Record of Decision (ROD) for the Training Land Acquisition (Including Purchase and Lease) at Fort Polk, LA, 27996-27997 [2010-12014]

Agencies

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

[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 96 (Wednesday, May 19, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 27996-27997]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-12014]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army


Record of Decision (ROD) for the Training Land Acquisition 
(Including Purchase and Lease) 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 announces the availability of its 
ROD which summarizes and documents its decision to proceed with 
Alternative 3, the acquisition of up to 100,000 acres of additional 
training land in Vernon and Rapides Parrish in the areas South of 
Peason Ridge, and to the North and East of Fort Polk's existing 
training lands. The decision considers the Army's mission requirements 
at Fort Polk and the environmental analysis contained in the Final 
Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) for Training Land Acquisition at 
Fort Polk, Louisiana (March 2009). The ROD describes the Army's 
decision to proceed with Alternative 3. This decision provides the Army 
with the most options and best opportunities to meet Fort Polk and the 
Joint Readiness Training Center (JRTC) training needs and is also the 
environmentally preferred alternative.

ADDRESSES: For questions regarding the ROD, please contact Ms. Susan 
Walker, Fort Polk Public Affairs Office (PAO), 7033 Magnolia Road, Fort 
Polk, LA 71459-5342. A copy of the FEIS and ROD are available at the 
following Web site: https://www.jrtc-polk.army.mil/LandPurchase/.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Susan Walker at (337) 531-9125 
from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. CST or e-mail Susan.T.Walker@conus.army.mil.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Fort Polk FEIS analyzed the 
environmental, cultural and socioeconomic impacts of several 
acquisition location alternatives, each of which included the 
acquisition of up to 100,000 acres of land. Alternative 1 considered 
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 considered the acquisition of the land considered in 
Alternative 1, and, in addition, considered the acquisition of parcels 
that connect Peason Ridge with Fort Polk's main post. Alternative 3, 
the Preferred Alternative and selected alternative, considered the 
acquisition of those lands considered in Alternative 2, and the 
acquisition of lands to the east of Fort Polk in Rapides Parish. The 
FEIS also analyzed the No Action Alternative, which evaluates the 
impacts of taking no action to acquire or use additional training land 
around Fort Polk. Under the No Action alternative, the purpose and need 
for the proposed action would not be met.
    Alternative 3 has been selected by the Army because it has the most 
potential to allow the Army to acquire adequate maneuver training land 
to support the training requirements of the JRTC and Fort Polk's 
resident units. Alternative 3 provides the best opportunities for the 
Army to acquire new lands that are compatible with Fort Polk's training 
needs, and the implementation of this alternative will reduce future 
potential training land use conflicts between JRTC and Fort Polk's 
resident units. The implementation of Alternative 3 will also attenuate 
adverse environmental impacts over a broader area and will ensure a 
greater amount of land is actively managed to promote increased 
sustainability and reduce environmental impacts.
    In making its decision, the Army has determined that significant 
environmental impacts may occur from the selected alternative with 
regard to changes in land use and potentially from noise depending on 
which lands are eventually acquired as part of this decision. In 
addition to these potentially significant impacts, the Army anticipates 
that moderate impacts to soil resources, water resources, wetlands, 
biological resources, cultural resources, and socioeconomics would 
occur as a result of implementing the Proposed Action. To mitigate 
potential impacts, the Army will survey new lands for cultural and 
natural resources prior to training and will manage training activities 
to reduce noise impacts. The Army will provide recreational/hunting 
access to new lands to the extent practicable and will bring new lands 
under the framework of the installation's existing environmental 
management programs. Substantive compliance with the National Historic 
Preservation Act (NHPA) will be accomplished through adherence to the 
Integrated Cultural Resource Management Plan, which, together with the 
FEIS, outline cultural resource management practices that would be

[[Page 27997]]

applied to newly acquired lands. Compliance with Section 106 of the 
NHPA is being accomplished as part of this EIS process.

    Dated: May 12, 2010.
Addison D. Davis, IV,
Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army (Environment, Safety and 
Occupational Health).
[FR Doc. 2010-12014 Filed 5-18-10; 8:45 am]
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