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Overview of NEPA Analysis for

VA Proposed Actions at VAMC Building # 2

The US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) proposes to utilize federal funding to construct temporary, medical support facilities at the outpatient clinic on the campus of the existing Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC) in New Orleans. Medical support service facilities may include on-site laboratory, sterile processing and distribution, dental, and administrative functions.

To service the needs of the veterans in the interim until the new medical center is completed, VA will continue to operate the outpatient clinic on the grounds of the existing facility. Because the construction of the new facility will require several years, VA proposes to expand the existing clinic to provide medical support facilities and to enhance the health care currently available to veterans in the region. Currently, laboratory facilities for the outpatient clinic are operating out of Baton Rouge. Turnaround time for laboratory results is delayed by transport time to Baton Rouge. VA proposes to establish temporary support facilities on the existing VAMC campus to facilitate healthcare delivery for veterans at the outpatient clinic in the interim before the replacement VAMC is completed.

Last updated 7/17/09

Alternatives Under Evaluation

Alternative # 1: No Action - Under the No Action alternative, the existing Building # 2, which was severely damaged as a result of Hurricane Katrina, would not be rehabilitated or replaced. There would be no addition of temporary medical support facilities through new construction or modification of the existing structures. Support services would continue to be provided through the interim facilities currently in use in Baton Rouge. The existing VAMC would continue to provide only outpatient services at its current capacity.

Alternative # 2: Demolition of Building 2 and Temporary Medical Support Unit Installation - Alternative # 2 consists of demolition of the existing Building # 2 facility and positioning of temporary medical support units at the same location. Approximately 3-4 modular units (see photos below) could be installed on a concrete pad within the footprint of the current structure allowing the return of support functions to the New Orleans VAMC campus and expediting quality healthcare for veterans in the interim while the replacement VAMC is constructed.

Alternatives Eliminated from Detailed Analysis

Examples of medical support units that could house temporary support facilities should Alternative # 2 be selected.

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Modification/Renovation of Existing Building # 2

Demolition and Reconstruction of a Permanent Building at the

Existing Building # 2 Location

Leasing of Commercial Facilities

A full discussion of the elimination process is included in Section 2.2 of the Draft VAMC Building # 2 SEA available on the Documents Page.