April 20, 2026
— Jeff Ward, Lehigh Valley News Briefs
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is considering two sites in the Allentown area for an outpatient clinic.
The VA said on its website that it is assessing the potential environmental impact of such a clinic, which a private business would construct and then lease to the VA. The project has been in the works for at least a couple years.
Two sites are being considered, according to the Veterans Affairs website:
— South Cedar Crest Boulevard (no specific address given)
— 935 Blue Barn Road, with address given as Allentown but Lehigh County records say the property is in Upper Macungie Township.
The statement is available on the VA website. Click on the link for Pennsylvania sites.
Here’s a cut-and-paste version of the statement:
SUBJECT: Environmental Assessment Scoping Notice for the Proposed Construction and Operation of an
Outpatient Clinic in Allentown, Pennsylvania [VA ID# EAXX-029-15-VHA-1733501961]
Dear Valued Stakeholder:
The U.S . Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is proposing to construct and operate an outpatient clinic (OPC) in
Allentown, Pennsylvania (the Proposed Action). 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 Allentown and the surrounding communities in a modem, state-of-the-art facility. The OPC
will be constructed by a private entity for VA to lease and operate at one of the following sites (Figure 1):
- Site 1- South Cedar Crest Boulevard
- Site 2 – 935 Blue Barn Road
VA is preparing an environmental assessment (EA) to analyze the potential environmental impacts of the
Proposed Action. VA is seeking input from stakeholders as part of the scoping process in the development of this
document. VA is preparing the EA in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA)
(42 U.S. Code [USC]§ 4321- 4370), as implemented by the Council on Environmental Quality (40 Code of
Federal Regulations [CFR] Parts 1500-1508), and VA’s NEPA regulations (38 CFR Part 26).
Through this notice, VA is also providing the public with information about the undertaking and seeking input
about the undertaking’s effects on historic properties pursuant to Section 106 of the National Historic
Preservation Act (NHPA) of 1966, as amended, (54 USC§ 30610 8), and its implementing regulations (36 CFR
Part 800 -Protection of Historic Properties). VA is using its procedures for public involvement under NEPA in lieu
of public involvement requirements in Subpart B of the Section 106 regulations per 36 CFR Part 800.2(d)(3). This
notice does not serve as an invitation to consult under Section 106, it is solely to seek and consider the views of the
public. VA will conduct its Section 106 review and consultation separately.
If you have comments on the scope of the EA, the range of alternatives, and environmental issues for in-depth
analysis, please email your comments to vacoenvironment@va.gov with the subject line “Allentown OPC EA”.
Additionally, VA will publish the Draft EA online at http://www.cfm.va.gov/environmental/index.asp for a 30
day public review and comment period. The Notice of Availability will be posted in The Morning Call.
Respectfully,
GLENN ELLIOTT Date: 2024.12.10 10:00:32 -05’00’
Glenn Elliott
Director, Project Development Services Division
Office of Construction and Facilities Management
Lehigh Valley News Briefs 