Demolition of existing buildings

Revised: 11/19/2009

Decision Notice and Finding of No Significant Impact, and revised Environmental Assessment for demolition of Buildings 2, 3, 8 &19, replacement of Buildings 5 & 49 and construction of a Bio-Energy Pilot Plant at the Forest Product Laboratory, Madison WI.

The Forest Products Laboratory (FPL) is modernizing its facilities in support of its mission to serve as the nation's leading wood research institute. As such, FPL has prepared an Environmental Assessment (EA) for the proposed demolition of buildings 2, 3, 8, and 19, replacement of buildings 5 and 49, and construction of the new bioenergy pilot plant. Having completed public scoping and comment periods, FPL now releases a Decision Notice and Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for the proposed project.

The original EA, released on June 4, 2009, has been revised to address several issues raised during the comment period, to clarify operations to be conducted within the proposed bioenergy pilot plant, permitting requirements, and several other minor project related concerns. The revised EA is available for download here.

The Decision Notice and FONSI has been signed and is available for download here.

The Decision Notice implements the Proposed Action, which involves demolishing several buildings and constructing two new buildings. Pursuant to 36 CFR Part 215.11, this decision is subject to administrative review (appeal) only by parties that provided substantive comments during the 30-day comment period for the Environmental Assessment. Pursuant to 36 CFR 215.14, appeals must be filed with the Appeal Deciding Officer in writing and at a minimum, must include the following:

• Appellant's name and address, with a telephone number, if available.
• Signature or other verification of authorship upon request (a scanned signature for electronic mail may be filed with the appeal).
• When multiple names are listed on an appeal, identification of the lead appellant and verification of the identity of the lead appellant upon request.
• The name of the project or activity for which the decision was made, the name and title of the Responsible Official, and the date of the decision.
• The regulation under which the appeal is being filed, when there is an option to appeal under either this part or part 251, subpart C.
• Any specific change(s) in the decision that the appellant seeks and rationale for those changes.
• Any portion(s) of the decision with which the appellant disagrees, and explanation for the disagreement.
• Why the appellant believes the Responsible Official's decision failed to consider the substantive comments
• How the appellant believes the decision specifically violates law, regulation, or policy.

Pursuant to 36 CFR 215.15, appeals must be filed within 45 days, beginning the day after the Decision Notice and FONSI is published in the Wisconsin State Journal, Madison, WI, in order to be considered. FPL anticipates this public notice during the week of November 23, 2009. If the appeal period ends on a Saturday, Sunday, or a Federal holiday, appeals will be accepted until the end of the next Federal working day. No appeals will be accepted after the 45-day appeal period ends. Written appeals will be accepted by the following methods:

Written appeals will be accepted by the following methods:

Hand delivered appeals must be submitted at the above address between the hours of 8:00 AM and 4:30 PM EST, Monday through Friday, excluding holidays. Appeals may also be submitted via fax at (202) 205-1012. Electronic appeals must be submitted in formats viewable in Microsoft Office applications, Adobe Acrobat (.pdf) format, or as an e-mail message to: appeals-chief@fs.fed.us. In cases where no identifiable name is attached to an electronic message, a verification of identify will be required. A scanned signature is one way to provide verification.

The Decision Notice will be mailed to those who have commented during the public involvement process for this project. We appreciate your interest in the Forest Products Laboratory.