[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]
BILLING CODE 3710-08-M