Notice of Availability of the Record of Decision To Determine the Level of Training on the Overhills Tract, Fort Bragg, Cumberland and Harnett Counties, NC, 26471-26473 [06-4233]
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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Notice of Availability of the Record of
Decision To Determine the Level of
Training on the Overhills Tract, Fort
Bragg, Cumberland and Harnett
Counties, NC
Department of the Army, DOD.
Notice of availability.
AGENCY:
ACTION:
SUMMARY: The Department of the Army
(DA) announces the availability of the
Record of Decision to Determine the
Level of Training on the Overhills Tract,
Fort Bragg, Cumberland and Harnett
Counties, NC. A decision is hereby
made to implement Alternative IV
(Preferred Alternative-Maximum
training, existing recreation, and no
preservation of the District) to allow the
full integration of the Overhills tract
into Fort Bragg’s training program. The
proposed action to fully integrate the
Overhills into Fort Bragg’s training
program was evaluated in the ‘‘Final
Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS)
To Determine The Level Of Training On
The Overhills Tract Fort Bragg,
Cumberland And Harnett Counties,
NC,’’ January 2006 (71 FR 920)). This
Decision Notice summarizes the
environmental, social and economic
impacts of the four alternatives
identified in the FEIS that were
considered in making this decision, and
explains why DA selected Alternative
IV (Preferred Alternative-Maximum
training, existing recreation, and no
preservation of the District).
ADDRESSES: Copies of the ROD are
available upon request from Mr. David
A. Heins, Chief, Environmental
Sustainment Division, Public Works
E:\FR\FM\05MYN1.SGM
05MYN1
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26472
Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 87 / Friday, May 5, 2006 / Notices
Business Center, ATTN: AFZA–PW–E,
Fort Bragg, NC 28310. A copy of the
FEIS and the ROD may be accessed at:
https://www.bragg.army.mil/envbr/
nepa_review.htm.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
David A. Heins, Chief, at (910) 396–
8207 or e-mail at
david.a.heins@us.army.mil.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Fort Bragg
serves as headquarters for the XVIII
Airborne Corps and Army Special
Operations Command, and is home to
the 82nd Airborne Division. The
primary mission of Fort Bragg involves
training and logistical and mobilization/
deployment support of the XVIII
Airborne Corps, United States Army
Special Operations Command, the 82nd
Airborne Division, and other assigned
units. In order to fulfill this mission,
Fort Bragg supports the most intensive
and varied training program in the
continental United States. A 1995 land
use requirements study identified a
shortfall of maneuver training land in
excess of 80,000 areas. Congress
authorized the purchase of the Overhills
property (approximately 10,580 acres)
in 1997 to help reduce the training land
deficit. While Fort Bragg’s mission
remains constant, training concepts and
space requirements are continually
changing to meet the needs of today’s
transforming Army. These factors, in
conjunction with the training land
deficit, demonstrate the need to make
maximum use of available training
lands on Fort Bragg and to fully
incorporate the Overhills tract into the
installation’s training program. The
purpose of the integration of Overhills
into the Northern Training Area (NTA)
is to enhance training and to sustain
environmental resources on Fort Bragg.
In 1999 Fort Bragg prepared an
Environmental Assessment (EA) to
adopt an Interim Training Program (ITP)
on the Overhills tract. The ITP allows
low impact (limited) military training
with attendant management activities.
Training is limited to company-size
exercises (250 personnel, including
support personnel) and must be
conducted in accordance with the
Standard Operating Procedures (SOP)
for low impact training on the Overhills
tract. The SOP prescribes procedures for
occupation, training and police of the
tract. Seven types of training activities
are authorized. The Overhills represents
the eastern part of the NTA (NTA units
V–VIII) and comprises almost forty
percent of the 23,313-acres NTA.
Training in the remainder of the NTA
(NTA units I–IV) is governed by the
Installation Range Regulation (IRR)
which allows up to brigade-size units to
VerDate Aug<31>2005
18:48 May 04, 2006
Jkt 208001
train using a full array of training
activities. Training activities currently
conducted in NTA units I–IV consist of
ground and air maneuvers; operation of
wheeled and tracked vehicle on and off
road; river crossing, bridging, and
waterborne operations; construction of
fortifications and obstacles; helicopter
landing zones; excavations for
survivability emplacements, such as
vehicle fighting positions; and use of
tear agents and obscurants. There are no
live fire impact areas on the NTA.
Fort Bragg proposes to fully integrate
the Overhills into the installation’s
training program. Presently, realistic
training in Fort Bragg’s NTA, one of Fort
Bragg’s largest training areas, is
hampered by the two sets of training
rules that govern training in the units.
No physical barriers separate the
Overhills training units, NTA V–VIII,
from NTA units I–IV, yet the Overhills
SOP limits the number of personnel and
types of activities during training
exercises, effectively creating a training
barrier. Applying the same training
regulation to the Overhills that governs
training on the rest of the installation
would allow Fort Bragg to fully
incorporate the Overhills into the
installation’s training program, and
maximize training possibilities
throughout the NTA.
Alternatives considered in detail in
the FEIS were:
Alternative I (No Action
Alternative)—Limited training, existing
recreation, and preservation of the
Overhills Historic District (the District)
(environmentally Preferred Alternative).
Alternative I describes the current
conditions and activities occurring on
the Overhills; it serves as the baseline
for the analysis of alternatives and
would maintain the status quo. Under
this alternative, training activities that
were analyzed in the 1999 EA and
implemented by the Overhills SOP
would not increase or decrease.
Training on Overhills (NTA V–VIII) is
currently restricted to company-level,
low impact military training. The
Overhills SOP limits training exercises
to approximately 250 personnel to the
following training activities:
Dismounted movement; air mobile
insertions; firing of blank small arms
ammunition and simulators; movement
of wheeled vehicles on maintained
roads and trails; fixed activities limited
to bivouac, signal, or medical in existing
clearings; military operations on
urbanized terrain (MOUT) training in
buildings within the District that are not
historically significant and non-eligible
resources outside of the District; and
hasty hand dug fighting positions. The
PO 00000
Frm 00024
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
use of pyrotechnic devices must be
approved.
Hunting and fishing would continue
in accordance with the Fort Bragg
Integrated Natural Resources
Management Plan (INRMP) and FB Reg.
420–11, Hunting and fishing Regulation,
and would be subject to restrictions
imposed on public access by military
training schedules. No additional
recreational use of the Overhills would
occur.
All 56 of the structures, buildings,
and landscapes considered contributing
elements to the Overhills Historic
District would continue to be preserved
in accordance with the ‘‘Standards for
Preservation’’ in the Secretary of
Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of
Historic Properties (38 CFR part 68).
The No Action Alternative would
retain the two sets of rules that govern
the use of the entire NTA. Training in
NTA I–IV would be in accordance with
the IRR which allows a full array of
training activities without restricting the
number of persons. NTA units V–VIII
would continue to operate under the
Overhills SOP. No physical barriers
would prevent the movement of troops
from NTA I–IV into Overhills or vice
versa, but the two sets of training rules
and the unit-size restrictions on
Overhills result in barriers to effective,
realistic training.
Alternative II—Limited training,
additional recreation, and adaptive
reuse and/or layaway of selected
contributing elements within the
District. Management of the Overhills
tract would be under the IRR and the
restrictions imposed by the Overhills
SOP would no longer apply. The
training activities would include the full
spectrum of training as authorized by
the IRR. Exercises would continue to be
limited to company size (250 personnel
plus support personnel). In addition to
the training listed in Alternative I, the
following actions would occur on
Overhills: Ground and air maneuvers;
operation of wheeled and tracked
vehicle on and off road; river crossing,
bridging, and waterborne operations;
construction of fortifications and
obstacles; helicopter landing zones;
excavations for survivability
emplacements, such as vehicle fighting
positions; and use of tear agents and
obscurants.
A youth golf program and a horse
stables program would be implemented
under this alternative. The golf program
would require 465 acres and utilize the
historic golf course, 7 buildings that
surround the course and the existing
recreational facilities. The horse stables
program would require 196 acres on
Overhills as well as the restoration of 7
E:\FR\FM\05MYN1.SGM
05MYN1
cchase on PROD1PC60 with NOTICES
Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 87 / Friday, May 5, 2006 / Notices
buildings. Hunting and fishing would
continue in accordance with the Fort
Bragg INRMP and FB Reg. 420–11,
Hunting and Fishing Regulation, and
would be subject to restrictions imposed
on public access by military training
schedules.
A total of 15 contributing elements
(14 buildings and the golf course) would
be required to operate the youth golf
and horse stables programs. These
buildings, structures and landscapes
would be adaptively reused or
preserved in layaway in support of the
recreation programs in accordance with
the Standards for Rehabilitation or the
Standards for Preservation in the
Secretary of Interior’s Standards for the
Treatment of Historic Properties (38
CFR part 68). The remaining 41
contributing elements would be
incorporated into the training program
after all legal requirements under the
National Historic Preservation Act
(NHPA), the Fort Bragg Integrated
Cultural Resources Management Plan
(ICRMP) and AR 200–4, Cultural
Resources Management are fulfilled.
Alternative II would allow for more
effective and realistic training, although
on a small scale (limited to 250
personnel plus support personnel),
because training activities on both NTA
I–IV and on Overhills (NTA V–VIII)
would be governed by one set of rules,
the IRR. However, this alternative
requires over 600 acres of Overhills west
of Hwy NC–87 for the recreation
programs. Additionally, a buffer zone
would have to be established in order to
prevent incompatible adjacent land uses
between the land used for the
recreational programs and training. This
alternative would channelize training
activities near the southern boundary of
Overhills and also limit the avenues of
approach and maneuver formations that
could be conducted on Overhills.
Alternative III—Intermediate
Training, additional recreation, and
adaptive reuse and/or layaway of
selected contributing elements within
the District. Under this alternative the
level of activity on Overhills would be
increased to accommodate battalionsized units (approximately 1,000
personnel), plus support personnel.
Training activities listed in Alternatives
II would be conducted in accordance
with the IRR, which allows for more
effective, realistic training scenarios.
The youth golf and horse stable
programs and hunting and fishing
would occur as described in Alternative
II. Historic buildings would be
preserved as described in Alternative II.
The acreage and buildings identified in
Alternative II that are required for the
additional recreation programs would
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18:48 May 04, 2006
Jkt 208001
also be eliminated from training use
under this alternative This alternative
would channelize training activities
near the southern boundary of Overhills
and also limit the avenues of approach
and maneuver formations that could be
conducted on Overhills.
Alternative IV (Preferred
Alternative)—Maximum training,
existing recreation, and no preservation
of the District. Under this alternative the
level of training would be increased to
accommodate brigade-sized units
(approximately 5,000 personnel), and
the Overhills would be used in the same
manner as the other training areas on
Fort Bragg. Units up to and including
brigade size would train in accordance
with the IRR and the training activities
listed in Alternative II would be
permitted. Overhills would be fully
incorporated into the installation’s
training program.
The number of personnel would
depend on such factors as the type of
training (i.e. Infantry, Armor, Special
Operations, etc.), unit configuration,
and training area landscape.
Incorporating Overhills fully into the
Fort Bragg training program would not
change the number of brigade size
exercises presently held on the
installation. However, permitting
brigade-size training on the Overhills in
accordance with the IRR would provide
trainers with additional training areas
when scheduling exercises.
Hunting and fishing would continue
in accordance with the Fort Bragg
INRMP and FB Reg. 420–11, Hunting
and Fishing Regulation, and would be
subject to restrictions imposed on
public access by military training
schedules. No additional recreational
use of the Overhills would occur.
After fulfillment of all requirements
under NHPA, the Fort Bragg ICRMP and
AR 200–4, Cultural Resources
Management, all 56 contributing
elements would be integrated into the
training program.
After review of the FEIS, and careful
consideration of public comments
received throughout the NEPA process,
Alternative IV (Preferred Alternative—
Maximum training, existing recreation,
and no preservation of the District) was
selected for the Record of Decision. This
alternative best supports Fort Bragg’s
ability to enhance the overall capability
of the installation to perform its primary
mission—the training and logistical and
mobilization/deployment support of the
XVIII Airborne Corps, United States
Army Special Operations Command,
82nd Airborne Division, and other
assigned units—, while continuing to
sustain the environmental resources on
Fort Bragg. The following factors were
PO 00000
Frm 00025
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
26473
considered in making the selection of
Alternative IV: (1) Fullest use of training
lands; (2) maintenance and upkeep of
the historic buildings; (3) compatibility
of recreation and training; and (4)
sustainability of the environment.
Although the No Action Alternative
has fewer environmental impacts it does
not fully support Fort Bragg’s primary
mission—the training and logistical and
mobilization/deployment support of the
XVIII Airborne Corps, United States
Army Special Operations Command,
82nd Airborne Division, and other
assigned units. The Preferred
Alternative allows Fort Bragg to fulfill
its mission requirements while meeting
the installation’s responsibility for
environmental stewardship. Fort Bragg
has identified all practicable means to
avoid or minimize environmental
impacts resulting from implementation
of the Preferred Alternative (IV); all
identified mitigation and monitoring in
the FEIS will be adopted.
Thomas M. Jordan,
Brigadier General, United States Army,
Assistant Deputy Chief of Staff, G–3/5/7,
(Readiness).
[FR Doc. 06–4233 Filed 5–4–06; 8:45 am]
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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Army
Armed Forces Epidemiological Board;
Meeting
Department of the Army, DoD.
Notice of partially-closed
meeting.
AGENCY:
ACTION:
SUMMARY: In accordance with section
10(a)(2) of Public Law 92–463, The
Federal Advisory Committee Act,
announcement is made of the following
meeting:
Name of Committee: Armed Forces
Epidemiological Board (AFEB).
Dates: May 23, 2006 (Partially-Closed
meeting, 1545–1615).
May 24, 2006 (Open meeting).
Times: 8 a.m.–3:30 p.m. (May 23, 2006). 8
a.m.–4 p.m. (May 24, 2006).
Location: The Renaissance Ilikai Waikiki
Hotel, 1777 Ala Moana Boulevard, Honolulu,
Hawaii 96815.
Agenda: The purpose of the meeting is to
address pending and new Board issues,
provide briefings for Board members on
topics related to ongoing and new Board
issues, conduct subcommittee meetings, and
conduct an executive working session.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Colonel Roger Gibson, Executive
Secretary, Armed Forces
Epidemiological Board, Skyline Six,
5109 Leesburg Pike, Room 682, Falls
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Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 87 (Friday, May 5, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 26471-26473]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-4233]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Army
Notice of Availability of the Record of Decision To Determine the
Level of Training on the Overhills Tract, Fort Bragg, Cumberland and
Harnett Counties, NC
AGENCY: Department of the Army, DOD.
ACTION: Notice of availability.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Department of the Army (DA) announces the availability of
the Record of Decision to Determine the Level of Training on the
Overhills Tract, Fort Bragg, Cumberland and Harnett Counties, NC. A
decision is hereby made to implement Alternative IV (Preferred
Alternative-Maximum training, existing recreation, and no preservation
of the District) to allow the full integration of the Overhills tract
into Fort Bragg's training program. The proposed action to fully
integrate the Overhills into Fort Bragg's training program was
evaluated in the ``Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) To
Determine The Level Of Training On The Overhills Tract Fort Bragg,
Cumberland And Harnett Counties, NC,'' January 2006 (71 FR 920)). This
Decision Notice summarizes the environmental, social and economic
impacts of the four alternatives identified in the FEIS that were
considered in making this decision, and explains why DA selected
Alternative IV (Preferred Alternative-Maximum training, existing
recreation, and no preservation of the District).
ADDRESSES: Copies of the ROD are available upon request from Mr. David
A. Heins, Chief, Environmental Sustainment Division, Public Works
[[Page 26472]]
Business Center, ATTN: AFZA-PW-E, Fort Bragg, NC 28310. A copy of the
FEIS and the ROD may be accessed at: https://www.bragg.army.mil/envbr/
nepa_review.htm.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: David A. Heins, Chief, at (910) 396-
8207 or e-mail at david.a.heins@us.army.mil.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Fort Bragg serves as headquarters for the
XVIII Airborne Corps and Army Special Operations Command, and is home
to the 82nd Airborne Division. The primary mission of Fort Bragg
involves training and logistical and mobilization/deployment support of
the XVIII Airborne Corps, United States Army Special Operations
Command, the 82nd Airborne Division, and other assigned units. In order
to fulfill this mission, Fort Bragg supports the most intensive and
varied training program in the continental United States. A 1995 land
use requirements study identified a shortfall of maneuver training land
in excess of 80,000 areas. Congress authorized the purchase of the
Overhills property (approximately 10,580 acres) in 1997 to help reduce
the training land deficit. While Fort Bragg's mission remains constant,
training concepts and space requirements are continually changing to
meet the needs of today's transforming Army. These factors, in
conjunction with the training land deficit, demonstrate the need to
make maximum use of available training lands on Fort Bragg and to fully
incorporate the Overhills tract into the installation's training
program. The purpose of the integration of Overhills into the Northern
Training Area (NTA) is to enhance training and to sustain environmental
resources on Fort Bragg.
In 1999 Fort Bragg prepared an Environmental Assessment (EA) to
adopt an Interim Training Program (ITP) on the Overhills tract. The ITP
allows low impact (limited) military training with attendant management
activities. Training is limited to company-size exercises (250
personnel, including support personnel) and must be conducted in
accordance with the Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) for low impact
training on the Overhills tract. The SOP prescribes procedures for
occupation, training and police of the tract. Seven types of training
activities are authorized. The Overhills represents the eastern part of
the NTA (NTA units V-VIII) and comprises almost forty percent of the
23,313-acres NTA. Training in the remainder of the NTA (NTA units I-IV)
is governed by the Installation Range Regulation (IRR) which allows up
to brigade-size units to train using a full array of training
activities. Training activities currently conducted in NTA units I-IV
consist of ground and air maneuvers; operation of wheeled and tracked
vehicle on and off road; river crossing, bridging, and waterborne
operations; construction of fortifications and obstacles; helicopter
landing zones; excavations for survivability emplacements, such as
vehicle fighting positions; and use of tear agents and obscurants.
There are no live fire impact areas on the NTA.
Fort Bragg proposes to fully integrate the Overhills into the
installation's training program. Presently, realistic training in Fort
Bragg's NTA, one of Fort Bragg's largest training areas, is hampered by
the two sets of training rules that govern training in the units. No
physical barriers separate the Overhills training units, NTA V-VIII,
from NTA units I-IV, yet the Overhills SOP limits the number of
personnel and types of activities during training exercises,
effectively creating a training barrier. Applying the same training
regulation to the Overhills that governs training on the rest of the
installation would allow Fort Bragg to fully incorporate the Overhills
into the installation's training program, and maximize training
possibilities throughout the NTA.
Alternatives considered in detail in the FEIS were:
Alternative I (No Action Alternative)--Limited training, existing
recreation, and preservation of the Overhills Historic District (the
District) (environmentally Preferred Alternative). Alternative I
describes the current conditions and activities occurring on the
Overhills; it serves as the baseline for the analysis of alternatives
and would maintain the status quo. Under this alternative, training
activities that were analyzed in the 1999 EA and implemented by the
Overhills SOP would not increase or decrease. Training on Overhills
(NTA V-VIII) is currently restricted to company-level, low impact
military training. The Overhills SOP limits training exercises to
approximately 250 personnel to the following training activities:
Dismounted movement; air mobile insertions; firing of blank small arms
ammunition and simulators; movement of wheeled vehicles on maintained
roads and trails; fixed activities limited to bivouac, signal, or
medical in existing clearings; military operations on urbanized terrain
(MOUT) training in buildings within the District that are not
historically significant and non-eligible resources outside of the
District; and hasty hand dug fighting positions. The use of pyrotechnic
devices must be approved.
Hunting and fishing would continue in accordance with the Fort
Bragg Integrated Natural Resources Management Plan (INRMP) and FB Reg.
420-11, Hunting and fishing Regulation, and would be subject to
restrictions imposed on public access by military training schedules.
No additional recreational use of the Overhills would occur.
All 56 of the structures, buildings, and landscapes considered
contributing elements to the Overhills Historic District would continue
to be preserved in accordance with the ``Standards for Preservation''
in the Secretary of Interior's Standards for the Treatment of Historic
Properties (38 CFR part 68).
The No Action Alternative would retain the two sets of rules that
govern the use of the entire NTA. Training in NTA I-IV would be in
accordance with the IRR which allows a full array of training
activities without restricting the number of persons. NTA units V-VIII
would continue to operate under the Overhills SOP. No physical barriers
would prevent the movement of troops from NTA I-IV into Overhills or
vice versa, but the two sets of training rules and the unit-size
restrictions on Overhills result in barriers to effective, realistic
training.
Alternative II--Limited training, additional recreation, and
adaptive reuse and/or layaway of selected contributing elements within
the District. Management of the Overhills tract would be under the IRR
and the restrictions imposed by the Overhills SOP would no longer
apply. The training activities would include the full spectrum of
training as authorized by the IRR. Exercises would continue to be
limited to company size (250 personnel plus support personnel). In
addition to the training listed in Alternative I, the following actions
would occur on Overhills: Ground and air maneuvers; operation of
wheeled and tracked vehicle on and off road; river crossing, bridging,
and waterborne operations; construction of fortifications and
obstacles; helicopter landing zones; excavations for survivability
emplacements, such as vehicle fighting positions; and use of tear
agents and obscurants.
A youth golf program and a horse stables program would be
implemented under this alternative. The golf program would require 465
acres and utilize the historic golf course, 7 buildings that surround
the course and the existing recreational facilities. The horse stables
program would require 196 acres on Overhills as well as the restoration
of 7
[[Page 26473]]
buildings. Hunting and fishing would continue in accordance with the
Fort Bragg INRMP and FB Reg. 420-11, Hunting and Fishing Regulation,
and would be subject to restrictions imposed on public access by
military training schedules.
A total of 15 contributing elements (14 buildings and the golf
course) would be required to operate the youth golf and horse stables
programs. These buildings, structures and landscapes would be
adaptively reused or preserved in layaway in support of the recreation
programs in accordance with the Standards for Rehabilitation or the
Standards for Preservation in the Secretary of Interior's Standards for
the Treatment of Historic Properties (38 CFR part 68). The remaining 41
contributing elements would be incorporated into the training program
after all legal requirements under the National Historic Preservation
Act (NHPA), the Fort Bragg Integrated Cultural Resources Management
Plan (ICRMP) and AR 200-4, Cultural Resources Management are fulfilled.
Alternative II would allow for more effective and realistic
training, although on a small scale (limited to 250 personnel plus
support personnel), because training activities on both NTA I-IV and on
Overhills (NTA V-VIII) would be governed by one set of rules, the IRR.
However, this alternative requires over 600 acres of Overhills west of
Hwy NC-87 for the recreation programs. Additionally, a buffer zone
would have to be established in order to prevent incompatible adjacent
land uses between the land used for the recreational programs and
training. This alternative would channelize training activities near
the southern boundary of Overhills and also limit the avenues of
approach and maneuver formations that could be conducted on Overhills.
Alternative III--Intermediate Training, additional recreation, and
adaptive reuse and/or layaway of selected contributing elements within
the District. Under this alternative the level of activity on Overhills
would be increased to accommodate battalion-sized units (approximately
1,000 personnel), plus support personnel. Training activities listed in
Alternatives II would be conducted in accordance with the IRR, which
allows for more effective, realistic training scenarios.
The youth golf and horse stable programs and hunting and fishing
would occur as described in Alternative II. Historic buildings would be
preserved as described in Alternative II. The acreage and buildings
identified in Alternative II that are required for the additional
recreation programs would also be eliminated from training use under
this alternative This alternative would channelize training activities
near the southern boundary of Overhills and also limit the avenues of
approach and maneuver formations that could be conducted on Overhills.
Alternative IV (Preferred Alternative)--Maximum training, existing
recreation, and no preservation of the District. Under this alternative
the level of training would be increased to accommodate brigade-sized
units (approximately 5,000 personnel), and the Overhills would be used
in the same manner as the other training areas on Fort Bragg. Units up
to and including brigade size would train in accordance with the IRR
and the training activities listed in Alternative II would be
permitted. Overhills would be fully incorporated into the
installation's training program.
The number of personnel would depend on such factors as the type of
training (i.e. Infantry, Armor, Special Operations, etc.), unit
configuration, and training area landscape. Incorporating Overhills
fully into the Fort Bragg training program would not change the number
of brigade size exercises presently held on the installation. However,
permitting brigade-size training on the Overhills in accordance with
the IRR would provide trainers with additional training areas when
scheduling exercises.
Hunting and fishing would continue in accordance with the Fort
Bragg INRMP and FB Reg. 420-11, Hunting and Fishing Regulation, and
would be subject to restrictions imposed on public access by military
training schedules. No additional recreational use of the Overhills
would occur.
After fulfillment of all requirements under NHPA, the Fort Bragg
ICRMP and AR 200-4, Cultural Resources Management, all 56 contributing
elements would be integrated into the training program.
After review of the FEIS, and careful consideration of public
comments received throughout the NEPA process, Alternative IV
(Preferred Alternative--Maximum training, existing recreation, and no
preservation of the District) was selected for the Record of Decision.
This alternative best supports Fort Bragg's ability to enhance the
overall capability of the installation to perform its primary mission--
the training and logistical and mobilization/deployment support of the
XVIII Airborne Corps, United States Army Special Operations Command,
82nd Airborne Division, and other assigned units--, while continuing to
sustain the environmental resources on Fort Bragg. The following
factors were considered in making the selection of Alternative IV: (1)
Fullest use of training lands; (2) maintenance and upkeep of the
historic buildings; (3) compatibility of recreation and training; and
(4) sustainability of the environment.
Although the No Action Alternative has fewer environmental impacts
it does not fully support Fort Bragg's primary mission--the training
and logistical and mobilization/deployment support of the XVIII
Airborne Corps, United States Army Special Operations Command, 82nd
Airborne Division, and other assigned units. The Preferred Alternative
allows Fort Bragg to fulfill its mission requirements while meeting the
installation's responsibility for environmental stewardship. Fort Bragg
has identified all practicable means to avoid or minimize environmental
impacts resulting from implementation of the Preferred Alternative
(IV); all identified mitigation and monitoring in the FEIS will be
adopted.
Thomas M. Jordan,
Brigadier General, United States Army, Assistant Deputy Chief of Staff,
G-3/5/7, (Readiness).
[FR Doc. 06-4233 Filed 5-4-06; 8:45 am]
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