PUBLIC NOTICE - - - U.S. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS OFFICE OF CONSTRUCTION AND FACILITIES MANAGEMENT NOTICE OF AVAILABILITY DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT U.S. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS Proposed Construction and Operation of an Outpatient Clinic in Baton Rouge, Louisiana The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has prepared a Draft Environmental Assessment (EA) to analyze the potential environmental impacts associated with VA’s Proposed Action to award a lease to a private entity that would construct an outpatient clinic (OPC) for VA to lease and operate in Baton Rouge, Louisiana (LA). The purpose of the Proposed Action is to provide outpatient health care services to area Veterans. The Proposed Action is needed to provide enhanced and expanded primary care and mental health services and add a comprehensive array of specialty care outpatient services to serve Veterans in Baton Rouge and the surrounding communities in a modern, state-of-the art facility. The Proposed Action would address current and future projected healthcare capacity, service gaps, and operational inefficiencies identified in the Strategic Capital Investment Planning process. The Proposed Action site is approximately 15 acres and is located at 8300-8400 Pecue Lane, Baton Rouge, LA 70809. VA prepared the Draft EA according to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969 (42 U.S. Code § 4321 et seq.). The Draft EA is available on the VA website at https://www.cfm.va.gov/environmental/. A hard copy of the Draft EA is available at the East Baton Rouge Parish Library – Bluebonnet Regional Branch, 9200 Bluebonnet Blvd, Baton Rouge, LA 70810. Please submit any requests for additional information, questions, or comments on the Draft EA via email to vacoenvironment@va.gov with the subject line “Baton Rouge OPC Draft EA” within 30 days following publication of this notice. VA will summarize and address substantive comments in the Final EA. 158103 Sept. 19, 21, 2t $501.04