Piñon Canyon Maneuver Site Training and Operations Environmental Impact Statement, 64754-64755 [2014-25786]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
• Department of the Army

[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 211 (Friday, October 31, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 64754-64755]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-25786]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army


Pi[ntilde]on Canyon Maneuver Site Training and Operations 
Environmental Impact Statement

AGENCY: Department of the Army, DoD.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: The Department of the Army announces the availability of the 
draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for proposed training and 
operations at Pi[ntilde]on Canyon Maneuver Site (PCMS), CO. PCMS is the 
maneuver site for Fort Carson and is located near Trinidad, CO, 
approximately 150 miles southeast of Fort Carson. The draft EIS 
evaluates the environmental impacts associated with the proposed 
action, which is to conduct realistic, coordinated, large-scale 
training that integrates the ground and air resources of Fort Carson's 
mechanized, infantry, support, and combat aviation units.
    In addition to the No Action Alternative, the draft EIS considers 
the two alternatives: Alternative 1A--would establish and use new 
brigade-level training intensity measures; update brigade training 
period equipment compositions and training methods relative to the 1980 
Final EIS for the PCMS Training Land Acquisition; and enable the 
Stryker family of vehicles to train at PCMS. Alternative 1B--would 
include Alternative 1A and add enhanced readiness training using new 
training activity and infrastructure components at PCMS. Alternative 1B 
infrastructure components include airspace reclassification and drop 
zone development. The proposed action is composed of numerous 
components and the decision-maker may elect not to select every 
component. The proposed action does not include, nor would it require, 
expansion of PCMS.

ADDRESSES: Written comments should be sent to the Fort Carson NEPA 
Program Manager, Directorate of Public Works, Environmental Division, 
1626 Evans Street, Building 1219, Fort Carson, CO 80913-4362, or call 
(719) 526-4666. Comments may also be submitted via email to: 
usarmy.carson.imcom-central.list.dpw-ed-nepa@mail.mil.

[[Page 64755]]


FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: The Fort Carson Public Affairs Office 
at (719) 526-7525, Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. MST; 
or by email to: usarmy.carson.hqda-ocpa.list.pao-officer@mail.mil.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The draft EIS has been prepared to meet the 
requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) to 
evaluate the environmental and socioeconomic impacts of implementing 
proposed actions at PCMS.
    Soldiers stationed at Fort Carson need to train together, in an 
integrated manner, during large-scale collective training events. 
Integrated brigade combat team (BCT) level training is necessary at 
PCMS; without such training, Fort Carson Soldiers would be forced to 
train in their tasks in isolation, and not in the integrated manner in 
which they would fight. The draft EIS affords Fort Carson the 
opportunity to review its environmental program and the current state 
of the environment on PCMS, and decide on how best to structure 
training events for the recently reconfigured Armor and Infantry BCTs 
and the Stryker BCT.
    Alternative 1A would establish a benchmark for brigade-level 
training intensity. The historic limitation of 4.7 months of brigade-
level mechanized maneuver would remain in effect to allow for land rest 
and recovery. This alternative would enable the \1/4\ Stryker BCT to 
conduct training at PCMS using the Stryker family of vehicles.
    Alternative 1B includes Alternative 1A and new training activities 
and training infrastructure changes at PCMS. Training activities 
include non-explosive aviation gunnery, flare, electronic jamming 
systems, laser target sighting, tactical demolition, unmanned and 
unarmed aerial reconnaissance systems, and light unmanned ground 
vehicle training. In terms of training infrastructure, PCMS would 
establish two new drop-zones and, for use during periods when training 
activity poses a hazard to aircraft, restricted airspace directly over 
PCMS. The restricted airspace would be established up to 10,000 feet 
above mean sea level, and activated as required by training scenarios. 
The decision-maker may select all of these elements or only some.
    Environmental impacts associated with the implementation of the 
proposed action could include significant impacts to soils as a result 
of maneuvering with tracked and wheeled vehicles on fragile soils; 
vegetation and wildlife as a result of large maneuver corridors, which 
could potentially result in a conversion or net loss of habitat, 
depending upon frequency of use and recovery time; and water resources 
as a result of increased sedimentation in nearby impaired waters. 
Impacts in the areas of airspace, cultural resources, facilities and 
utilities, hazardous materials, hazardous waste, and toxic substances, 
socioeconomics, and traffic and transportation were all determined to 
be less than significant. The draft EIS identifies potential mitigation 
measures to reduce adverse impacts.
    Soldier training would be entirely within the existing boundaries 
of PCMS, except for limited air and convoy operations. The proposed 
action does not include, nor would it require, any expansion of PCMS. 
No additional land will be sought or acquired as a result of this 
action.
    Under the No Action Alternative, the Army would continue current 
mission activities and training operations, which includes authorized 
brigade-level training, as well as range use and training land 
management.
    Cooperating Agencies: The Federal Aviation Administration is a 
cooperating agency on the Draft EIS as the proposed action includes 
airspace reclassification.
    Public Meeting and Public Comments: A public meeting on the Draft 
EIS will be held at PCMS. Information on the date and time for the 
public meeting will be published locally.
    Federally recognized Tribes, federal, state, and local agencies, 
organizations, and the public are invited to be involved in the process 
for the preparation of this EIS by participating in public meetings 
and/or submitting written comments on the Draft EIS to (see ADDRESSES) 
no later than 45 days from the publication of the Notice of 
Availability in the Federal Register.
    The Draft EIS is available at https://www.carson.army.mil/DPW/nepa.html.

Brenda S. Bowen,
Army Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 2014-25786 Filed 10-30-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3710-08-P