[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 160 (Tuesday, August 19, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 44109-44110]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-21844]
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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Army
Environmental Assessment for Promulgation of Revised Army
Regulation (AR) 200-4 ``Cultural Resources Management''
AGENCY: Department of the Army, DoD.
ACTION: Notice of Availability.
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SUMMARY DESCRIPTION OF THE PROPOSED ACTION: The Department of the Army
has, consistent with the procedures established by the National
Environmental Policy Act, the regulations published by the Council on
Environmental Quality, and internal AR 200-2, ``Environmental Effects
of Army Actions,'' prepared an Environmental Assessment (EA) to fully
consider and disclose the environmental impacts associated with the
proposal to adopt a uniform Department of the Army Regulation (AR), AR
200-4, ``Cultural Resources Management.'' AR 200-4 is a revision of AR
420-40, ``Historic Preservation,'' dated 15 May 1984. Upon adoption, AR
200-4 will supersede AR 420-40. The EA considered and disclosed the
environmental impacts associated with alternatives to the proposed
action, including the ``No Action'' alternative. The EA is hereby
incorporated by reference.
The Department of the Army established and forwarded the proposed
action for the following purposes: (1) To develop a uniform Department
of the Army policy for management of cultural resources that ensures
compliance with all applicable legal requirements including Federal
statutes, regulations, Executive Orders, Presidential documents, and
best management practices applicable to cultural resource management;
(2) to provide a comprehensive approach to cultural resource management
that goes beyond the singular focus of AR 420-40, ``Historic
Preservation,'' on management of historic properties; and (3) to
identify the appropriate roles and responsibilities of Army officials
in the cultural resource management process at all levels of the Army.
The proposed action is necessary in order to provide a uniform, up-
to-date, Department of the Army cultural resource management policy for
distribution to and implementation in the field. It is mandatory for
the policy adopted to address cultural resources management on a
comprehensive basis, to provide clear direction and guidance for
compliance with all applicable legal requirements across resources and
to eliminate the present ad hoc approach to management of cultural
resources.
[[Page 44110]]
ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED: The EA considered, evaluated and assessed
three alternatives: (1) the ``No Action'' alternative (continue
activities under AR 420-40); (2) rescind AR 420-40 (no policy for
cultural resources management); and (3) the proposed action alternative
which is adoption of AR 200-4.
ALTERNATIVE CHOSEN: Consideration of the alternatives analyzed in the
EA leads the Army to choose adoption of AR 200-4. The ``No Action''
alternative and the ``Rescind AR 420-40'' alternative do not meet the
purpose and need as expressed in both this document and the EA. The
``No Action'' alternative would allow a continued ad hoc approach to
management of cultural resources without a comprehensive consideration
of all cultural resources. The ``Rescind AR 420-40'' alternative would
leave the Army with no policy for management of cultural resources. AR
200-4, on the other hand, provides clear guidance and direction for
management of cultural resources on a comprehensive basis. Management
in this manner will facilitate overall Army compliance with applicable
legal requirements, and will otherwise provide the agency with the
ability to act as a more responsible steward of the cultural resources
entrusted to its care.
ANTICIPATED ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS: As noted in the EA, the nature and
scope of the analysis was programmatic. This analysis is directly
related to the nature of the decision being made. The Department of the
Army is choosing to adopt AR 200-4, an internal agency policy for
management of cultural resources. This decision alone is not likely to
result in any quantifiable, concrete, on-the-ground impacts. Rather,
its effect will be felt as resource managers develop site-specific
cultural resource management plans and implement management activities
consistent with the direction and guidance contained in AR 200-4. That
second level of planning and decision making will involve additional
environmental review which considers on-the-ground impacts. In
addition, while AR 200-4 formalizes a comprehensive and uniform policy
for managing cultural resources and eliminates the present ad hoc
approach, many of the management practices presently applied in the
field will continue to be applied. The effect of adoption and
implementation of AR 200-4, therefore, should be beneficial for Army
cultural resources.
CONCLUSIONS: Based on a review of the EA, and for the reasons stated
immediately above, it is not anticipated that adoption of AR 200-4 will
either independently or cumulatively present significant environmental
impacts to the quality of the human environment. Further, based on the
analysis in the EA, the Army expects that adoption of AR 200-4 will
result in beneficial impacts on cultural resources.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: Requests for copies of the EA and questions
regarding the Finding of No Significant Impact (FNSI) may be directed
by mail to the Commander, U.S. Army Environmental Center, ATTN: SFIM-
AEC-PA (Mr. Tom Hankus), Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD 21010-5401, or by
phone at (410) 671-1267. The Army also solicits written comments on the
EA and FNSI.
COMMENTS: Such comments must be submitted by mail to the above address
on or before September 18, 1997.
Dated: August 12, 1997.
Raymond J. Fatz,
Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army, (Environment, Safety and
Occupational Health), OASA (I,L&E).
[FR Doc. 97-21844 Filed 8-18-97; 8:45 am]
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