Fort Bliss (Texas) Army Growth and Force Structure Realignment Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS), 24930 [2010-10697]

Agencies

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

[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 87 (Thursday, May 6, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Page 24930]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-10697]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army


Fort Bliss (Texas) Army Growth and Force Structure Realignment 
Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS)

AGENCY: Department of the Army, DOD.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: The Department of the Army announces the availability of the 
Fort Bliss Army Growth and Force Structure Realignment FEIS (hereon 
referred to as FEIS) identifying the potential environmental effects 
that would result from use of stationing and training capacity, land 
use changes, and training infrastructure improvements at Fort Bliss to 
support Army growth and force structure realignment.
    The FEIS tiers from the Records of Decision (2007) for the Army 
Growth and Force Structure Realignment Programmatic Environmental 
Impact Statement (GTA PEIS); and the Fort Bliss, Texas and New Mexico 
Mission and Master Plan Final Supplemental Programmatic Environmental 
Impact Statement (SEIS).
    After reviewing the alternatives presented in the FEIS, the Army 
has selected its preferred alternative from a mixture of the three 
different categories of interrelated alternatives. The preferred 
alternative is to implement the following: Alternative 4 stationing 
action; Alternative 5 land use change; and Alternative 4 training 
infrastructure improvement. Alternative 4 stationing action includes a 
Stryker Brigade Combat Team (SBCT) (for a total of two) or allows 
replacing a BCT equivalent with an SBCT and various support units to 
the Fort Bliss stationing package. Alternative 5 land use changes allow 
fixed sites (e.g., military bivouac), mission support facilities, live-
fire military uses and off-road vehicle maneuvers in new locations 
around the Sacramento Mountains and McGregor Range areas. Alternative 4 
training infrastructure improvements include: construction of new 
ranges to support the stationing of SBCTs; expansion of existing range 
camps; construction of 16 austere Contingency Operating Locations 
(COLs); and construction of a rail line connecting the Fort Bliss 
Cantonment area to the Fort Bliss Training Complex.

DATES: The waiting period will end 30 days after the publication of a 
notice of availability for the FEIS in the Federal Register by the U.S. 
Environmental Protection Agency.

ADDRESSES: Written comments should be sent to: Mr. John F. Barrera, 
IMWE-BLS-PWE, Building 624, Taylor Road, Fort Bliss, TX 79916-6812; e-
mail: bliss.eis@conus.army.mil.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Jean Offutt, Public Affairs 
Officer, IMWE-BLS-PA, Fort Bliss, TX 79916-6812; telephone: (915) 568-
4505; fax: (915) 568-2995; e-mail: jean.offutt@us.army.mil.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Proposed Action would support the growth 
of the Army and allow for reasonably foreseeable future stationing 
actions, land use changes, and training infrastructure improvements 
that take advantage of Fort Bliss's varied terrain; full suite of 
training ranges; collocation with heavy, light, and aviation combat 
units; and collocation with various support units.
    Three categories of interrelated alternatives are analyzed in this 
document: stationing/training; land use changes; and training 
infrastructure improvements. Each category contains a No Action 
alternative and several action alternatives.
    (1) The stationing/training category of alternatives analyzes the 
stationing decision made in the GTA PEIS. The document also analyzes 
reasonably foreseeable future growth at Fort Bliss, including adding 
one or more SBCTs and additional support units.
    (2) Land uses analyzed in the FEIS are primarily focused in the 
rugged terrain of northeast McGregor Range, with minor changes in the 
southeast and Tularosa Basin portions of McGregor Range, for the 
purpose of supporting realistic and effective light infantry training. 
None of the proposed land use changes include the Culp Canyon 
Wilderness Study Area or the Black Grama Grassland Area of Critical 
Environmental Concern.
    (3) Training infrastructure improvements analyzed in the FEIS 
include construction of additional firing ranges and expansion or 
construction of administrative and training support facilities to 
support the units stationed at Fort Bliss.
    Actions analyzed in this document would result in a range of 
potential impacts. Erosion would increase substantially on range roads 
interior to the Fort Bliss Training Complex, requiring more frequent 
maintenance. The most expansive stationing alternative selected may, as 
a result of high-tempo training schedules, reduce Native American 
access to areas of the installation in which they have an ongoing 
interest. The proposed action would, in certain alternatives, result in 
a small increase in the economic benefit provided by growth of the 
installation, and a small decrease in certain quality of life 
indicators (e.g., traffic, access to government services). Use of 
restricted airspace for military training would increase under certain 
alternatives, further limiting access of general and commercial 
aviation. Training related noise remains significant in areas adjacent 
to Dona Ana Range and portions of McGregor Range.
    The FEIS and other environmental documents are available on the 
Fort Bliss Web site at https://www.bliss.army.mil or in the following 
libraries: In El Paso (TX), the Richard Burges Regional Library, 9600 
Dyer; the Irving Schwartz Branch Library, 1865 Dean Martin; the Clardy 
Fox Branch Library, 5515 Robert Alva; and the Doris van Doren Regional 
Branch Library, 551 Redd Road. In Las Cruces (NM), the New Mexico State 
University Zuhl Library, 2999 McFie Circle. In Alamogordo (NM), the 
Alamogordo Public Library, 920 Oregon Avenue.

    Dated: April 29, 2010.
Addison D. Davis, IV,
Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army (Environment, Safety, and 
Occupational Health).
[FR Doc. 2010-10697 Filed 5-5-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3710-08-P