting a seismic retrofit of Buildings 9, 10, and 13, as well as construction of a new two story 8,600 gross square foot building (4,500 square foot first story and 4,100 square foot second story). This new building (Building 22) would be constructed between Building 9 and Building 10, and once constructed, would provide an interior connection between the two existing buildings. Retrofitting activities at Building 9, Building 10 and Building 13 would primarily involve foundation reinforcement of these buildings. Building 9 and Building 10 are currently used to provide Hoptel services to Veterans seeking medical care at the SFVAMC, while Building 13 houses the Center for Imaging of Neuro-Degenerative Diseases.
The FONSI has been prepared as a result of an Environmental Assessment (EA) accomplished in accordance with the regulations for implementing the procedural provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), Section 1508.13. The EA was performed to assess potential environmental consequences from the seismic retrofitting activities at Buildings 9, 10 and 13, as well as construction of a new Building 22.
The EA evaluated the potential environmental impacts of three alternatives, including a no action alternative. The EA was made available for public review and comment from May 11, 2009 to July 17, 2009. The VA received five (5) comment letters during the public review period of the EA. Substantive issues raised in each of the comment letters were very similar and related to four main topics. Therefore, a master response was prepared to address the specific comments related to each topic. The master responses provided clarification and provided specific references to the EA to address each comment. The EA, together with these master responses, constitute the Final EA for the project.
Copies of the EA are available for review between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. at the SFVAMC, Bldg. 3, Engineering Office. The EA can also be downloaded at: http://www.sanfrancisco.va.gov/page.cfm?pg=207 (NOTE: This file is 18 MB.)
For further information and/or a copy of the FONSI or Final EA, please contact:
John Pechman, Project Engineer
San Francisco VA Medical Center
4150 Clement Street
San Francisco, CA 94121
Phone: (415) 221-4810 Ext 4600
Email: John.Pechman@va.gov
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