NEPA Reviews and Facilitation for Pentagon Master Plans

Washington Headquarters Services requires a comprehensive master plan for the Pentagon site in Arlington, Virginia, and the Mark Center in Alexandria, Virginia, which cover more than 247 acres and accommodate approximately 31,000 personnel. WHS completed a minor master plan update in 2024 and has been developing a visionary master plan that considers physical development goals and mission objectives to create a strategy for using the sites over the next 20 years. For both master planning efforts, WHS needed environmental review and planning support to scope out relevant issues, provide subject matter expertise, facilitate coordination with stakeholders and the master planning team, and ensure compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act. WHS turned to ERG for this support.

For the 2024 master plan update, our team of NEPA specialists prepared a comprehensive Environmental Assessment. For the visionary master plan, our team has been integrating environmental regulatory and statutory considerations from the outset to avoid downstream delays. Managing environmental compliance for the Pentagon requires balancing mission-critical security needs, in a highly urban area, with preservation of a National Historic Landmark and compliance with multiple federal, state, and local regulatory frameworks unique to the National Capital Region. ERG team members have been providing ongoing regulatory guidance, including interpretation of evolving NEPA requirements and Department of Defense priorities. Throughout the project, ERG has been coordinating closely with WHS, the master plan team, and other government stakeholders to improve efficiencies, meet WHS objectives, and ensure consistency. For example, ERG participates in multi-day, on-site stakeholder workshops; hosts regular virtual meetings; responds to information requests; and coordinates reviews of draft master plan documents.