Notice of Availability of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) 05 Realignment and Transformation Actions at Fort Benning, GA, 19474-19475 [07-1916]

Download as PDF 19474 Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 74 / Wednesday, April 18, 2007 / Notices DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE Department of the Air Force Department of the Army Realistic Bomber Training Initiative Notice of Availability of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) 05 Realignment and Transformation Actions at Fort Benning, GA Department of the Air Force, Department of Defense. AGENCY: ACTION: Record of decision. SUMMARY: On March 20, 2007, the United States Air Force signed a Record of Decision for the Realistic Bomber Training Initiative Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement. This decision was based on information, analysis, and public comments contained in both the Environmental Impact Statement for the Realistic Bomber Training Initiative (Federal Register Notice of Availability February 4, 2000) and the Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement for the Realistic Bomber Training Initiative (Federal Register Notice of Availability published August 11, 2006), along with other relevant factors. After carefully considering the issues addressed in the Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement and the comments submitted, the Air Force decided not to change the decision described in the initial Record of Decision and to continue implementation of Alternative B of the Realistic Bomber Training Initiative. This alternative includes the use of appropriate training assets associated with Instrument Route IR–178/Lancer Military Operations Area. As indicated above, a Notice of Availability of the Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement was published in the Federal Register on August 11, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 155, Page 46220). The required 30-day waiting period for a Record of Decision has been completed. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sheryl K. Parker, Headquarters Air Combat Command, A7ZP/ Comprehensive Planning Branch, 129 Andrews St., Suite 102, Langley AFB, VA 23655 or call (757) 764–9334. Bao-Anh Trinh, Air Force Federal Register Liaison Officer. [FR Doc. E7–7333 Filed 4–17–07; 8:45 am] pwalker on PROD1PC71 with NOTICES BILLING CODE 5001–05–P VerDate Aug<31>2005 17:04 Apr 17, 2007 Jkt 211001 Department of the Army, DoD. Notice of availability (NOA). AGENCY: ACTION: SUMMARY: The U.S. Army announces the availability of the DEIS, which evaluates the potential environmental and socioeconomic impacts of transformation activities at Fort Benning, Georgia. These transformation proposed actions include implementation of the 05 BRAC Commission recommendations, the Global Defense Posture Realignment (GDPR) overseas re-stationing actions, Army Modular Force (AMF) initiatives, and other discretionary stationing activities. DATES: The public comment period for the DEIS will end 45 days after publication of an NOA in the Federal Register by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Monica Manganaro, Fort Benning Public Affairs Office at (706) 545-3438, or Mr. Brandon Cockrell at (706) 545-3210 during normal business hours. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Proposed Action and subject of the DEIS covers the construction activities and movement of personnel associated with the BRAC actions, proposed transformation activities at Fort Benning, Georgia, and follow-on operations and training. The 2005 BRAC Commission recommended the relocation of the Armor Center and School from Fort Knox, Kentucky, to Fort Benning, as well as several other unit relocations, which would increase the Fort Benning population by approximately 4,486 military and 1,226 civilian personnel, and an annual student/trainee population of approximately 8,357. Fort Benning also proposes to implement other transformation actions as the Army undergoes restructuring to meet the demands of the 21st century. The AMF initiative involves the Army’s transition from a division-centric design to a standard brigade organization. The reshaping of the domestic military force structure also includes provision for the return of units currently based overseas to United States installations as part of the GDPR. Finally, discretionary stationing actions (activations, PO 00000 Frm 00014 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 inactivations, realignments and relocations) are proposed, which contribute to and are interrelated with the transformation process. The proposed action will provide the facilities, infrastructure, and equipment needed to support the transformation activities at Fort Benning. All construction activities associated with the proposed action would occur on Fort Benning. The proposed construction, renovation, and expansion of administrative, supply/storage, maintenance, barracks, commercial services, community facilities, medical and dental, and recreation facilities, as well as associated infrastructure support, is focused on the alreadyestablished cantonment areas: Main Post, Kelley Hill, Sand Hill, and Harmony Church. Throughout the cantonment areas, new facility construction will be sited to coincide with and/or be a complement to existing missions, facility operations, and functions. In order to minimize potential impacts to the environment (e.g., avoiding sensitive species habitat), existing infrastructure would be used to the greatest extent possible, and transformation activities would be located on previously distributed/ developed areas. Training assets, in the form of ranges and maneuver areas, currently are found throughout the Installation. The proposed improvements/upgrades to existing ranges and maneuver areas and proposed new ranges were selected o align with these existing assets. Training range and maneuver area construction and operation/maintenance activities will occur on approximately 157,000 acres set aside for such activities. In development of the DEIS, three alternatives were carried forward for analysis: (1) Transformation Alternative A, which entails cantonment area development, construction of small- and large-caliber weapons ranges, heavy maneuver areas and corridors, a driver’s training course, off-road driver’s training area, and vehicle recovery area to support the training range requirements; (2) Transformation Alternative B (the Army’s Preferred Alternative), is similar to Transformation Alternative A with a combination of existing ranges and development of new tank training areas in the Good Hope area; and (3) the No Action Alternative, under which Fort Benning missions would continue as they were being performed in November 2005, when the BRAC Commission recommendations became law. Environmental resources addressed in the DEIS include land use, aesthetics and visual resources, noise, E:\FR\FM\18APN1.SGM 18APN1 pwalker on PROD1PC71 with NOTICES Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 74 / Wednesday, April 18, 2007 / Notices socioeconomics, transportation, utilities, hazardous and toxic substances and waste, air quality, water resources, geology and soils, biological and cultural resources, and safety. The DEIS analyses indicate that implementation of Alternative A would have significant impacts on transportation; biological resources (vegetation, aquatic habitats, wildlife, and special status species); and cultural resources. Implementation of Alternative B (the preferred alternative) would have no significant impacts to visual and aesthetic resources; socioeconomics (economic development, housing, quality of life, environmental justice); noise; air quality; hazardous and toxic materials and waste (hazardous material storage, use and handling; contaminated sites); water resources (surface water, hydrogeology/groundwater, floodplains, and wetlands); geology and soils; biological resources (Unique Ecological Areas); safety; land use; or utilities. Alternative locations for some of the projects as presented in Alternative B would provide similar impacts and benefits as Alternative A in all resources except for biological (special status species), where the impacts to the Redcockaded Woodpecker would be substantially less, and cultural (archaeological sites), where impacts would be greater. The No Action alternative provides the environmental baseline conditions for comparison to the impacts associated with the action alternatives. The Army invites the public, local governments, and state and other Federal agencies to submit written comments or suggestions concerning the alternatives and analyses addressed in the DEIS. The public and government agencies also 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 May 10, 2007 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Columbus, Georgia Convention and Trade Center, 801 Front Avenue, Room 205. Copies of the DEIS will be available for review at several local libraries prior to the public meeting. The DEIS may also be reviewed electronically at: https:// www.hqda.army.mil/acsim/brac/ nepa_eis_docs.htm. Please send written comments on the DEIS to: Mr. John Brent, Fort Benning Directorate of Public Works, Environmental Management Division, Bldg #6 (Meloy Hall), Room 310, Fort Benning, GA 31905. E-mail comments should be sent to: john.brent@benning.army.mil. VerDate Aug<31>2005 17:04 Apr 17, 2007 Jkt 211001 Dated: April 10, 2007. Addison D. Davis, IV, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army (Environment, Safety and Occupational Health). [FR Doc. 07–1916 Filed 4–17–07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3710–08–M DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE Defense Logistics Agency [Requisition No. 07–007] Removal of Low-Activity Contamination Defense National Stockpile Center (DNSC), Defense Logistics Agency. ACTION: Notice of availability of a finding of no significant impact for the removal of low-activity contamination. AGENCY: SUMMARY: The Defense Logistics Agency announces the availability of the Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for the removal of low-activity contamination resulting from storage of radioactive source material in the National Defense Stockpile of strategic and critical materials. Stockpiles of commodities containing source material have been removed from DNSC depots at Curtis Bay, MD and Hammond, IN. At the Curtis Bay Depot, the commodities containing source material (columbium/tantalum, thorium nitrate, tungsten ore and concentrates, thorium hydroxide, thorium oxide, monazite sand, uranium pitchblende ore, and sodium sulfate) were previously stored in 16 of the original 59 warehouses. Since the middle 1980s, over 19,000 drums of thorium nitrate were stored in three warehouses. Previously the thorium nitrate stockpile was stored for short periods in six other warehouses on the site. At the Hammond Depot, the commodities containing source material (columbium/ tantalum, thorium nitrate, monazite sands, sodium sulfate, and tungsten ore and concentrates) were previously stored in two of the three warehouses on the site. Cleanup of any residual contamination from storage of the commodities containing source material is one task DNSC must complete before its Nuclear Regulatory Commission license can be terminated. Following evaluation of reasonable alternatives conducted by Oak Ridge National Laboratory on behalf of DNSC, DNSC will remove residual contamination and transfer the contaminants to a regulated disposal site. This disposal will be performed in a manner that will be safe, secure, and PO 00000 Frm 00015 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 19475 environmentally sound and minimizes radiation exposure and potential for risk to workers, the public, and the environment. Notice of Availability of an Environmental Assessment and draft FONSI were published in the Federal Register on Friday, March 9, 2007 (Vol. 72, No. 46); comments received by April 9, 2007 were considered when preparing the final version of the FONSI. The FONSI is available for review on the DNSC Web site (https:// www.dnsc.dla.mil/FINALFONSI.asp). FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Michael Pecullan, Phone (703) 767– 7620 or e-mail: michael.pecullan@dla.mil. DATES: Dated: April 10, 2007. Cornel A. Holder, Administrator, Defense National Stockpile Center. [FR Doc. E7–7366 Filed 4–17–07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3620–01–P DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE Department of the Navy [USN–2007–0027] Privacy Act of 1974; System of Records Department of the Navy, Department of Defense. ACTION: Notice of a new system of records. AGENCY: SUMMARY: The Department of the Navy proposes to add a systems of records to its inventory of record systems subject to the Privacy Act of 1974 (5 U.S.C. 552a), as amended. DATES: The proposed action will be effective on May 18, 2007 unless comments are received that would result in a contrary determination. ADDRESSES: Send comments to the Department of the Navy, PA/FOIA Policy Branch, Chief of Naval Operations (DNS–36), 2000 Navy Pentagon, Washington, DC 20350–2000. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mrs. Doris Lama at (202) 685–325–6545. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Department of the Navy’s notices for systems of records subject to the Privacy Act of 1974 (5 U.S.C. 552a), as amended, have been published in the Federal Register and are available from the address above. The proposed systems reports, as required by 5 U.S.C. 552a(r) of the Privacy Act, were submitted on April 6, 2007, to the House Committee on E:\FR\FM\18APN1.SGM 18APN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 74 (Wednesday, April 18, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19474-19475]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 07-1916]


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

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army


Notice of Availability of the Draft Environmental Impact 
Statement (DEIS) for the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) 05 
Realignment and Transformation Actions at Fort Benning, GA

AGENCY: Department of the Army, DoD.

ACTION: Notice of availability (NOA).

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

SUMMARY: The U.S. Army announces the availability of the DEIS, which 
evaluates the potential environmental and socioeconomic impacts of 
transformation activities at Fort Benning, Georgia. These 
transformation proposed actions include implementation of the 05 BRAC 
Commission recommendations, the Global Defense Posture Realignment 
(GDPR) overseas re-stationing actions, Army Modular Force (AMF) 
initiatives, and other discretionary stationing activities.

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

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Monica Manganaro, Fort Benning 
Public Affairs Office at (706) 545-3438, or Mr. Brandon Cockrell at 
(706) 545-3210 during normal business hours.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Proposed Action and subject of the DEIS 
covers the construction activities and movement of personnel associated 
with the BRAC actions, proposed transformation activities at Fort 
Benning, Georgia, and follow-on operations and training.
    The 2005 BRAC Commission recommended the relocation of the Armor 
Center and School from Fort Knox, Kentucky, to Fort Benning, as well as 
several other unit relocations, which would increase the Fort Benning 
population by approximately 4,486 military and 1,226 civilian 
personnel, and an annual student/trainee population of approximately 
8,357. Fort Benning also proposes to implement other transformation 
actions as the Army undergoes restructuring to meet the demands of the 
21st century. The AMF initiative involves the Army's transition from a 
division-centric design to a standard brigade organization. The 
reshaping of the domestic military force structure also includes 
provision for the return of units currently based overseas to United 
States installations as part of the GDPR. Finally, discretionary 
stationing actions (activations, inactivations, realignments and 
relocations) are proposed, which contribute to and are interrelated 
with the transformation process.
    The proposed action will provide the facilities, infrastructure, 
and equipment needed to support the transformation activities at Fort 
Benning. All construction activities associated with the proposed 
action would occur on Fort Benning. The proposed construction, 
renovation, and expansion of administrative, supply/storage, 
maintenance, barracks, commercial services, community facilities, 
medical and dental, and recreation facilities, as well as associated 
infrastructure support, is focused on the already-established 
cantonment areas: Main Post, Kelley Hill, Sand Hill, and Harmony 
Church. Throughout the cantonment areas, new facility construction will 
be sited to coincide with and/or be a complement to existing missions, 
facility operations, and functions. In order to minimize potential 
impacts to the environment (e.g., avoiding sensitive species habitat), 
existing infrastructure would be used to the greatest extent possible, 
and transformation activities would be located on previously 
distributed/developed areas. Training assets, in the form of ranges and 
maneuver areas, currently are found throughout the Installation. The 
proposed improvements/upgrades to existing ranges and maneuver areas 
and proposed new ranges were selected o align with these existing 
assets. Training range and maneuver area construction and operation/
maintenance activities will occur on approximately 157,000 acres set 
aside for such activities.
    In development of the DEIS, three alternatives were carried forward 
for analysis: (1) Transformation Alternative A, which entails 
cantonment area development, construction of small- and large-caliber 
weapons ranges, heavy maneuver areas and corridors, a driver's training 
course, off-road driver's training area, and vehicle recovery area to 
support the training range requirements; (2) Transformation Alternative 
B (the Army's Preferred Alternative), is similar to Transformation 
Alternative A with a combination of existing ranges and development of 
new tank training areas in the Good Hope area; and (3) the No Action 
Alternative, under which Fort Benning missions would continue as they 
were being performed in November 2005, when the BRAC Commission 
recommendations became law.
    Environmental resources addressed in the DEIS include land use, 
aesthetics and visual resources, noise,

[[Page 19475]]

socioeconomics, transportation, utilities, hazardous and toxic 
substances and waste, air quality, water resources, geology and soils, 
biological and cultural resources, and safety.
    The DEIS analyses indicate that implementation of Alternative A 
would have significant impacts on transportation; biological resources 
(vegetation, aquatic habitats, wildlife, and special status species); 
and cultural resources. Implementation of Alternative B (the preferred 
alternative) would have no significant impacts to visual and aesthetic 
resources; socioeconomics (economic development, housing, quality of 
life, environmental justice); noise; air quality; hazardous and toxic 
materials and waste (hazardous material storage, use and handling; 
contaminated sites); water resources (surface water, hydrogeology/
groundwater, floodplains, and wetlands); geology and soils; biological 
resources (Unique Ecological Areas); safety; land use; or utilities. 
Alternative locations for some of the projects as presented in 
Alternative B would provide similar impacts and benefits as Alternative 
A in all resources except for biological (special status species), 
where the impacts to the Red-cockaded Woodpecker would be substantially 
less, and cultural (archaeological sites), where impacts would be 
greater. The No Action alternative provides the environmental baseline 
conditions for comparison to the impacts associated with the action 
alternatives.
    The Army invites the public, local governments, and state and other 
Federal agencies to submit written comments or suggestions concerning 
the alternatives and analyses addressed in the DEIS. The public and 
government agencies also 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 May 10, 2007 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at 
the Columbus, Georgia Convention and Trade Center, 801 Front Avenue, 
Room 205. Copies of the DEIS will be available for review at several 
local libraries prior to the public meeting. The DEIS may also be 
reviewed electronically at: https://www.hqda.army.mil/acsim/brac/nepa_
eis_docs.htm.
    Please send written comments on the DEIS to: Mr. John Brent, Fort 
Benning Directorate of Public Works, Environmental Management Division, 
Bldg 6 (Meloy Hall), Room 310, Fort Benning, GA 31905. E-mail 
comments should be sent to: john.brent@benning.army.mil.

    Dated: April 10, 2007.
Addison D. Davis, IV,
Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army (Environment, Safety and 
Occupational Health).
[FR Doc. 07-1916 Filed 4-17-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3710-08-M
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.