The Mapleleaf Online

Navy to hold more BRAC public hearings

Mark N December 15th, 2007

The Navy has has announced that it will hold two public hearings on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) related to the BRAC-directed creation of the new Walter Reed Military Medical Center. These hearings, where members of the public can present verbal and written comments to Navy representatives, will be held at the Pooks Hill Marriott (adjoining the Maplewood neighborhood) on January 9 and 10 from 6 PM to 8 PM both evenings.

The Navy requests that people asking to speak at either public meeting prepare their statements to meet a 3-minute limitation on the length of that part of the statement to be presented verbally. This is to ensure that all persons desiring to make a comment at the meeting are given that opportunity, not to constrain any individual’s ability to fully provide their comment.

For more information, see the full announcement on the CMMCN Yahoo Groups site. You can also call the Navy to get more information about the public hearings at (301) 295-2722 weekdays between 9 AM and 5 PM.

Tags: BRAC, NavyMed

Draft EIS for NNMC BRAC is finally released

Janet M December 12th, 2007

As the Post reported recently in a page one story, The Navy’s Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for National Naval Medical Center (NNMC) BRAC has been released and is available for public viewing on the Navy’s NNMC BRAC web site.

The planned expansion of the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda will add an estimated 2,200 workers and double the number of patients and visitors at the center’s campus each year, increasing traffic in a congested area of Montgomery County, according to a draft report released by the Navy…

What it does not spell out is who will pay for road improvements that county officials estimate could cost $70 million.

Tags: BRAC, NavyMed

State BRAC plan doesn’t address our traffic problems, says Leggett

Janet M December 7th, 2007

The Baltimore Sun reported last week on County Executive Ike Leggett’s letter to Gov. Martin O’Malley, in which he stressed that the state’s draft action plan — due to be released this month — doesn’t sufficiently address the anticipated traffic congestion around the future Walter Reed National Military Medical Center.

…the Draft BRAC Action Plan does not identify specific and concrete mitigations for anticipated major traffic congestion that will have significant ramifications for accessibility to NNMC/WRNMMC, the National Institutes of Health, Suburban Hospital…and on the quality of life of surrounding well-established neighborhoods.

Tags: BRAC, NavyMed

New community group formed

Mark N December 4th, 2007

The Coalition of Military Medical Center Neighbors (CMMCN) was recently formed to represent the views of the 3000-plus residents of the area surrounding the future Walter Reed Military Medical Center, which includes the Maplewood neighborhood. The group intends to advocate a reduction of vehicles on adjoining roadways, encouraging and improving pedestrian access to the base, and “actively engaging the public about the critical role they can play in providing input to the process,” among other things.

For more information on the CMMCN’s objectives and how to get involved, see the CMMCN Yahoo Groups page, or contact Ilaya Hopkins.

Tags: BRAC, NavyMed

BRAC subcabinet releases draft

Mark N November 26th, 2007

The Governor’s BRAC subcabinet meeting released a draft of its plan for the Base Realignment and Closure process. The state’s draft budget for BRAC currently includes only $5.4 million in fiscal 2008, in connection to the Navy Med transfer of Walter Reed Army Medical Center functions to the National Naval Medical Center campus in Bethesda.

State funding for local transportation projects is still on hold as the wait continues for the release of the Navy Environmental Impact Statement, now planned for early December. BRAC is projected to add an estimated 2,500 new workers to the Bethesda base and double the hospital’s patient and visitor load to about 900,000 people per year by 2011.

Tags: BRAC, NavyMed