Notice of Availability of a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for Training Land Acquisition at Fort Polk, LA, 56185-56186 [E9-26088]

Agencies

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

[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 209 (Friday, October 30, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 56185-56186]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-26088]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army


Notice of Availability of a Draft Environmental Impact Statement 
(DEIS) for Training Land Acquisition at Fort Polk, LA

AGENCY: Department of the Army, DoD.

ACTION: Notice of Availability (NOA).

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SUMMARY: The Department of the Army has prepared a DEIS that analyzes 
environmental and socioeconomic impacts connected with the proposed 
acquisition (hereinafter to mean including purchase and lease) and use 
of up to 100,000 additional acres of commercial and private lands for 
training in the vicinity of Fort Polk, Louisiana. This Proposed Action 
to acquire additional lands supports the training requirements of the 
Joint Readiness Training Center (JRTC) and Fort Polk's current and 
future resident units. The DEIS analyzes three alternatives that are 
deemed feasible and meet the purpose and need for this Proposed Action.

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

ADDRESSES: To request a copy of the DEIS contact Ms. Susan Walker, Fort 
Polk Public Affairs Office, 7073 Radio Road, Fort Polk, LA 71459-5342. 
Comments may also be e-mailed to Susan.T.Walker@conus.army.mil.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Susan Walker at (337) 531-9125 
during normal business hours from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. CST.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Fort Polk, located in west-central 
Louisiana, is one of the Army's premier power projection platforms and 
also the home of the JRTC. Fort Polk is currently comprised

[[Page 56186]]

of approximately 198,130 acres of U.S. Army-owned land and lands 
utilized under a special use permit with the U.S. Forest Service. In 
order to improve the training requirements of Fort Polk's units and the 
JRTC, the Army has proposed to acquire up to 100,000 acres of 
additional land to enhance realistic training conditions. Additional 
training lands will allow Soldiers of the JRTC to train on brigade-
level combat maneuver training tasks while simultaneously allowing Fort 
Polk's resident units to conduct maneuver and live-fire training. This 
additional land will enhance training for Fort Polk units and units 
deploying to JRTC, will reduce the need for training work arounds, and 
will allow Soldiers to train to more realistic standards in preparation 
for operational deployment.
    The Fort, Polk DEIS analyzes the environmental and socioeconomic 
impacts of several acquisition location alternatives, each of which 
could include the acquisition of up to 100,000 acres of land. 
Alternative 1 considers the acquisition of lands directly adjacent to 
Fort Polk's existing training areas to the south of Peason Ridge and 
directly north and east of the main post. As part of Alternative 1, 
units would continue to lease lands to convoy to Peason Ridge to access 
training areas. Alternative 2 considers the acquisition of the land 
considered in Alternative 1 and, in addition, considers the acquisition 
of parcels that connect Peason Ridge with Fort Polk's main post. 
Alternative 3 considers the acquisition of those lands considered in 
Alternative 2 and, in addition, considers the acquisition of lands to 
the east of Fort Polk in Rapides Parish. The DEIS also analyzes the No 
Action Alternative, which evaluates the impacts of taking no action to 
acquire or use additional training land around Fort Polk.
    The Army has determined that significant impacts may possibly occur 
in regard to land use and noise for each of the three alternatives 
being considered. The Army projects that moderate impacts would occur 
to soil resources, water resources, wetlands, biological resources, 
cultural resources, and socioeconomics as a result of implementing the 
Proposed Action. The DEIS serves as documentation of the installation's 
compliance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act 
in accordance with 36 CFR 800.3-800.6. Substantive compliance with 
these provisions of the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation's 
regulations will be achieved through NEPA.
    The public and any consulting parties are invited to review and 
comment on the DEIS. Public meetings will be announced in local media 
sources.
    Comments from the public and consultation with consulting parties 
will be considered before any decision is made regarding implementing 
the Proposed Action at Fort Polk.

    Dated: October 23, 2009.
Addison D. Davis IV,
Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army (Environment, Safety and 
Occupational Health).
[FR Doc. E9-26088 Filed 10-29-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3710-08-M