[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 161 (Wednesday, August 20, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Page 44261]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-22011]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army


Deployable Universal Combat Earthmover (DEUCE)

AGENCY: U.S. Army Tank-automotive and Armaments Command, Army.

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: The Product Manager, Construction Equipment/Material Handling 
Equipment (PM CE/MHE) has prepared a Life-Cycle Environmental 
Assessment (LCEA) which examines the potential impacts to the natural 
and human environment from the life cycle activities of the Deployable 
Universal Combat Earthmover (DEUCE). Based on the LCEA, PM CE/MHE has 
determined that the proposed action is not a major Federal action 
significantly affecting the quality of the human environment, within 
the meaning of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969. 
Therefore, the preparation of an environmental impact statement is not 
required and the Army is issuing this Finding of No Significant Impact 
(FONSI).

ADDRESSES: Written comments should be sent to, U.S. Army Tank-
automotive and Armaments Command (TACOM), ATTN: AMSTA-DSA-TA-CE 
(DEUCE), Warren, MI 48397-5000

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
For further information, or to obtain a copy of the Deuce Life-Cycle 
Environmental Assessment contact Mr. Jeff Klein, Assistant Product 
Manager (810) 574-6217.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

    a. Proposed Action: This LCEA examines the potential impacts to the 
natural and human environment from the procurement of the DEUCE to 
satisfy the Army's need for a high-speed earthmoving capability, which 
can deploy with Light and Airborne units. The DEUCE will have 
earthmoving capabilities comparable to the D5B dozer, the ability to 
travel at 30 MPH, and be C-130 air transportable. The DEUCE is designed 
to improve the Army's ability to deploy with supported units, and 
provide mobility, countermobility, and survivability tasks as required. 
A minimum quantity of 67 bulldozers is required to fill the Army's 
Force Package One contingency requirements.
    The DEUCE will replace existing D5B dozers in selected units. The 
current earthmoving system does not meet the changing Army role to 
become a Rapid Power Projection type force.
    b. Environmental Impacts: The DEUCE life-cycle includes the 
transport of vehicles to test sites, testing, vehicle production, 
deployment and operation of production vehicles and their eventual 
demilitarization. Potential environmental impacts of these life-cycle 
stages may include Air Quality, Noise, Water, Soil and Groundwater, 
Hazardous Materials and Hazardous Wastes, and Flora, Fauna and 
Threatened or Endangered Species at each of these life-cycle phases.
    c. Additional Findings: Impacts from the proposed action would be 
minimal and not significant for the following reasons:
    (1) The DEUCE will be used in its intended environment. This 
intended environment includes vehicle production and some testing at 
the Contractor's facility, and the remainder of life-cycle activities 
at Army installations and facilities.
    (2) The DEUCE is very similar to vehicles produced commercially and 
vehicles already in the Army inventory. It is being produced in low to 
moderate quantities and will not significantly increase the vehicle 
population at Army installations and facilities.
    (3) The overall environmental risk associated with the DEUCE is 
low. It does not introduce any new technologies or processes. Vehicle 
life cycle activities do not introduce any potential environmental 
impacts that are not already currently mitigated by Army policy and 
procedures.
    (4) The DEUCE Product Manager has ensured that the Contractor 
producing the vehicle is environmentally complaint, has no permit 
violations, and has commercial practices for Hazardous Material 
Management and Pollution Prevention in production of the DEUCE.
    (5) The DEUCE Product Manager recognizes that Army installations 
and facilities have environmental plans and measures in place to 
address vehicle life cycle activities very similar to that of the DEUCE 
to prevent, mitigate and remediate environmental damage caused by 
vehicle operation. Vehicle operations at these Army installations and 
facilities are in conjunction with normal activities that are already 
addressed in their site specific environmental impact statements.
    d. Determination: It is therefore concluded that this program:
    (1) Is not a major federal action significantly affecting the 
quality of human environment.
    (2) Will not have a significant impact on the environment.
    (3) Is not likely to be environmentally controversial.
    (4) Will not likely result in litigation based on environmental 
quality issues.
    (5) Does not require an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).
Harry W. McClellan, Jr.,
Product Manager, Construction Equipment/Materials Handling Equipment.
[FR Doc. 97-22011 Filed 8-19-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3710-08-M