Notice of Availability of a Record of Decision (ROD) for the Implementation of the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) 2005 and Transformation Actions at Fort Benning, GA, 70576-70577 [07-6014]

Agencies

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

[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 238 (Wednesday, December 12, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 70576-70577]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 07-6014]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army


Notice of Availability of a Record of Decision (ROD) for the 
Implementation of the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) 2005 and 
Transformation Actions at Fort Benning, GA

AGENCY: Department of the Army, DoD.

ACTION: Record of Decision.

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SUMMARY: The Department of the Army announces the availability of the 
ROD, which summarizes the decision for implementing BRAC actions as 
directed by the 2005 Base Closure and Realignment Commission and DoD 
Transformation Actions at Fort Benning, Georgia.

ADDRESSES: To obtain a copy of the ROD, contact Mr. John Brent, Fort 
Benning Directorate of Public Works, Environmental Management Division, 
Bldg 6 (Meloy Hall), Room 310, Fort Benning, GA 31905; via e-
mail at john.brent@benning.army.mil; or via Web site at https://
www.hqda.army.mil/acsim/brac/nepa_eis_docs.htm.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. John Brent at (706) 545-2180.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Army has decided to proceed with 
implementing the Preferred Alternative (Alternative B) of the Proposed 
Action consistent with the analysis in the Environmental Impact 
Statement (EIS) (dated October 2007) and supporting studies and 
comments provided during formal comment and review periods. The 
Proposed Action includes the construction activities, personnel 
increases, and training activities associated with the BRAC Commission 
recommendations, the Global Defense Posture Realignment (GDPR) overseas 
restationing actions, Army Modular Force (AMF) initiatives, and other 
discretionary stationing activities at Fort Benning. As a result of the 
proposed action, Fort Benning will be receiving personnel, equipment, 
and missions from various realignment and closure actions. To implement 
the BRAC Commission recommended initiatives, the Army will provide the 
necessary facilities, infrastructure, training ranges and maneuver 
areas to support the changes. Permanent facilities will be constructed 
to house the Armor Center and School as well as several other minor 
unit relocations. Construction activities include administrative, 
supply/storage, maintenance, barracks, commercial services, community 
facilities, medical and dental, and recreation facilities focused on 
the cantonment areas. A combination of redevelopment (e.g., 
renovation), development, and expansion would occur at the four major 
cantonment areas: Main Post, Kelley Hill, Sand Hill, and Harmony 
Church. Activities to occur in the ranges and maneuver areas include 
construction of small- and large-caliber weapons ranges, heavy maneuver 
areas and corridors, a drivers' training course, off-road driver's 
training area, and vehicle recovery area to support the training range 
requirements. The largest-scale transformation activity is the BRAC 
action to relocate the Armor Center and School from Fort Knox, 
Kentucky, to Fort Benning. Once relocated to Fort Benning, the Armor 
Center and School would be combined with the existing Infantry Center 
and School to create a Maneuver Center of Excellence for ground forces 
training and doctrine development. Fort Benning also proposes to 
implement other transformation actions as the Army undergoes 
restructuring to meet the demands of the 21st century. The AMF

[[Page 70577]]

initiative involves the Army's transition from a division-centric 
design to a standard brigade organization. The reshaping of the 
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. All 
BRAC and other transformation actions will collectively result in an 
increase of approximately 16,600 military, civilian, student and 
contractor personnel. Alternative A would also meet the Army 
transformation purpose and need, but it is not the preferred option due 
to the magnitude of impacts on the Red-cockaded woodpecker (RCW) 
(Picoides borealis), federally-listed endangered species. The No Action 
Alternative would not meet the Army's purpose and need for the BRAC 
2005 and transformation actions.
    Special consideration was given to the effects of Alternative A and 
Alternative B (the Preferred Alternative) of the Proposed Action on the 
natural and human environment. Mitigation measures have been adopted to 
avoid or minimize environmental harm from the selected alternative. 
Mitigation measures, as described in the ROD, will be implemented to 
minimize, avoid, or compensate for the significant adverse effects 
identified in the EIS at Fort Benning for transportation, noise, water 
resources, geology and soils, biological resources, cultural resources, 
and safety. In addition, the Army evaluated national defense needs, the 
synergistic relationship between BRAC, AMF, GDPR, and stationing 
actions, as well as meeting the purpose and need for the BRAC 2005 
recommendations to include the creation of the Maneuver Center of 
Excellence.
    The ROD states that implementing the Preferred Alternative reflects 
a proper balance between initiatives for protection of the environment, 
appropriate mitigation, and actions to achieve the Army's requirements. 
There are no differences in impacts to resources such as aesthetics and 
visual, socioeconomics, transportation, utilities, noise, hazardous and 
toxic materials and waste, utilities, and safety between Alternatives A 
and B. Alternative A does impact fewer acres, thus disturbing a lesser 
area of soils (and indirectly producing less fugitive dust that impacts 
air quality). Biological resources such as vegetation, wildlife, 
aquatic habitats, and unique ecological areas would also be impacted to 
a lesser degree, and fewer cultural resources would be affected. 
Nevertheless, under Alternative A there would be a greater number of 
RCWs impacted if it were implemented. In the Biological Opinion, the 
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service concurred that the preferred alternative 
is not likely to jeopardize the continued existence of the RCW and 
relict trillium. Moreover, the Preferred Alternative does not introduce 
any greater impacts to other resources that cannot be mitigated when 
compared to Alternative A.

    Dated: December 3, 2007.
Addison D. Davis, IV,
Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army (Environment, Safety and 
Occupational Health).
[FR Doc. 07-6014 Filed 12-11-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3710-08-M