FORT GEORGE G. MEADE, Md. (May 3, 2012) -- While the removal of the golf course's sign along Mapes Road on Tuesday morning was the first indication that the course is now closed, more visible work is under way.
Crews began clearing trees on the southern portion of the course Wednesday, according to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Baltimore District's schedule. Similar work is scheduled to begin on the northern portion of what is now known as East Campus on May 29.
The project, scheduled weekdays from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., is expected to add traffic to Mapes and Rockenbach roads. Planners are considering options to reduce the impact to weekday traffic including removing trees on Saturdays.
Another aspect of the planning process - minimizing the environmental impact - began years ago, said Mick Butler, chief of DPW's Environmental Division.
The decision to develop the golf course to support national security had to be supported by an environmental study, which began with a July 2009 Federal Register Notice of Intent to prepare an environmental impact statement for the project, Butler said.
The notice informed the public of an open house followed by a scoping meeting later that month for public comment. A draft environmental impact statement was prepared and made available for public review June 25, 2010 with another open house and public meeting on July 21, 2010. The final document was signed September 13, 2010.
While laws such as the Maryland Forest Conservation Act guided the planning, the Army's commitment to being good stewards of its resources was another important consideration, said John Houchins, Natural Resources Program manager for the Directorate of Public Works.
"The Army realized many, many years ago that it must take care of its land to fulfill the Army mission," Houchins said.
The land to be cleared, which will be partially used by the National Security Agency, covers approximately 127 acres. These trees are relatively spread out and only account for approximately 27 acres of forest. The Forest Conservation Act calls for 20 percent, approximately 25 acres, of the project to be reforested or preserved, said Houchins.
As a part of the environmental planning process, the NSA indicated it would comply with the Forest Conservation Act to "the maximum extent practical," said Butler. "There may not be space left to do exactly 20 percent. So, it is a target."
If space is not available, the goal can be achieved by reforesting off site, Houchins said.
This is not the first effort to minimize the environmental impact of construction on the golf course, which lost nine holes when the headquarters for the Defense Media Activity and Defense Information Systems Agency were built there.
DISA planted more trees than it removed to develop the site because its complex was built on fairways that had already been cleared of trees, Butler said.
The benefits of reforestation, said Butler, include reducing the heat generated on the buildings by providing shade, producing oxygen and capturing carbon dioxide, as well as creating and maintaining habitats for forest-dwelling species.
Houchins expects the wildlife, which includes groundhogs, foxes, squirrels and bird species, to relocate to other areas on post. The impact of the habitat loss should be minimal, he said, because the golf course is already partially developed.
Initial tree clearing schedule
- Site protection and fencing: Until May 11
- Surveying: Until May 14
- Tree clearing on southern portion: Until May 25
- Tree clearing on northern portion: May 29 to June 18
- Site stabilization and restoration until: June 25
Source: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Baltimore District
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