Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) for the Renewal of the Special Use Permit (SUP) for Military Activities on the De Soto National Forest and Implementation of Installation Mission Support Activities at Camp Shelby, MS, 857-858 [07-6286]

Agencies

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

[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 3 (Friday, January 4, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 857-858]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 07-6286]


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

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army


Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) for the Renewal of 
the Special Use Permit (SUP) for Military Activities on the De Soto 
National Forest and Implementation of Installation Mission Support 
Activities at Camp Shelby, MS

AGENCY: National Guard Bureau (NGB), Department of the Army, DoD.

ACTION: Notice of Availability.

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

SUMMARY: This FEIS has been prepared by the NGB and the U.S. Department 
of Agriculture--Forest Service (USDA-FS). NGB is the lead agency and 
the USDA-FS is serving as a cooperating agency in the development of 
this FEIS for the renewal of the current SUP that authorizes military 
training activities at Camp shelby Training Site.

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: Written comments or questions regarding the FEIS may be 
forwarded to Mr. Tim Powell, Public Affairs Officer, Joint Forces 
Headquarters, Mississippi National Guard, P.O. Box 5027, Jackson, 
Mississippi, 39296-5027.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Tim Powell, Public Affairs 
Officer, at (601) 313-6349. The alternate point of contact for this 
action is Major Robert A. Lemire, Mississippi Army National Guard, 
Director Environmental Programs at (601) 313-6228.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This FEIS discusses in-depth two 
alternatives: the Preferred Alternative and the No-Action Alternative. 
Under the Preferred Alternative, the Mississippi National Guard (MSNG) 
proposes the renewal of the USDA-FS SUP for a 20-year timeframe and 
authorizes current activities and mission requirements to continue on 
State of Mississippi, DoD, and National Forest lands. This alternative 
will help meet the Army requirements associated with the Proposed 
Action by constructing various new ranges and facilities at Camp Shelby 
and allowing for the continuation of necessary maintenance, repair, and 
rehabilitation of the infrastructure at Camp Shelby. The No Action 
Alternative would authorize the renewal of the SUP for a 10-year 
timeframe (same as previous SUP) and military activities would continue 
as currently permitted. this alternative would not authorize the 
proposed construction of new ranges and facilities and improvements and 
improved management practices. Other alternatives considered but 
eliminated from detailed study are also addressed in the FEIS. the 
potential for significant impacts exists for both alternatives; however 
with the implementation of the ongoing and proposed mitigation and 
monitoring measures, the unavoidable adverse impacts can be mitigated 
to an acceptable level. Under the preferred alternative, current 
activities and mission requirements will continue on State of 
Mississippi, DoD, and National Forest lands. This alternative includes 
implementation of the projects and programs discussed in this FEIS, in 
addition to the continuation of necessary maintenance, repair, and 
rehabilitation of the military training infrastructure at Camp Shelby. 
Environmental consequences for the proposed actions; e.g. renewal of 
the SUP, and construction, operation, and maintenance of several new 
projects at Camp Shelby have been analyzed. The new project proposals 
have the potential for the following adverse impacts:
    (1) Direct and/or indirect effects on habitat for other proposed, 
endangered, threatened, and sensitive species such as Louisiana 
quillwort (federal endangered species), black pine snake (federal 
candidate species), and other state and USDA-FS sensitive plant 
species. There would be direct positive effects on the red-cockaded 
woodpecker when colonies are relocated into the proposed Habitat 
Management Area at sometime in the future.
    (3) Direct and/or indirect effects on approximately 275 acres of 
wetlands

[[Page 858]]

(requiring fill of an estimated 20 acres of wetlands).
    Direct effects by removal of approximately 120 acres for pine and 
hardwood forested areas.
    (5) Direct effects by movement of approximately 250,000 cubic yards 
of earth and resulting direct and/or indirect effects from erosion and 
sedimentation.
    The proposed Combined Arms ARea (CAA) reconfiguration in this FEIS 
would result in a 4,300 acre reduction in the amount of unavoidable 
impacts associated with forest clearing/thinning from the scope of the 
CAA last addressed and approved for construction in the 1994 SUP EIS. 
Also associated with the CAA is the proposed Combined Arms Collective 
Training Facility (CACTF), which would be co-located within the CAA 
maneuver areas to be cleared and/or thinned and would not require any 
further significant timber removal. This reduction of approximately 
4,300 acres of impacts is an improvement from an environmental 
standpoint over the original plan and it still meets military training 
requirements.
    The No Action alternative has two subsets, one related to the SUP 
and the other to actions associated with mission support (construction 
in the cantonment area and the range and training area). In regards to 
the SUP, this is defined as renewal of a 10-year SUP for ``continuation 
of military activities as presently permitted.'' This alternative does 
not allow for improved and future mission requirements, future military 
construction funding, improved management practices, and a 20-year SUP 
permit.
    A copy of the FEIS can be found at the following Web site: https://
www.ngms.state.ms.us/env/Natural%20Resources/nat_resources_06.htm.
    Following the 30-day waiting period, a Record of Decision will be 
signed.

    Dated: November 13, 2007.
Addison D. Davis, IV,
Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army, (Environment, Safety, and 
Occupational Health).
[FR Doc. 07-6286 Filed 01-03-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3710-08-M