Department of Defense January 4, 2007 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Army intends to prepare a Supplement to the 2004 Final Environmental Impact Statement for Transformation of the 2nd Brigade, 25th Infantry Division (Light) (2nd Bde, 25th ID(L)) to a Stryker Brigade Combat Team (SBCT). The Army has directed the 2nd Bde, 25th ID(L) to transform into the 5th SBCT. The Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) will assess the potential environmental impacts associated with the proposed permanent home stationing of the 5th SBCT at its current location in Hawaii and at other reasonable locations outside of Hawaii. The no action alternative is to return the 2-25th Bde, 25th ID (L) to its original structure as it existed prior to its transformation. The no-action alternative is no longer feasible, however, as the Army Campaign Plan (ACP) has directed all previously existing Light Brigades to transform to the standard expeditionary configuration of the Infantry Brigade Combat Team (IBCT). Alternatives analyzed in the SEIS may also consider whether to return an IBCT to replace the 2-25th Bde, 25th ID (L) or whether not to replace the brigade at all. Other locations for the permanent stationing of the 5th SBCT could include Fort Richardson and Donnelly Training Area (DTA) in Alaska, Fort Lewis and Yakima Training Center (YTC) in Washington, Fort Carson and the Pi[ntilde]on Canyon Maneuver site (PCMS) in Colorado, or Fort Knox in Kentucky. The PCMS, YTC and DTA are separate maneuver training facilities that will not be considered for the permanent housing and life support of the Soldiers and families of the 5th SBCT as part of the alternatives included in the SEIS for analysis. These sites would only be used to support unit training requirements of the 5th SBCT and not the life support functions required by the SBCT's Soldiers and families. The SEIS will include evaluation of the different locations which could reasonably accommodate, support, and sustain the 5th SBCT and meet its requirements for range and maneuver training; maintenance requirements; and Soldier and Family Quality of Life requirements (e.g. schools, gyms, medical facilities, reducing family disruption). The proposed action will require the Army to balance strategic, sustainment, and environmental considerations to provide greater flexibility and responsiveness to meet today's evolving world conditions and threats to National defense and security. The SEIS will analyze the proposed action's impacts upon the natural, cultural, and man-made environments at the alternative permanent home-stationing sites. The SBCT is a maneuver brigade that includes, infantry, artillery, engineers, and other assets, totaling between 3,900-4,100 soldiers and 950-1050 vehicles, including between 310-330 Stryker vehicles depending on the Army's final determination of the 5th BCTs force structure requirements. The action may have significant environmental impacts from the training of the brigade and construction to support its training and quality of life requirements.