Record of Decision for Stationing and Training of Increased Aviation Assets Within U.S. Army Alaska, 58617-58618 [E9-27177]

Agencies

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

[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 218 (Friday, November 13, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58617-58618]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-27177]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army


Record of Decision for Stationing and Training of Increased 
Aviation Assets Within U.S. Army Alaska

AGENCY: Department of the Army, DoD.

ACTION: Notice of Availability (NOA).

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SUMMARY: The Department of the Army announces the availability of its 
Record of Decision (ROD) that documents and summarizes the decision for 
implementing actions to increase numbers and types of aviation assets 
and training within U.S. Army Alaska (USARAK). The decision is based on 
the analysis described in the Final Environmental Impact Statement 
(FEIS) for Stationing and Training of Increased Aviation Assets within 
U.S. Army Alaska (August 2009), supporting studies, and comments 
provided during formal comment and review periods.

ADDRESSES: Requests for copies of the Army's ROD may be made to Ms. 
Carrie McEnteer, Directorate of Public Works,

[[Page 58618]]

Attention: IMPC-FWA-PWE, 1060 Gaffney Road 4500, Fort 
Wainwright, AK 99703-4500; fax: (907) 361-9867; e-mail address: 
carrie.mcenteer@us.army.mil.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Linda L. Douglass, Public Affairs 
Office, 1060 Gaffney Road 5900, Fort Wainwright, AK 99703-
5900; telephone: (907) 353-6701; e-mail address: 
linda.douglass@us.army.mil.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Army has decided to proceed with 
implementing the Preferred Alternative (Alternative 2) identified in 
the FEIS to reorganize and augment its aviation assets in Alaska as an 
Aviation Task Force (ATF). The ATF will be formed by augmenting 
USARAK's existing assigned aviation assets (approximately 490 Soldiers 
and 32 helicopters) with 710 additional Soldiers and 40 additional 
helicopters. Alternative 2 will result in 1,200 total Soldiers and 72 
total helicopters at Fort Wainwright (FWA), with a total projected 
population increase of approximately 2,005 (including Soldiers, Family 
members, and Civilian support personnel). The ATF will be permanently 
stationed at FWA. Construction of new facilities as well as demolition 
within the FWA Main Post and operation of additional generators and 
vehicles will be required. Training will occur on current USARAK 
training lands and use existing flight corridors.
    By choosing to implement Alternative 2 in the ROD, the Army expects 
direct, indirect, and cumulative impacts as a result of troop 
stationing, facilities construction, and helicopter training exercises 
at USARAK. The principal environmental impacts will be to airspace 
management, cultural and visual resources, noise, hazardous materials 
and hazardous waste, and wildlife. Although additional helicopters will 
be stationed in Alaska, existing airspace aviation travel routes will 
be utilized, resulting in minor increases in air traffic. Significant 
adverse impacts will occur to the Ladd Field National Historic Landmark 
as a result of facility construction at FWA. Adverse impacts will be 
the result of the new construction being out of scale with historic 
buildings, historical viewshed obstruction and change in use of two 
historic buildings. Temporary minor noise impacts will occur due to 
facility construction. Noise associated with helicopter training will 
increase but not to a level that will significantly increase annoyance 
levels at FWA or surrounding lands. Hazardous materials and waste, both 
existing sources and those created by the stationing and operation of 
an aviation unit, will be managed under existing programs and 
agreements. Facility construction is proposed within known areas of 
contamination. USARAK will continue to consult with the appropriate 
State and federal agencies as outlined in existing agreements in order 
to protect human health and the environment. Various wildlife species 
will be affected by increased military training, specifically moose, 
bison, caribou, trumpeter swan, and bear; however, population level 
impacts will not occur. In addition, increased hunting pressure on game 
mammals could result from increased stationing of Soldiers.
    As part of the decision to implement Alternative 2 at FWA, the Army 
will enact environmental mitigation measures to minimize the impacts of 
this decision, including the implementation and continuation of 
existing environmental management programs, use of best management 
practices, and other specific mitigation measures. The majority of 
mitigation measures the Army has committed to in the ROD involve the 
continued use of existing management programs and existing best 
management practices. In addition to these existing programs, the Army 
and the National Historic Preservation Act Section 106 consulting 
parties have developed specific mitigation measures to minimize the 
adverse effects to the Ladd Field National Historic Landmark at FWA. 
These measures have been outlined and agreed to in a Programmatic 
Agreement between the Army and the Section 106 consulting parties.
    The ROD outlines that Alternative 2 reflects the proper balance of 
enhancing USARAK aviation capabilities, improving training 
opportunities for existing USARAK forces, improving the Army's ability 
to support worldwide military operations, and protecting the 
environment.
    Copies of the ROD can be viewed and downloaded at https://www.usarak.army.mil/conservation/NEPA_home.html.

    Dated: November 2, 2009.
Addison D. Davis, IV,
Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army (Environment, Safety and 
Occupational Health).
[FR Doc. E9-27177 Filed 11-12-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3710-08-M