[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 111 (Wednesday, June 10, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 31760-31761]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-15352]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army


Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement 
(EIS) for the Land Exchange Between Fort Benning and the City of 
Columbus, Georgia

AGENCY: U.S. Army Infantry Center and Fort Benning, Fort Benning, 
Georgia; Department of the Army, DoD.

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: The United States Army will prepare an environmental impact 
statement (EIS) to assess the potential environmental impacts of the 
exchange of tracts of land between Fort Benning and the City of 
Columbus (hereafter referred to as the City). Section 2829 of Public 
Law 101-510, enacted November 5, 1990, authorized a land exchange 
between the City and Fort Benning. Fort Benning would convey 
approximately 3,000 acres of land to the City; and in exchange, the 
City would convey to Fort Benning approximately 3,300 acres located on 
the southern boundary of the military reservation. Those land tracts 
were refined by survey to 3,106 and 3,228 acres, respectively. The City 
intended to use the land for economic development, passive recreation 
and a sanitary landfill. Fort Benning would use the land it receives 
for dismounted light infantry training. A Notice of Intent (NOI) was 
published in the Federal Register, June 27, 1994 (59 FR 32957), and a 
scooping meeting was held in Columbus, GA, on July 20, 1994. Due to 
changes in the proposed project and the length of time since prior 
scoping, this NOI provides an opportunity for more current public 
involvement based on newer information.

ALTERNATIVES: The proposed North-South tract land exchange will be 
evaluated for the following alternatives:
    No-Action Alternative: No land would be exchanged under this 
alternative. Impacts associated with the Fort Benning mission and land 
use will be evaluated for the North tract. Impacts associated with the 
City's projected use of the South tract will also be analyzed.
    Maximum Development: This alternative would provide approximately 
2,110 acres of the North tract for economic/light industrial 
development. Also, approximately 650 acres of the North tract would 
become a Parks and Recreation Area near Bull Creek for the purpose of 
wetland mitigation. The Army would use the South tract for dismounted 
light infantry training.
    Partial Development (preferred alternative): This alternative would 
also include an approximately 650 acre and Parks and Recreation Area 
near Bull Creek for wetlands mitigation on the North tract. A Habitat 
Conservation Area would be established and managed for protected 
species on approximately 710 acres. The remaining North tract property 
(approximately 1,400 acres) would be developable. The Army would use 
the South tract for dismounted light infantry training.
    Minimum Development: This alternative would preserve all existing 
protected species and habitat on approximately 1,375 acres on the North 
tract. Also the approximately 650 acre Parks and Recreation Area would 
be established for wetlands protection, leaving only approximately 735 
acres of developable land. The Army would use the South tract for 
dismounted light infantry training.

SCOPING: Comments received as a result of this notice will be used to 
assist Fort Benning in identifying additional alternatives for study, 
significant resources to be evaluated, as well as potential impacts to 
the quality of the human and natural environments. Individuals or 
organizations wishing to participate in the scoping process may forward 
their written comments to: U.S. Army Infantry Center, Directorate of 
Public Works, Environmental Management Division (ATTN: Mr. John Brent), 
Fort Benning, Georgia 31905-

[[Page 31761]]

5122, or send e-mail to BrentJ%EMD%[email protected]. 
Comments and suggestions should be received no later than 30 days 
following the publication of this notice to be considered in the 
preparation of the Draft EIS.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Questions regarding this proposal may be directed to Mr. John Brent at 
(706) 545-4766.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Since the 1994 scoping effort, the land 
exchange was separated into two distinct exchanges: (1) A landfill land 
exchange, and (2) a North-South tract land exchange. On June 26, 1996, 
Fort Benning conveyed 346 acres from the 3,106 acres to the City for 
landfill development in exchange for 380 acres of the City's 3,228 
acres. An Environmental Assessment was prepared pursuant to the 
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, and a Finding of No 
Significant Impact was published in the ``Columbus Ledger-Enquirer'' on 
October 25, 1995, for the landfill land exchange.
    This NOI pertains only to the proposed North-South tract land 
exchange, involving the remaining 2,760 acres of Fort Benning land (the 
North tract) and 2,848 acres of the City land (the South tract). An EIS 
will be prepared and will include an analysis of the Cumulative 
environmental impacts from both the North-South tract exchange and the 
landfill land exchange.
    The general study areas for environmental concerns will be the 
North and South-tracts plus any additional surrounding areas necessary 
to satisfy the requirements of NEPA, as well as any relevant 
environmental laws and regulations to include (as a minimum but not 
necessarily limited to) the following: Endangered Species Act, 
Migratory Birds Treaty Act, National Historic Preservation Act, Clean 
Air Act, Clean Water Act, Resource Conservation Recovery Act, 
Environmental Justice Executive Order, etc. The information developed 
will identify, evaluate, analyze and compare the potential individual 
and cumulative impacts of the North-South tract land exchange 
alternatives. The cumulative impact analysis will include an 
environmental assessment of other recent or reasonably anticipated 
similar actions in the area of concern, including the landfill land 
exchange.

    Dated: June 3, 1998.
Raymond J. Fatz,
Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army, (Environment, Safety and 
Occupational Health), OASA (I, L&E).
[FR Doc. 98-15352 Filed 6-9-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3710-08-M