Notice of Availability of a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DESI) for Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) Actions at Fort Sam Houston, TX, 58385 [06-8441]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
• Department of the Army
• Army Department

[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 191 (Tuesday, October 3, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Page 58385]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-8441]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army


Notice of Availability of a Draft Environmental Impact Statement 
(DESI) for Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) Actions at Fort Sam 
Houston, TX

AGENCY: Department of the Army, DoD.

ACTION: Notice of Availability (NOA).

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Department of the Army announces the availability of a 
DEIS which evaluates the potential environmental impacts associated 
with realignment actions directed by the BRAC Commission and Army 
Modular Force (AMF) transformation activities at Fort Sam Houston 
(FSH), Texas and Camp Bullis, Texas.

DATES: The public comment period for the DEIS will end 45 days after 
publication of this NOA in the Federal Register by the Environmental 
Protection Agency.

ADDRESSES: Please send written comments on the DEIS to: Mr. Phil 
Reidinger, Fort Sam Houston, Public Affairs Office, Building 124, 1212 
Stanley Road, Fort Sam Houston, TX 78234, or via e-mail at 
Phillip.Reidinger@samhouston.army.mil.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Phil Reidinger at (210) 221-1151 
during normal business hours Monday through Friday.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Proposed Action and subject of the DEIS 
covers the construction and renovation activities, and movement of 
personnel associated with the BRAC-directed realignment of FSH. The 
DEIS also covers those AMF transformation activities that would occur 
at FSH at the same time that the BRAC action is being implemented.
    To implement these actions, FSH would be receiving personnel, 
equipment, and missions from various realignment and closure actions 
within the DoD. The Army would provide the necessary facilities/
buildings and infrastructure to support the changes in force structure. 
Permanent facilities would be constructed or renovated to house the 
470th Military Intelligence (MI) Brigade (BDE) and various Headquarters 
(HQ) units of the new Army North (ARNORTH) and Sixth Army, which are 
currently located in a mix of temporary and existing facilities.
    These actions would impact several areas at the installation, as 
well as specific field training areas on Camp Bullis. The buildup of 
facilities and personnel would be concentrated in four mission-related 
subareas at FSH and the training area at Camp Bullis.
    Alternatives analyzed in the EIS include: (1) The Preferred 
Realignment Alternative and (2) a No Action Alternative. The Preferred 
Realignment Alternative includes construction, renovation, and 
operation of proposed facilities to accommodate incoming military 
missions at FSH as mandated by the 2005 BRAC recommendations and AMF 
actions. Minor alternative siting variations of proposed facilities 
were also evaluated.
    The DEIS analyses indicate that implementation of the preferred 
alternative would have no long-term, significant impacts on the 
environmental resources of FSH, Camp Bullis or their surrounding areas. 
Potential significant impacts to aesthetics and historic district 
viewscapes from implementation of the preferred alternative would be 
mitigated through strict adherence to procedures identified in the FSH 
Installation Design Guide, Landscape Design Guide, and Historic 
Properties Component of the Integrated Cultural Resources Management 
Plan. No long-term significant impacts to earth (geology, topography, 
caves, karst features or soils) or wetlands are expected at either 
installation. Minor land use impacts would be expected at FSH. Use of 
utilities and generation of hazardous and non-hazardous wastes would 
likely increase at both installations, but not in significant amounts. 
Cultural resources would be impacted with the removal or renovation of 
existing facilities on FSH, some of which are potentially eligible for 
registration as historic properties. Minor air, noise, and 
transportation impacts would also occur during short-term construction 
activities under the preferred alternative at both installations and 
continue after final construction and occupancy. No significant impacts 
to biological resources (vegetation, wildlife and threatened and 
endangered species) are expected from the implementation of the 
preferred alternative. Alternative siting variations would result in 
impacts and benefits similar to those of the preferred alternative. The 
no action alternative provides the baseline conditions for comparison 
to the preferred alternative.
    The Army invites the general public, local governments, other 
Federal and state agencies to submit written comments or suggestions 
concerning the alternatives and analyses addressed in the DEIS. The 
public and government agencies are invited to participate in a public 
meeting where oral and written comments and suggestions will be 
received. The public meeting will be held on October 24, 2006 from 7 
p.m. to 9 p.m. at St. Patrick's Church, 1801 IH-35 North, San Antonio, 
Texas.
    An electronic version of the DEIS can be viewed or downloaded from 
the following URL: https://www.hqda.army.mil/acsim/brac/nepa_
eis_docs.htm.

    Dated: September 27, 2006.
Addison D. Davis, IV,
Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army (Environment, Safety and 
Occupational Health).
[FR Doc. 06-8441 Filed 10-2-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3710-08-M