Draft Legislative Environmental Impact Statement Addressing Land Withdrawal Extension at Fort Wainwright, Alaska, 30730-30731 [2023-10144]
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[FR Doc. 2023–10164 Filed 5–11–23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE P
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Army
Draft Legislative Environmental Impact
Statement Addressing Land
Withdrawal Extension at Fort
Wainwright, Alaska
Department of the Army, DOD.
Notice of availability.
The Department of the Army
(Army) announces the availability of a
Draft Legislative Environmental Impact
Statement (LEIS) to address continued
military use of the Yukon Training Area,
near Fort Wainwright, Alaska, and
Donnelly Training Area East and
Donnelly Training Area West, near Delta
Junction, Alaska. The current land
withdrawal will expire on November 6,
2026, unless Congress enacts legislation
to extend it. The Draft LEIS evaluates
reasonable alternatives, potential
environmental impacts, and key issues
of concern. The LEIS will inform
proposed legislation presented to
Congress and Congress’ decision
regarding the Proposed Action.
Comments received on the Draft LEIS
will be fully considered and submitted
as part of the legislative proposal. The
comment period will last 60 days and
will include virtual or in-person public
meetings.
DATES: Comments must be received by
July 11, 2023.
ADDRESSES: Please send written
comments to Mr. Matt Sprau,
Environmental Planning Branch Chief,
at: Directorate of Public Works, ATTN:
AMIM–AKP–E (M. Sprau), 1046 Marks
Road #4500, Fort Wainwright, AK
99703–4500; email:
usarmy.wainwright.id-pacific.mbx.lweleis@army.mil.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Please contact Mr. Grant Sattler, Public
Affairs Office, at: AMIM–AKG–PA
(Sattler), 1060 Gaffney Road #5900, Fort
Wainwright, AK 99703–5900;
telephone: (907) 353–6701; email:
alan.g.sattler.civ@army.mil.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In October
1999, Congress—through the Military
SUMMARY:
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Lands Withdrawal Act (Public Law
(Pub. L.) 106–65)—withdrew 869,862
acres of public land comprising Yukon
Training Area, Donnelly Training Area
East, and Donnelly Training Area West
from all forms of appropriation under
public land laws and reserved the
acreage for use by the Army. The
withdrawal extended to November 6,
2026. The Army determined there is a
continuing military need for this land
and is requesting to extend its use of the
three training areas, which are federal
lands managed by the Bureau of Land
Management (BLM) that Congress has
withdrawn and reserved for military
use.
The Engle Act (Pub. L. 85–337; title
43, sections 155–158, United States
Code) requires land withdrawals in
excess of 5,000 acres to be authorized by
Congress through legislation. The U.S.
Department of the Interior (DOI) has
authority to process federal land
withdrawal applications (title 43, part
2300, Code of Federal Regulations
(CFR)). The Military Lands Withdrawal
Act requires the Army to notify the
Secretary of the Interior and Congress
regarding whether there is a continuing
military need for the withdrawn land. If
there is such a need, the Army and DOI
shall submit a legislative proposal to
Congress no later than May 1, 2025.
BLM, a subordinate agency within DOI,
agreed to participate in the LEIS process
as a cooperating agency.
Fort Wainwright is in the interior of
Alaska. It is located in the Fairbanks
North Star Borough and is home to U.S.
Army Garrison—Alaska and to units of
the 11th Airborne Division. The Yukon
Training Area covers approximately
246,277 acres and is located
approximately 16 miles east-southeast
of Fairbanks and immediately east of
Eielson Air Force Base. Donnelly
Training Areas East and West are
located near Fort Greely. These areas are
situated in the Tanana River Valley in
central Alaska, approximately 80 miles
southeast of Fort Wainwright, near the
city of Delta Junction in the Southeast
Fairbanks Census Area. Donnelly
Training Area East is approximately
51,590 acres and Donnelly Training
Area West is approximately 571,995
acres.
The purpose of the Proposed Action
is to obtain an extension of the land
withdrawal of the three training areas
for 25 years or more, until such time as
the Army determines it no longer needs
the land for military purposes. The
Army requires the continued use of the
training areas on withdrawn land to
execute and fulfill its mission in Alaska.
Access to the withdrawn land enables
the Army to produce a force trained to
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12MYN1
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Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 92 / Friday, May 12, 2023 / Notices
mobilize, deploy, fight, and win
anywhere in the world. Army training
conditions must match or closely
resemble all possible environments
throughout the world, including arctic
and subarctic conditions. In addition to
the Army’s use of the withdrawn land,
the U.S. Air Force plans, conducts, and
coordinates air operations in the
restricted airspace over the withdrawn
land.
The Draft LEIS evaluates the
reasonably foreseeable effects of
multiple alternatives. The alternatives
considered include: (1) requesting that
Congress extend the land withdrawal for
25 years or more until such time as the
Army determines it no longer needs the
land for military purposes; and (2) a NoAction Alternative, under which the
withdrawal would not be extended.
Besides the first alternative above, there
are no reasonable alternatives capable of
meeting the project’s purpose and need.
Resource areas and impacts analyzed
in the Draft LEIS include, but are not
limited to, the following: recreational
uses of the withdrawn land; subsistence
uses; air quality; noise; soil; water
quality; biological resources;
socioeconomics; public health and
safety; archaeological sites and districts;
traffic and transportation; land use;
airspace; and hazardous materials. The
Draft LEIS also identifies measures that
would reduce or eliminate adverse
impacts. BLM’s findings regarding
potential impacts on subsistence uses
will—consistent with the requirements
of section 810 of the Alaska National
Interest Lands Conservation Act—be
appended to the Draft LEIS. The Army
coordinated with federal, state, and
Tribal entities during development of
the LEIS, including the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service and BLM.
The No-Action Alternative could have
significant economic impacts on the
cities of Delta Junction and Fairbanks.
Under the Proposed Action, there would
be no change to training activities. The
Draft LEIS identified ongoing, potential,
moderate and minor adverse impacts on
biological resources, cultural resources,
water resources, air quality, and
hazardous material levels resulting from
the Proposed Action. The Army does
not anticipate the Proposed Action
causing any significant impacts.
The Army announced the release of
the Draft LEIS through local media
outlets, beginning a public comment
period during which public meetings
will be held in Delta Junction and
Fairbanks. Pursuant to section 810(b) of
the Alaska National Interest Lands
Conservation Act (Pub. L. 96–487, title
16, section 3120, United States Code),
the public meeting in Delta Junction
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19:11 May 11, 2023
Jkt 259001
will also serve as a public hearing on
BLM’s finding of potential impacts on
subsistence uses. Following the 60-day
public comment period, the Army will
consider all comments and append
them to the Draft LEIS for inclusion in
the legislative proposal. Under title 40,
part 1506, CFR, a Final EIS is not
required in the LEIS process, and the
Army will not prepare a Final EIS for
this Proposed Action.
Federal, state, and local agencies,
Alaska Native Tribes, Alaska Native
Tribal organizations, and the general
public are invited to participate in a
public meeting and/or submit written
comments. Written comments must be
received within 60 days of publication
of this Notice of Availability in the
Federal Register. Public meetings will
be held in a virtual environment, in
person, or both. Dates and times will be
advertised in local newspapers and will
be posted online at: https://
home.army.mil/alaska/index.php/fortwainwright/NEPA.
James W. Satterwhite, Jr.,
Army Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 2023–10144 Filed 5–11–23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3711–02–P
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
National Assessment Governing Board
National Assessment Governing
Board; Meeting; Correction
National Assessment
Governing Board, Department of
Education.
ACTION: Notice; correction.
AGENCY:
The National Assessment
Governing Board (Governing Board)
published a document in the Federal
Register announcing the schedule and
proposed agenda of the May 18–19,
2023 quarterly meeting of the Governing
Board. The meeting agenda has been
revised to reflect the following changes
to the Thursday and Friday sessions of
the Governing Board meeting.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Munira Mwalimu at (202) 357–6906.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
original published notice, volume 88,
no. 83, pages 26530–26531 (2 pages),
May, 1, 2023, FR Doc. 2023–09114 filed
on Friday, April 28, 2023, announced
that the Measuring Socioeconomic
Status session would be held on
Thursday, May 18, 2023, from 2:15 p.m.
until 3:30 p.m., and the Linking Studies
and NAEP session would be held on
Friday, May 19, 2023, from 1:45 p.m.
until 2:45 p.m. The agenda has been
SUMMARY:
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30731
revised to reflect new times for these
meetings. The Linking Studies and
NAEP session will now be held on
Thursday, May 18, 2023, from 2:15 p.m.
until 3:30 p.m., and the Measuring
Socioeconomic Status session will be
held on Friday, May 19, 2023, from 1:45
p.m. until 3:00 p.m. The meeting will
end at 3:00 p.m. which is 15 minutes
later than the originally published end
time of 2:45 p.m.
Registration: Members of the public
may attend all open sessions of the
Governing Board’s May 18–19, 2023,
meetings in-person or virtually. A link
to register for both the in-person and
virtual attendance for the open sessions
and instructions for how to register will
be posted on the Governing Board’s
website at www.nagb.gov no later than
5 business days prior to each meeting.
Registration is required to join the
meeting virtually.
Public Comment: Written comments
related to the work of the Governing
Board and its committees may be
submitted electronically or in hard copy
to the attention of the Executive Officer/
Designated Federal Official (DFO) via
email at Munira.Mwalimu@ed.gov no
later than 10 business days prior to the
meeting. Written comments should be
directed to the DFO as they relate to
committee and Board meeting work and
should reference the relevant agenda
item.
Access to Records of the Meeting:
Pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 1009(b), the public
may inspect the May 18–19, 2023,
meeting materials at www.nagb.gov,
which will be made available no later
than five business days prior to each
meeting. The public may also inspect
the meeting materials and other
Governing Board records at 800 North
Capitol Street NW, Suite 825,
Washington, DC 20002, by emailing
Munira.Mwalimu@ed.gov to schedule an
appointment. The official verbatim
transcripts of the open meeting sessions
will be available for public inspection
no later than 30 calendar days following
each meeting and will be posted on the
Governing Board’s website. Requests for
the verbatim transcriptions may be
made via email to the DFO noted above.
Reasonable Accommodations: The
meeting location is accessible to
individuals with disabilities. If you will
need an auxiliary aid or service to
participate in the meeting (e.g.,
interpreting service, assistive listening
device, or materials in an alternate
format), notify the DFO listed in this
notice no later than ten working days
prior to each meeting date. Although we
will attempt to meet a request received
after that date, we may not be able to
make available the requested auxiliary
E:\FR\FM\12MYN1.SGM
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Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 92 (Friday, May 12, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 30730-30731]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-10144]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Army
Draft Legislative Environmental Impact Statement Addressing Land
Withdrawal Extension at Fort Wainwright, Alaska
AGENCY: Department of the Army, DOD.
ACTION: Notice of availability.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Department of the Army (Army) announces the availability
of a Draft Legislative Environmental Impact Statement (LEIS) to address
continued military use of the Yukon Training Area, near Fort
Wainwright, Alaska, and Donnelly Training Area East and Donnelly
Training Area West, near Delta Junction, Alaska. The current land
withdrawal will expire on November 6, 2026, unless Congress enacts
legislation to extend it. The Draft LEIS evaluates reasonable
alternatives, potential environmental impacts, and key issues of
concern. The LEIS will inform proposed legislation presented to
Congress and Congress' decision regarding the Proposed Action. Comments
received on the Draft LEIS will be fully considered and submitted as
part of the legislative proposal. The comment period will last 60 days
and will include virtual or in-person public meetings.
DATES: Comments must be received by July 11, 2023.
ADDRESSES: Please send written comments to Mr. Matt Sprau,
Environmental Planning Branch Chief, at: Directorate of Public Works,
ATTN: AMIM-AKP-E (M. Sprau), 1046 Marks Road #4500, Fort Wainwright, AK
99703-4500; email: [email protected].
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Please contact Mr. Grant Sattler,
Public Affairs Office, at: AMIM-AKG-PA (Sattler), 1060 Gaffney Road
#5900, Fort Wainwright, AK 99703-5900; telephone: (907) 353-6701;
email: [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In October 1999, Congress--through the
Military Lands Withdrawal Act (Public Law (Pub. L.) 106-65)--withdrew
869,862 acres of public land comprising Yukon Training Area, Donnelly
Training Area East, and Donnelly Training Area West from all forms of
appropriation under public land laws and reserved the acreage for use
by the Army. The withdrawal extended to November 6, 2026. The Army
determined there is a continuing military need for this land and is
requesting to extend its use of the three training areas, which are
federal lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) that
Congress has withdrawn and reserved for military use.
The Engle Act (Pub. L. 85-337; title 43, sections 155-158, United
States Code) requires land withdrawals in excess of 5,000 acres to be
authorized by Congress through legislation. The U.S. Department of the
Interior (DOI) has authority to process federal land withdrawal
applications (title 43, part 2300, Code of Federal Regulations (CFR)).
The Military Lands Withdrawal Act requires the Army to notify the
Secretary of the Interior and Congress regarding whether there is a
continuing military need for the withdrawn land. If there is such a
need, the Army and DOI shall submit a legislative proposal to Congress
no later than May 1, 2025. BLM, a subordinate agency within DOI, agreed
to participate in the LEIS process as a cooperating agency.
Fort Wainwright is in the interior of Alaska. It is located in the
Fairbanks North Star Borough and is home to U.S. Army Garrison--Alaska
and to units of the 11th Airborne Division. The Yukon Training Area
covers approximately 246,277 acres and is located approximately 16
miles east-southeast of Fairbanks and immediately east of Eielson Air
Force Base. Donnelly Training Areas East and West are located near Fort
Greely. These areas are situated in the Tanana River Valley in central
Alaska, approximately 80 miles southeast of Fort Wainwright, near the
city of Delta Junction in the Southeast Fairbanks Census Area. Donnelly
Training Area East is approximately 51,590 acres and Donnelly Training
Area West is approximately 571,995 acres.
The purpose of the Proposed Action is to obtain an extension of the
land withdrawal of the three training areas for 25 years or more, until
such time as the Army determines it no longer needs the land for
military purposes. The Army requires the continued use of the training
areas on withdrawn land to execute and fulfill its mission in Alaska.
Access to the withdrawn land enables the Army to produce a force
trained to
[[Page 30731]]
mobilize, deploy, fight, and win anywhere in the world. Army training
conditions must match or closely resemble all possible environments
throughout the world, including arctic and subarctic conditions. In
addition to the Army's use of the withdrawn land, the U.S. Air Force
plans, conducts, and coordinates air operations in the restricted
airspace over the withdrawn land.
The Draft LEIS evaluates the reasonably foreseeable effects of
multiple alternatives. The alternatives considered include: (1)
requesting that Congress extend the land withdrawal for 25 years or
more until such time as the Army determines it no longer needs the land
for military purposes; and (2) a No-Action Alternative, under which the
withdrawal would not be extended. Besides the first alternative above,
there are no reasonable alternatives capable of meeting the project's
purpose and need.
Resource areas and impacts analyzed in the Draft LEIS include, but
are not limited to, the following: recreational uses of the withdrawn
land; subsistence uses; air quality; noise; soil; water quality;
biological resources; socioeconomics; public health and safety;
archaeological sites and districts; traffic and transportation; land
use; airspace; and hazardous materials. The Draft LEIS also identifies
measures that would reduce or eliminate adverse impacts. BLM's findings
regarding potential impacts on subsistence uses will--consistent with
the requirements of section 810 of the Alaska National Interest Lands
Conservation Act--be appended to the Draft LEIS. The Army coordinated
with federal, state, and Tribal entities during development of the
LEIS, including the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and BLM.
The No-Action Alternative could have significant economic impacts
on the cities of Delta Junction and Fairbanks. Under the Proposed
Action, there would be no change to training activities. The Draft LEIS
identified ongoing, potential, moderate and minor adverse impacts on
biological resources, cultural resources, water resources, air quality,
and hazardous material levels resulting from the Proposed Action. The
Army does not anticipate the Proposed Action causing any significant
impacts.
The Army announced the release of the Draft LEIS through local
media outlets, beginning a public comment period during which public
meetings will be held in Delta Junction and Fairbanks. Pursuant to
section 810(b) of the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act
(Pub. L. 96-487, title 16, section 3120, United States Code), the
public meeting in Delta Junction will also serve as a public hearing on
BLM's finding of potential impacts on subsistence uses. Following the
60-day public comment period, the Army will consider all comments and
append them to the Draft LEIS for inclusion in the legislative
proposal. Under title 40, part 1506, CFR, a Final EIS is not required
in the LEIS process, and the Army will not prepare a Final EIS for this
Proposed Action.
Federal, state, and local agencies, Alaska Native Tribes, Alaska
Native Tribal organizations, and the general public are invited to
participate in a public meeting and/or submit written comments. Written
comments must be received within 60 days of publication of this Notice
of Availability in the Federal Register. Public meetings will be held
in a virtual environment, in person, or both. Dates and times will be
advertised in local newspapers and will be posted online at: https://home.army.mil/alaska/index.php/fort-wainwright/NEPA.
James W. Satterwhite, Jr.,
Army Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 2023-10144 Filed 5-11-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3711-02-P