OF; Som$m~~ B,BO 1. Sandy Olliges, Chief, Environmental Services Division

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1 National Aeronautics and Space Administration Ames Research Center if 1 I!I@bR@ Moffett Field, CA OF; Som$m~~ 21141@j~0~!. B,BO 1 Reply to Attn of: October 20,2003 TO: FROM: SUBJECT: Distribution Sandy Olliges, Chief, Environmental Services Division Transfer of Crows Landing Flight Facility to Stanislaus County Enclosed please find a Fact Sheet describing the subject action, along with the Drafi Finding of No Significant Impact and the DraR Finding of Suitability to Transfer. If you have any questions or comments, please direct them to the points of contact on the fact sheet or contact me Sandy Olliges Enclosures

2 FACT SHEET Transfer of Parcel A NASA Crows Landing Flight Facility to Stanislaus County Moffett Field, California This fact sheet describes the environmental as- I CLFF is leased for crop production. Typical field pects of the transfer process, and the four associ- crops grown in the area include beans, tomatoes, ated draft documents that are available for public broccoli, and alfalfa. Orchard crops include alcomment. monds, walnuts, and apricots. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), Ames Research Center proposes to (CVRWQCB)] to divide the facility into parcels and determine which are suitable for transfer to the County and which parcels cannot be transferred due to environmental concerns. CLFF has in 1998 as part of the process to excess and transfer CLFF to the General Services Administration (GSA) for disposal. In 1999, the 106th Congress enacted Public Law which requires NASA to convey CLFF to Stanislaus County, California. The CLFF covers approximately hectares (ha) ( acres (ac)) in the northwestern part the Sari Ioaquin between the Patterson and Crows Landing, California. The facility is located in Stanislaus County, approximately 129 kilometers (80 miles) southeast of San Francisco. The property transfer would occur in phases. Phase I, to occur as soon as practicable, would transfer Parcel A. A subsequent phase or phases would transfer the remaining parcels that would be released once NASA, the Navy, DTSC, and CVRWQCB determine that remedial actions for contaminated sites within these parcels are cornplete or have been demonstrated to be operating success~lly. The following documents are required as part of the transfer process: Environmental Assessment CLFF 9-03.pub Page 1 September 2003

3 (EA), the Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI), Environmental Baseline Survey (EB S), and the Finding of Suitability to Transfer (FOST). ENVIRONMENTAL BASELINE - SURVEY (EBS) One of the principal functions of an EA is to evaluate the environmental effects of a proposed project and to determine if an Environmental Impact Statement must be prepared. If the analyses in the EA support the conclusion that no significant environmental impacts would occur, a FONSI is prepared and the action can proceed. This Draft EA documents the environmental consequences of the proposed action and the following alternatives: (1) transfer to GSA as excess property and (2) "No Action". The No Action alternative involves continuing NASA ownership of all of CLFF. The proposed action addresses only those impacts associated with the transfer of property to Stanislaus County. The EA does not address impacts related to future land use. The intended use of CLFF by Stanislaus County is for general aviation airport and associated uses along with agriculture. Stanislaus County has addressed u those impacts pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) in the initial study for CLFF Reuse Plan, in January, However, Public Law states that NASA shall cede legislative jurisdiction and retain the right to use CLFF for aviation activities. The impacts of these actions are described in the EA. I FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT (FONSI) A FONSI is a concise public decision document that summarizes the key elements of the analyses that support a FONSI and it includes any specific mitigation measures required to ensure no significant impact. The Draft FONSI contains the mailing address of the sponsoring entity and the point of contact for comments. It includes locations where the Draft EA can be viewed. The EBS involves review of all available environmental reports and data for the property. The property is divided into parcels based on various environmental issues. An Environmental Condition of Property (ECP) category is assigned to each parcel. Suitability for transfer is based on the ECP classification. Based on the review of the information in the Draft EBS, Parcel A is classified as ECP Category 1 (those areas where no release or disposal of hazardous substances or petroleum has occurred). Within Parcel A, sites 10, 13, & 14 are classified as ECP Category 4 (those areas where EBS documents confirm that hazardous substances are known to have been released or disposed on the property, but all remedial actions necessary to protect human health and the environment with respect to any hazardous substances remaining on the property have already been taken to meet the provisions in CERCLA Section 120(h)(3)). The few issues still remaining with Parcel A can be handled through restrictions in the transfer or addressed before use as described in the Drafl FOST. FINDING OF SUITABILITY FOR TRANSFER (FOST) 1 The purpose of the FOST is to document the envi- I ronmental suitability of Parcel A at CLFF for transfer to Stanislaus County. The agreement to convey Parcel A to Stanislaus county shall include: (a) a clause that restricts the use of buildings containing lead-based paint until the paint problem has been mitigated and (b) a clause that restricts the use of buildings containing asbestos until the asbestos problem has been mitigated. A separate document will also be executed and recorded restricting use of groundwater within 610 meters (2000 feet) of groundwater contamination. CLFF 9-03.pub Page 2 September 2003

4 AVAILABILITY OF DRAFT DOCUMENTS Copies of the Revised Draft Environmental Baseline Survey (EBS), Draft Environmental Assessment (EA), Draft Finding of Suitability for Transfer (FOST), and Draft Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) are available at: Patterson Public Library Reference Desk 46 North Salado Avenue Patterson, California (209) Modesto Public Librarv Reference Desk 1500 "I" Street Modesto, CA (209) Newman Public Library 1305 Kern Street Newman, CA NASA Ames Library Library, Building N Moffett Field, CA PUBLIC REVIEW SCHEDULE The Draft Documents will be available from October 20 through November 20. Comments or questions on the Draft EBS or Draft FOST should be sent to: Don Chuck MS Moffett Field, California (650) Donald.M.Chuck@nasa.gov Comments or questions on the Draft EA or Draft FONSI should be sent to: Michael McGowan, Ph.D. MS Moffett Field, California (650) Michael.F.McGowan@nasa.gov FIGURE 1: 2003 EBS PARCEL LOCATIONS AND SAMPLING AREAS

5 I tlick Here to Return t o 3 NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION NOTICE (03-ARC-1) National Environmental Policy Act; Transfer of NASA Crows Landing Flight Facility AGENCY: ACTION: National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Draft Finding of No Significant Impact (Draft FONSI) SUMMARY: Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended (NEPA, 42 U.S. C et seq.), the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) Regulations for Implementing the Procedural Provisions of NEPA (40 CFR Parts ), and NASA's policies and procedures for implementing NEPA (14 CFR Subpart ), and based upon the analyses and evaluations in the Draft Environmental Assessment for the project, NASA has concluded that an Environmental Impact Statement is not necessary and has made a finding of no significant impact (FONSI) with respect to the transfer of NASA Crows Landing Flight Facility to Stanislaus County. DATE: NASA will take no final action prior to 30 days following publication of the notice of this Draft FONSI. RESPONSIBLE OFFICIAL: G. Scott Hubbard Director, Arnes Research Center ADDRESSES: The Draft Environmental Assessment (EA) for Transfer of NASA Crows Landing Flight Facility and the Environmental Baseline Survey (EBS) for Crows Landing Flight Facility may be reviewed at the following locations: NASA Library Patterson Public Library Building N North Salado Ames Research Center Patterson, CA Moffett Field, CA Newrnan Public Library 1305 Kern Street Newman, CA Modesto Public Library 1500 I Street Modesto, CA A limited number of copies of the Draft EA are available on a first request basis, by contacting the Environmental Services Office at the address, telephone number, or electronic mail address indicated herein. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael McGowan, Environmental Services Office,, MS , Moffett Field, CA ; telephone: ; electronic mail: Michael.F.McGowan@nasa.gov. NASA Crows Landing Flight Facility Draft FONSI October 2003

6 SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NASA has reviewed the Draft EA prepared for the property transfer of Crows Landing Flight Facility (CLFF) and determined that it represents an adequate and accurate analysis of the alternatives and the scope and level of associated environmental impacts. The Draft EA is incorporated by reference in this Draft FONSI. Since accepting this property from the Navy in July 1994, NASA research operations at Crows Landing Flight Facility have been discontinued. Previous activities included advanced flight technology research and development, in addition to data collection for experimental aircraft. Test facilities included short take-off and landing areas (STOL), acoustic analysis arrays, and high precision laser, radar and video tracking systems. Because the agency continues to incur maintenance costs for the facility with no benefit, NASA proposed in June 1999 to divest itself of Crows Landing. On October 27, 1999 Congress passed Public Law , directing NASA to convey to Stanislaus County all right, title, and interest of the United States in and to Crows Landing Flight Facility. Under the terms of PL NASA will cede legislative authority over CLFF to the state of California while retaining future rights for aviation activity. The property contains several sites contaminated with hazardous materials and petroleum products, for which the U.S. Navy is responsible and is actively addressing under State of California oversight. As a result of this contamination, the property transfer will occur in two or more phases. Phase I, to occur as soon as practicable, will include the uncontaminated parcels of land at the facility. The remaining parcels will be released once NASA, the Navy, the California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) and the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board (CVRWQCB) declare that remedial actions for contaminated sites within these parcels are complete or have been demonstrated to be operating successfully, pursuant to Section 120(h) of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA). The DraR EA documents the environmental consequences of the proposed action and the following alternatives: (1) transfer of the property directly to the General Services Administration (GSA); and (2) no action. The analysis conducted in support of the Draft EA indicates that the proposed action will have no adverse impact on land use, the economic environment, the social environment, noise, air quality, biological resources, cultural resources, solid waste management, toxic substances, and health and safety. The proposed property transfer will have no cumulative environmental impacts. The impacts of ceding legislative jurisdiction to the state of California would be insignificant because Stanislaus County has agreed to provide law enforcement at Crows Landing Flight Facility. The impacts of any future aviation activities by NASA would be insignificant compared to past use by the Navy and proposed aviation use by the County. The County, in accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), evaluated the impacts of using CLFF for general aviation in the Initial Study for the Crows Landing Flight Facility Reuse Plan, January, The County determined that the impacts would not be significant. NASA Crows Landing Flight Facility Draft FONSI October 2003

7 sick Here to Return to Agenda The action may result in minor impacts to geology and hydrogeology, flood plain management, and water quality. Specifically, ongoing cooperative efforts to combat sediment and pesticide runoff from the site could be affected by the future landowner. Furthermore, the future landowner could influence efforts to mitigate flooding at the intersection of Highway 33 and Marshall Road, because NASA would no longer coordinate with the California Department of Transportation and Stanislaus County Public Works Department. Environmental impacts associated with Alternative # 1 are unknown at this time, because GSA has not proposed future uses of the land. Furthermore, Alternative #I cannot be implemented because Public Law has been passed. There are no impacts associated with Alternative #2, the no action alternative, other than those associated with existing conditions. The Draft EA addresses only those impacts associated with the following NASA actions pursuant to Public Law : transfer of property to Stanislaus County, the ceding of legislative jurisdiction to the state of California, and the retention of NASA's rights to use the airfield for aviation activities in the future. The impacts of any other fbture land use are beyond the scope of this Draft EA. On the basis of the analyses performed in support of the Draft EA and reference material used in the investigation, NASA has concluded that implementation of the proposed action will not individually or cumulatively have a significant impact on the quality of the environment. Therefore, the preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement is not required. NASA will take no final action prior to 30 days following publication of the notice of this Draft FONSI. G. Scott Hubbard Director, Date NASA Crows Landing Flight Facility Draft FONSI October 2003