One of the Charlottesville area's largest federal building projects is funded in the federal budget for 1999.

President Clinton has signed a $8.4 billion Military Construction Act that includes $46.2 million to build a new National Ground Intelligence Center in northern Albemarle county.

Rep. Thomas J. Bliley Jr., R-Richmond, announced the funding for a 260,000-square-foot building to be placed on 28.8 acres purchased last year on the east side of U.S. 29 two miles north of Airport Road.

The building was designed to hold 712 people and will allow consolidation of the center from several facilities around Charlottesville.

"With this funding, Congress has demonstrated its commitment to the invaluable role NGIC plays in our nation's defense," Bliley said in a statement.  "The new facility will enable the men and women at NGIC to continue to perform work of the highest caliber as they fulfill the mission of the NGIC."

Bliley aide Bill Dolbow said Sunday's signature on the construction bill by Clinton places the NGIC project "over the hump with $46.2 million."

Dolbow said the Army will need another $5.1 million for outfitting the building in fiscal year 2000 followed by an additional $4.1 million the next year for moving and other expenses.

He said Bliley secured $3.1 million last year for design work on the project and $1 million the previous year for the land's purchase.

NGIC currently occupies six facilities in Charlottesville and Albemarle County.  Its new building should be ready for occupancy in 2002, officials said.

Among the duties performed at NGIC are analysis of foreign military technology and development of strategies to deactivate land mines.  The agency traces its origins to a pair of separate entities, the Foreign Science and Technology Center in Charlottesville and the Threat Analysis Center in Washington, which merged in 1994.