Notice of Intent To Prepare a Programmatic Environmental Assessment for the Purchase of Commercial Vehicles

Stanley F. Mires
US Postal Service
17 March 2017

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 51 (Friday, March 17, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Page 14238]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-05304]


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POSTAL SERVICE


Notice of Intent To Prepare a Programmatic Environmental 
Assessment for the Purchase of Commercial Vehicles

AGENCY: Postal Service.

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare a Programmatic Environmental 
Assessment.

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SUMMARY: To comply with the requirements of the National Environmental 
Policy Act (NEPA), the Postal Service intends to prepare a Programmatic 
Environmental Assessment (PEA) for the purchase of commercial off-the-
shelf (COTS) delivery vehicles to accommodate route growth and replace 
aged, high-maintenance vehicles over the next three years. This PEA 
will evaluate the environmental impacts of the proposed action versus 
the alternatives of leasing the vehicles in lieu of purchase, and 
taking no action.

DATES: Comments should be received no later than April 3, 2017. In May 
of 2017, the Postal Service will publish a Notice of Availability to 
announce the availability of the Draft PEA and solicit comments on the 
Draft PEA during a second 15-day public comment period.

ADDRESSES: Interested parties may direct comments, questions, or 
requests for additional information to: Davon Collins, Environmental 
Counsel, U.S. Postal Service, Room 6333, 475 L'Enfant Plaza SW., 
Washington, DC 20260, telephone (202) 268-4570, email 
davon.m.collins@usps.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This notice concerns a proposed purchase of 
commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) delivery vehicles, and the intent of 
the Postal Service, pursuant to the requirements of the National 
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, its implementing procedures at 
39 CFR 775, and the President's Council on Environmental Quality 
Regulations (40 CFR parts 1500-1508), to prepare a PEA to evaluate the 
environmental impacts of the proposed action versus the alternatives of 
leasing the vehicles in lieu of purchase, or taking no action.
    To stabilize its delivery fleet pending the development of a 
longer-term solution to its vehicle needs, the Postal Service is 
considering the purchase of approximately 25,000 left-hand drive and 
right-hand drive COTS delivery vehicles to accommodate route growth 
over the next three years and to replace approximately 18,000 aged and 
high-maintenance cost vehicles. The prospective PEA will be prepared in 
accordance with NEPA, and will consider the physical, biological, 
cultural, and socioeconomic environments. To assist in this process, 
the Postal Service is soliciting the public's input and comments.

Stanley F. Mires,
Attorney, Federal Compliance.
[FR Doc. 2017-05304 Filed 3-16-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 7710-12-P