Notice of Availability of the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) for Base Closure and Realignment (BRAC) Actions at Fort Sam Houston, TX, 13482 [07-1393]

Agencies

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

[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 55 (Thursday, March 22, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Page 13482]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 07-1393]



[[Page 13482]]

=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army


Notice of Availability of the Final Environmental Impact 
Statement (FEIS) for Base Closure and Realignment (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 an 
FEIS which evaluates the potential environmental impacts associated 
with realignment actions directed by the BRAC Commission at Fort Sam 
Houston and Camp Bullis, Texas.

DATES: The waiting period for the FEIS will end 30 days after 
publication of an NOA in the Federal Register by the U.S. Environmental 
Protection Agency.

ADDRESSES: For more information or to obtain a copy of the FEIS, please 
contact: Mr. Phillip Reidinger, Public Affairs Office, Building 124, 
1212 Stanley Road, Fort Sam Houston, Texas 78234; e-mail 
Phillip.Reidinger@samhouston.army.mil.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Phillip Reidinger at (210) 221-
1151.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The subject of the FEIS and the Proposed 
Action are the construction and renovation activities, and movement of 
personnel associated with the BRAC directed realignment of Fort Sam 
Houston. The FEIS also evaluates effects of Army Modular Force 
transformation activities that will occur at Fort Sam Houston at the 
same time that the BRAC actions are being implemented.
    To implement the applicable portions of the BRAC recommendations, 
Fort Sam Houston will be receiving personnel, equipment, and missions 
from various realignment and closure actions within the Department of 
Defense. Additionally, the Army had planned to conduct a series of non-
BRAC transformations to position its forces strategically for the 
future. These transformations require consideration in conjunction with 
the BRAC initiatives at Fort Sam Houston. Additionally, permanent 
facilities will be constructed or renovated to house the 470th Military 
Intelligence Brigade and various Headquarters units of the new Army 
North and Sixth Army (U.S. Army South or USARSO), which are currently 
located in a mix of temporary and existing facilities.
    To enable implementation of the BRAC Commission recommendations and 
accommodation of the concurrent Army initiatives, the Army must provide 
the necessary facilities/buildings and infrastructure to support the 
changes in force structure.
    Following a rigorous examination of all implementation 
alternatives, those alternatives found not to be viable were dropped 
from further analysis in the Fort Sam Houston FEIS. Alternatives 
carried forward include (1) The Preferred Alternative and (2) a No 
Action Alternative. The Preferred Alternative includes construction, 
renovation, and operation of proposed facilities to accommodate 
incoming military missions at Fort Sam Houston. Minor siting variations 
of proposed facilities were also evaluated.
    Planned undertakings within the National Historical Landmark (NHL) 
District, including the demolition of existing buildings and 
construction of new buildings, will be reviewed using the Installation 
Design Guide historic review requirements and the Standard Operating 
Procedures (SOPs) in the Historic Properties Component (HPC) of the 
Integrated Cultural Resources Management Plan. If demolition cannot be 
avoided, the determination of effects to cultural resources of the NHL 
District and required mitigation will be determined per the HPC SOPs. 
Implementation of the preferred alternative will have no long-term, 
significant impacts on other environmental resources of Fort Sam 
Houston or Camp Bullis or their surrounding areas.
    The FEIS analyses indicate that implementation of the preferred 
alternative would have no long-term, significant impacts on the other 
environmental resources of Fort Sam Houston or Camp Bullis or their 
surrounding areas. Potential minor impacts to visual resources from 
implementation of the preferred alternative would generally occur only 
within the physical boundaries of Fort Sam Houston and Camp Bullis. No 
long-term significant impacts to earth (geology, topography, caves, 
karst features or soils) or wetlands will occur at either installation. 
Potential land use impacts are expected at Fort Sam Houston. Use of 
utilities and generation of hazardous and non-hazardous wastes will 
likely increase at both installations, but not in significant amounts.
    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 similar impacts and benefits as compared to 
the preferred alternative.
    An electronic version of the FEIS can be viewed or downloaded from 
the following Web site: https://www.hqda.army.mil/acsimweb/brac/nepa_
eis_docs.htm.

    Dated: March 15, 2007.
Addison D. Davis, IV,
Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army, (Environment, Safety and 
Occupational Health).
[FR Doc. 07-1393 Filed 3-21-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3710-08-M