Preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for Stationing and Training of Increased Aviation Assets Within U.S. Army Alaska (USARAK), 16331-16332 [07-1638]
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Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 64 / Wednesday, April 4, 2007 / Notices
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Army
Preparation of an Environmental
Impact Statement (EIS) for Stationing
and Training of Increased Aviation
Assets Within U.S. Army Alaska
(USARAK)
Department of the Army, DoD.
Notice of Intent.
AGENCY:
jlentini on PROD1PC65 with NOTICES
ACTION:
SUMMARY: The Army intends to prepare
an EIS to assess the potential
environmental impacts associated with
the stationing and training of increased
numbers and types of aviation assets
within Alaska. The proposed increase
and reorganization will allow the Army
to transition to a force that is capable of
providing a broad range of integrated
aviation training experience to the
forces of USARAK and more aviation
capabilities when the unit deploys to
support operational missions abroad.
Existing aviation units would
potentially be reorganized and stationed
at Fort Wainwright, Fort Richardson or
other military installations to support
the training of aviation assets on U.S.
Army training lands in Alaska. The
reorganized unit would be capable of
providing first line air transport, air
reconnaissance, and close air support.
The new aviation unit would be built
around the existing USARAK aviation
fleet of 30 medium and heavy lift
transport helicopters, and USARAK’s
640 aviation personnel. To this the
Army proposes to add helicopters
capable of providing medical
evacuation, air reconnaissance, close air
support, and aviation attack capabilities.
The proposed aviation unit, an Aviation
Task Force or Combat Aviation Brigade
(CAB), would potentially consist of up
to 62 medium and heavy lift helicopters,
30 combat scout helicopter, 24 attack
helicopters, and between 1,200 to 2,850
personnel. This proposed stationing and
training of increased aviation assets
involves construction of new facilities,
execution of day-to-day support
operations, and routine joint military
training at nearby training lands and
ranges. The action may have significant
environmental impacts resulting from
training and construction required as
part of the proposed reorganization.
Significant impacts resulting from this
action may include impacts to air space,
noise, and cultural resources. The EIS
will analyze the impacts of the proposed
action and a full range of reasonable
alternatives upon Alaska’s natural and
man-made environments.
DATES: Written comments identifying
potential impacts to be analyzed in the
VerDate Aug<31>2005
17:57 Apr 03, 2007
Jkt 211001
EIS must be received not later than May
4, 2007.
ADDRESSES: Written comments should
be forwarded to Ms. Carrie McEnteer,
Directorate of Public Works, Attention:
IMPA–FWA–PWE (C. McEnteer), 1060
Gaffney Road #4500, Fort Wainwright,
AK 99703–4500; fax: (907) 353–9867;
e-mail: carrie.mcenteer@us.army.mil.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr.
Robert Hall, Public Affairs Office, 724
Postal Service Loop Road, # 6000, Bldg.
600, Room B349, Fort Richardson, AK
99505–6000; telephone: (907) 384–2546,
e-mail: robert.hall33@us.army.mil, or at
Fort Wainwright, AK; telephone: (907)
353–6701.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: To better
support current and future national
defense requirements, USARAK has
restructured its two major military
combat component units into modular
force structures. These two components,
the Stryker Brigade Combat Team (BCT)
and Airborne BCT, have been
reorganized to fit the Army’s Modularity
model as directed by the Army
Campaign Plan. The new force structure
offers a more flexible, sustainable, and
rapidly deployable force, better to meet
current and future defense
requirements. The goal is for each BCT
to be able to operate either
independently or to integrate readily
into a larger mission-tailored force
capable of accomplishing a designated
mission.
An essential element of USARAK
combat capabilities is the development
of modern war-fighting skills. Chief
among these skills is the ability to
integrate USARAK efforts with the vital
support offered by modern Army
aviation assets. These skills can only be
mastered through frequent training with
an aviation unit that is equipped with
the full spectrum of aviation assets that
are typically deployed to support a BCT
during wartime. Such avaition units
would provide infantry and light
armored combat units first line air
transport, air reconnaissance, and close
air support.
While USARAK has historically
supported unit training activities within
Alaska with rotary-winged aircraft
(helicopters), the types and numbers of
current assets are not sufficient to
provide the full range of integrated
tactical training required by the modern
BCT. To resolve this shortcoming,
USARAK is proposing to reorganize its
existing aviation assets (approximately
640 personnel and 30 medium and
heavy lift helicopters) to become a front
line aviaiton unit with an increased
capacity that could range in size from an
Aviation Task Force (approximately
PO 00000
Frm 00007
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
16331
1,200 personnel, 40–50 medium and
heavy lift helicopters, and 30 combat
scout helicopters) to a CAB
(approximately 2,850 personnel, 60
medium and heavy lift helicopters, 30
combat scout helicopters, and 24 attack
aviaiton helicopters). The new aviation
unit would provide key aviation assets
for operational deployment abroad, and
would serve to enhance the training
capability of USARAK’s two BCTs by
providing a local opportunity to
conduct integrated training with
multiple types of Army aviation assets.
In addition to consideration of a No
Action Alternative (use of existing
aviation assets and infrastructure to
support USARAK BCT training with no
increase to current integrated land-air
training capability), three additional
alternatives are proposed as possible
scenarios for the reorganization of
existing USARAK aviation assets. The
alternatives vary by aviation unit size,
aviation asset composition, and amount
of facility construction. Alternatives
include: (1) Expansion of Existing
Aviation Units into an Aviation Task
Force with Full Construction and
Increased Training—convert existing
USARAK aviation assets into an
Aviation Task Force (approximately
1,200 personnel, station additional
helicopters, build sufficient new
infrastructure to support indoor storage
of 100% of the Aviation Task Force’s
aviation inventory and conduct
increased aviation training on existing
Alaska military ranges; (2) Expansion of
Existing Aviation Assets into a CAB
with Partial Construction and Increased
Training—convert existing USARAK
aviation assets into a CAB, station
additional helicopters, build sufficient
new infrastructure to support indoor
storage of 20% of the CABs aviation
inventory and conduct increased
aviation training on existing Alaska
military ranges; and (3) Expansion of
Existing Aviation Assets into a CAB
with Full Construction and Increased
Training—convert existing USARAK
aviation assets into a CAB, station
additional helicopters, build sufficient
new infrastructure to support indoor
storage of 100% of the CABs aviation
inventory and conduct increased
aviation training on existing Alaska
military ranges. Additional potential
alternative sites within Alaska will be
evaluated based upon the purpose and
need and criteria associated with the
proposed action.
Scoping and Public Comment: Tribes,
Federal, state, and local agencies and
the public are invited to participate in
the scoping process for the preparation
of this EIS. Scoping meetings will be
held in Fairbanks, Anchorage, and Delta
E:\FR\FM\04APN1.SGM
04APN1
16332
Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 64 / Wednesday, April 4, 2007 / Notices
Dated: March 26, 2007.
Addison D. Davis, IV,
Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army
(Environment, Safety, and Occupational
Health).
[FR Doc. 07–1638 Filed 4–3–07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3710–08–M
Notice of Proposed Information
Collection Requests
Department of Education.
The IC Clearance Official,
Regulatory Information Management
Services, Office of Management, invites
comments on the proposed information
collection requests as required by the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.
DATES: Interested persons are invited to
submit comments on or before June 4,
2007.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section
3506 of the Paperwork Reduction Act of
1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35) requires
that the Office of Management and
Budget (OMB) provide interested
Federal agencies and the public an early
opportunity to comment on information
collection requests. OMB may amend or
waive the requirement for public
consultation to the extent that public
participation in the approval process
would defeat the purpose of the
information collection, violate State or
Federal law, or substantially interfere
with any agency’s ability to perform its
statutory obligations. The IC Clearance
Official, Regulatory Information
Management Services, Office of
Management, publishes that notice
containing proposed information
collection requests prior to submission
of these requests to OMB. Each
proposed information collection,
grouped by office, contains the
following: (1) Type of review requested,
e.g., new, revision, extension, existing
or reinstatement; (2) Title; (3) Summary
of the collection; (4) Description of the
need for, and proposed use of, the
information; (5) Respondents and
frequency of collection; and (6)
Reporting and/or Recordkeeping
burden. OMB invites public comment.
The Department of Education is
especially interested in public comment
addressing the following issues: (1) Is
this collection necessary to the proper
jlentini on PROD1PC65 with NOTICES
SUMMARY:
VerDate Aug<31>2005
17:57 Apr 03, 2007
Jkt 211001
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
SUMMARY: On November 21, 2006, we
published in the Federal Register (71
FR 67346) a notice inviting applications
for the AP Test Fee FY 2007
competition. That notice established a
January 5, 2007 deadline date for
eligible applicants to apply for funding
under this program. As a result of the
applications we received, thirty-four
awards were made on March 6, 2007.
In order to afford as many eligible
applicants as possible an opportunity to
receive funding under this program, we
are reopening the AP Test Fee FY 2007
competition to eligible applicants that
were not awarded funds on March 6,
2007. All information in the November
21, 2006 notice remains the same for
this notice reopening the competition,
except for the following updates to
DATES.
DATES: Applications Available: April 4,
2007.
Deadline for Transmittal of
Applications: April 18, 2007.
Office of Postsecondary Education
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
AGENCY:
functions of the Department; (2) will
this information be processed and used
in a timely manner; (3) is the estimate
of burden accurate; (4) how might the
Department enhance the quality, utility,
and clarity of the information to be
collected; and (5) how might the
Department minimize the burden of this
collection on the respondents, including
through the use of information
technology.
Dated: March 30, 2007.
Angela C. Arrington,
IC Clearance Official, Regulatory Information
Management Services, Office of Management.
Junction, Alaska. The scoping process
will help identify possible alternatives,
potential environmental impacts, and
key issues of concern to be analyzed in
the EIS. Notification of the times and
locations for the scoping meetings will
be published in local newspapers.
Type of Review: Reinstatement.
Title: Robert C. Byrd Honors
Scholarship Program Performance
Report.
Frequency: Annually.
Affected Public: State, Local, or Tribal
Gov’t, SEAs or LEAs.
Reporting and Recordkeeping Hour
Burden:
Responses: 57.
Burden Hours: 570.
Abstract: This information is required
of State agencies that administer the
Robert C. Byrd Honors Scholarship
Program under Title IV, Part A, Subpart
6 of the Higher Education Act of 1965,
as amended and administered under 34
CFR part 654. This information is used
to monitor the compliance of the state
educational agencies.
Requests for copies of the proposed
information collection request may be
accessed from https://edicsweb.ed.gov,
by selecting the ‘‘Browse Pending
Collections’’ link and by clicking on
link number 3304. When you access the
information collection, click on
‘‘Download Attachments’’ to view.
Written requests for information should
be addressed to U.S. Department of
Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW.,
Potomac Center, 9th Floor, Washington,
DC 20202–4700. Requests may also be
electronically mailed to
ICDocketMgr@ed.gov or faxed to 202–
245–6623. Please specify the complete
title of the information collection when
making your request.
Comments regarding burden and/or
the collection activity requirements
should be electronically mailed to
ICDocketMgr@ed.gov. Individuals who
use a telecommunications device for the
deaf (TDD) may call the Federal
Information Relay Service (FIRS) at
1–800–877–8339.
[FR Doc. E7–6279 Filed 4–3–07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000–01–P
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[CFDA No. 84.330B]
Advanced Placement (AP) Test Fee
Program
Office of Elementary and
Secondary Education (OESE),
Department of Education.
ACTION: Notice reopening the AP Test
Fee fiscal year (FY) 2007 competition.
AGENCY:
Note: Applications for grants under this
program must be submitted electronically
using the Governmentwide Grants.gov Apply
site at https://www.grants.gov. For information
about how to submit your application
electronically, please refer to Electronic
Submission of Applications in the November
21, 2006 notice (71 FR 67346–67348). We
encourage eligible applicants to submit their
applications as soon as possible to avoid any
problems with filing electronic applications
on the last day.
Deadline for Intergovernmental
Review: May 4, 2007.
Ms.
Lynyetta Johnson, U.S. Department of
Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW.,
Washington, DC 20202–6200.
Telephone: (202) 260–1990 or via
Internet:
advancedplacementprogram@ed.gov.
If you use a telecommunications
device for the deaf (TDD), you may call
the Federal Relay Service (FRS) at 1–
800–877–8339. Individuals with
disabilities may obtain this notice in an
alternative format (e.g., Braille, large
print, audiotape, or computer diskette)
on request to the contact person listed
in this section.
Electronic Access to This Document:
You may view this document, as well as
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
E:\FR\FM\04APN1.SGM
04APN1
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 64 (Wednesday, April 4, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16331-16332]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 07-1638]
[[Page 16331]]
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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Army
Preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for
Stationing and Training of Increased Aviation Assets Within U.S. Army
Alaska (USARAK)
AGENCY: Department of the Army, DoD.
ACTION: Notice of Intent.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Army intends to prepare an EIS to assess the potential
environmental impacts associated with the stationing and training of
increased numbers and types of aviation assets within Alaska. The
proposed increase and reorganization will allow the Army to transition
to a force that is capable of providing a broad range of integrated
aviation training experience to the forces of USARAK and more aviation
capabilities when the unit deploys to support operational missions
abroad. Existing aviation units would potentially be reorganized and
stationed at Fort Wainwright, Fort Richardson or other military
installations to support the training of aviation assets on U.S. Army
training lands in Alaska. The reorganized unit would be capable of
providing first line air transport, air reconnaissance, and close air
support. The new aviation unit would be built around the existing
USARAK aviation fleet of 30 medium and heavy lift transport
helicopters, and USARAK's 640 aviation personnel. To this the Army
proposes to add helicopters capable of providing medical evacuation,
air reconnaissance, close air support, and aviation attack
capabilities. The proposed aviation unit, an Aviation Task Force or
Combat Aviation Brigade (CAB), would potentially consist of up to 62
medium and heavy lift helicopters, 30 combat scout helicopter, 24
attack helicopters, and between 1,200 to 2,850 personnel. This proposed
stationing and training of increased aviation assets involves
construction of new facilities, execution of day-to-day support
operations, and routine joint military training at nearby training
lands and ranges. The action may have significant environmental impacts
resulting from training and construction required as part of the
proposed reorganization. Significant impacts resulting from this action
may include impacts to air space, noise, and cultural resources. The
EIS will analyze the impacts of the proposed action and a full range of
reasonable alternatives upon Alaska's natural and man-made
environments.
DATES: Written comments identifying potential impacts to be analyzed in
the EIS must be received not later than May 4, 2007.
ADDRESSES: Written comments should be forwarded to Ms. Carrie McEnteer,
Directorate of Public Works, Attention: IMPA-FWA-PWE (C. McEnteer),
1060 Gaffney Road 4500, Fort Wainwright, AK 99703-4500; fax:
(907) 353-9867; e-mail: carrie.mcenteer@us.army.mil.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Robert Hall, Public Affairs
Office, 724 Postal Service Loop Road, 6000, Bldg. 600, Room
B349, Fort Richardson, AK 99505-6000; telephone: (907) 384-2546, e-
mail: robert.hall33@us.army.mil, or at Fort Wainwright, AK; telephone:
(907) 353-6701.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: To better support current and future
national defense requirements, USARAK has restructured its two major
military combat component units into modular force structures. These
two components, the Stryker Brigade Combat Team (BCT) and Airborne BCT,
have been reorganized to fit the Army's Modularity model as directed by
the Army Campaign Plan. The new force structure offers a more flexible,
sustainable, and rapidly deployable force, better to meet current and
future defense requirements. The goal is for each BCT to be able to
operate either independently or to integrate readily into a larger
mission-tailored force capable of accomplishing a designated mission.
An essential element of USARAK combat capabilities is the
development of modern war-fighting skills. Chief among these skills is
the ability to integrate USARAK efforts with the vital support offered
by modern Army aviation assets. These skills can only be mastered
through frequent training with an aviation unit that is equipped with
the full spectrum of aviation assets that are typically deployed to
support a BCT during wartime. Such avaition units would provide
infantry and light armored combat units first line air transport, air
reconnaissance, and close air support.
While USARAK has historically supported unit training activities
within Alaska with rotary-winged aircraft (helicopters), the types and
numbers of current assets are not sufficient to provide the full range
of integrated tactical training required by the modern BCT. To resolve
this shortcoming, USARAK is proposing to reorganize its existing
aviation assets (approximately 640 personnel and 30 medium and heavy
lift helicopters) to become a front line aviaiton unit with an
increased capacity that could range in size from an Aviation Task Force
(approximately 1,200 personnel, 40-50 medium and heavy lift
helicopters, and 30 combat scout helicopters) to a CAB (approximately
2,850 personnel, 60 medium and heavy lift helicopters, 30 combat scout
helicopters, and 24 attack aviaiton helicopters). The new aviation unit
would provide key aviation assets for operational deployment abroad,
and would serve to enhance the training capability of USARAK's two BCTs
by providing a local opportunity to conduct integrated training with
multiple types of Army aviation assets.
In addition to consideration of a No Action Alternative (use of
existing aviation assets and infrastructure to support USARAK BCT
training with no increase to current integrated land-air training
capability), three additional alternatives are proposed as possible
scenarios for the reorganization of existing USARAK aviation assets.
The alternatives vary by aviation unit size, aviation asset
composition, and amount of facility construction. Alternatives include:
(1) Expansion of Existing Aviation Units into an Aviation Task Force
with Full Construction and Increased Training--convert existing USARAK
aviation assets into an Aviation Task Force (approximately 1,200
personnel, station additional helicopters, build sufficient new
infrastructure to support indoor storage of 100% of the Aviation Task
Force's aviation inventory and conduct increased aviation training on
existing Alaska military ranges; (2) Expansion of Existing Aviation
Assets into a CAB with Partial Construction and Increased Training--
convert existing USARAK aviation assets into a CAB, station additional
helicopters, build sufficient new infrastructure to support indoor
storage of 20% of the CABs aviation inventory and conduct increased
aviation training on existing Alaska military ranges; and (3) Expansion
of Existing Aviation Assets into a CAB with Full Construction and
Increased Training--convert existing USARAK aviation assets into a CAB,
station additional helicopters, build sufficient new infrastructure to
support indoor storage of 100% of the CABs aviation inventory and
conduct increased aviation training on existing Alaska military ranges.
Additional potential alternative sites within Alaska will be evaluated
based upon the purpose and need and criteria associated with the
proposed action.
Scoping and Public Comment: Tribes, Federal, state, and local
agencies and the public are invited to participate in the scoping
process for the preparation of this EIS. Scoping meetings will be held
in Fairbanks, Anchorage, and Delta
[[Page 16332]]
Junction, Alaska. The scoping process will help identify possible
alternatives, potential environmental impacts, and key issues of
concern to be analyzed in the EIS. Notification of the times and
locations for the scoping meetings will be published in local
newspapers.
Dated: March 26, 2007.
Addison D. Davis, IV,
Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army (Environment, Safety, and
Occupational Health).
[FR Doc. 07-1638 Filed 4-3-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3710-08-M