NOTICE OF AVAILABILITY DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT U.S. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS Proposed Construction and Operation of an Outpatient Clinic in Tri-Cities, Washington 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 Tri-Cities, WA. The purpose of the Proposed Action is to provide enhanced and expanded primary care, mental health services, and add a comprehensive array of specialty care outpatient services to serve Veterans in Tri-Cities and the surrounding communities in a modern, state-of-the-art facility. The Proposed Action is needed to address space gaps and operational inefficiencies at existing clinics within the VA Walla Walla Health Care System. VA is considering two alternative sites for the Tri-Cities OPC. At the Alternative 1 site, VA received proposals from two private entities which are referred to as Alternative 1A and Alternative 1B. VA would select only one Alternative and its associated private entity for the new OPC. The Alternative site locations are: Alternatives 1A and 1B – 3811 Plaza Way, Kennewick, WA (12 acres) Alternative 2 – 8428 Bob Olson Parkway, Kennewick, WA (19 acres) 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 Mid-Columbia Libraries' Kennewick Branch, 1620 S. Union Street, Kennewick, WA 99338. Please submit any requests for additional information, questions, or comments on the Draft EA via email to vacoenvironment@va.gov with the subject line "Tri-Cities, WA OPC EA" within 30 days following publication of this notice. VA will summarize and address substantive comments in the Final EA. IPL0281186 Oct 17,19 2025