Indian Head, Md. – Naval Support Facility (NSF) Indian Head, located in Indian Head, Charles County, Maryland, is proposing the demolition of building D40, a contributing element to the Indian Head Residential Historic District (CH-490; “Residential Historic District”). NSF Indian Head has determined that the demolition of building D40 (the “undertaking”) would result in an adverse effect to the Residential Historic District and requires the development of a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) and mitigation in accordance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA), as amended. Per 36 CFR 800.6, NSF Indian Head has notified the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP) and the Maryland Historic Trust State Historic Preservation Officer (SHPO) of the adverse effect finding and has initiated consultation for the undertaking. Section 106 requires Federal agencies to identify and consider the potential effects of their actions on historic properties through a collaborative framework for seeking, discussing and considering the views of the public on how to address potential adverse effects on historic properties resulting from the actions.
Building D40 is located immediately within NSF Indian Head’s main gate, north of Strauss Avenue and south of Library Lane. According to the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) Registration Form for CH-490, building D40 is “the first house on the north side of Strauss Ave…built in 1917, probably in the early months of U.S. involvement in World War I. Formerly a residence, it now serves as the base’s general library.” Specifically, building D40 was constructed to meet the housing shortage for workers at the Naval Powder Factory. Last occupied in the early 2000s, the Navy evaluated D40 for potential beneficial re-use opportunities. Unfortunately, building D40 is located in close proximity to NSF Indian Head’s main gate and within the Anti-Terrorism Force Protection (ATFP) security perimeter for the installation preventing occupied re-use. Additionally the presence of a significant amount of mold, mildew, and hazardous building materials in D40 render it further unfit for occupancy
The proposed undertaking will raze building D40 and restore the site to grass. As stated above, the razing of Building D40 will adversely affect the Residential Historic District. To mitigate for the adverse effect, the Navy is proposing to prepare and distribute a tri-fold brochure discussing the history of the Residential Historic District, which would be reviewed by the Maryland SHPO. The Navy will provide physical copies of the informational pamphlet for distribution at the NSF Indian Head Visitor Control Center, the headquarter lobbies of Naval Support Activity South Potomac and Naval Surface Warfare Center Indian Head Division, and Lincoln Military Housing lobby. An expanded digital version of the informational pamphlet will be uploaded to the NSF Indian Head official Navy homepage.
To submit comments or ask questions regarding the project, please contact Ms. Jeron Hayes, Public Affairs Officer, Naval Support Activity South Potomac, email: jeron.hayes@navy.mil, phone (540) 653-8153 or toll-free (866) 359-5540. Written comments should be mailed (postmarked) by September 6, 2021 to:
Naval Support Activity South Potomac
Attn: Public Affairs Officer, Code N00P
6509 Sampson Rd.
Dahlgren, VA 22448-5108