[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 242 (Friday, December 15, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Page 78476]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-32000]



[[Page 78476]]

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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army


Notice of Intent (NOI) to Prepare a Programmatic Environmental 
Impact Statement (PEIS) for Implementation of the Army Transformation 
Campaign Plan (ATCP)

AGENCY: Department of the Army, DoD.

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: The Department of the Army announces its intent to prepare a 
PEIS to identify and evaluate the environmental effects associated with 
implementation of the ATCP.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lieutenant Colonel Mealer at (703) 
614-5050.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The prospect of a rapidly changing and more 
turbulent, unpredictable, global security environment underscores the 
need for a high level of defense preparedness. To meet the challenges 
of a wider range of threats and a more complex set of operating 
environments, the United States will require a world class Army capable 
of rapid response and dominance across the entire spectrum of 
operations in a joint, interagency and multinational environment. 
Today's Army force structure and supporting systems were designed for a 
different era and enemy. They lack the capability to operate optimally 
across the full range of likely future operations. The Army's superb 
heavy forces are unequalled in their ability to gain and hold terrain 
in the most intense, direct fire combat imaginable; and, once deployed, 
they are the decisive element in major theater wars. The current heavy 
forces, however, are challenged to get to contingencies where we have 
not laid the deployment groundwork and, once deployed, these forces 
have a large logistical footprint. On the other hand, the Army's 
current light forces can strike quickly but once inserted lack 
survivability, lethality and tactical mobility. Therefore, to meet the 
defense challenges of the future and provide the National Command 
Authority the decisive landpower forces necessary to support the 
National Security Strategy and National Military Strategy, the 
Secretary of the Army and the Chief of Staff of the Army have 
articulated a clear Army Vision that includes transforming all aspects 
of the most respected Army in the world into a strategically responsive 
force that is dominant across the full spectrum of operations.
    The Army will implement transformation as rapidly as possible, 
while continually maintaining the warfighting readiness of its 
operational forces and taking care of its people. The ATCP will be the 
mechanism used to integrate and synchronize the implementation of the 
Army Vision. Indeed, Army transformation has already begun with the 
establishment of the Initial Force at Fort Lewis, Washington. The 
Initial Force is a two-brigade combat team force that will transform 
and will receive off-the-shelf equipment to support evaluation and 
refinement of the doctrinal Organizational and Operational concepts. 
This will be followed by the Interim Force consisting of six to eight 
brigades. The Interim Force is a transition force--one that seeks the 
Objective Force state-of-the-art technology, but leverages today's 
technology together with modernized legacy forces as a bridge to the 
future. The Objective Force is the force that achieves our 
transformation objective. It is a future force that will be 
strategically responsive Army, capable of dominating at every point 
across the full spectrum of operations and which can rapidly transition 
across mission requirements without loss of momentum. It will be able 
to operate as an integral member of the joint, multinational, 
interagency team and will be dominant against the asymmetric 
application of conventional, unconventional and weapons of mass 
destruction threat capabilities.
    The PEIS is being prepared to comply with the National 
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969. Implementation of the ATCP, as 
envisioned, will be a major undertaking entailing a series of changes 
to equipment, force structure and training practices. When all the 
changes are proposed for specific sites and for equipment acquisition 
and testing, there will undoubtedly be a range of effects on the 
environment. The PEIS will inform the public, regulators, concerned 
groups and Army decision-makers about potential environmental concerns 
that should be factored into any final decisions to implement the ATCP. 
In addition, it will provide these groups with a meaningful opportunity 
to present their views on significant environmental issues and concerns 
to Army decision-makers.
    Alternatives:
    1. No Action Alternative: Whereby the ATCP would not be implemented 
and needed changes to Army equipment, force structure and training 
practices would be separately analyzed on a piecemeal basis.
    2. Action Alternative 1: Whereby the program for transformation of 
the Army to better meet present and future national security 
requirements and fulfill the Army Vision would be initiated in 
accordance with the ATCP including:
    a. A comparison of the likely environmental effects at candidate 
(alternative) sites for placement of the brigades planned for the 
Interim Force.
    b. Identification and analysis of the types of major actions 
contained in the ATCP leading to the Objective Force and their 
associated activities and consequential types and magnitude of effects.
    3. Action Alternative 2: Whereby the ATCP would only be partially 
implemented because of budgetary or other constraints.
    Significant issues: The issues to be analyzed in this PEIS include 
noise, impacts to wetlands and riparian areas, soil erosion, air and 
water quality, endangered species, cultural resources and other issues.
    Scoping: Comments received as a result of the NOI will be used to 
assist the Army in identifying potential impacts to the quality of 
human and natural environments. Individuals or organizations may 
participate in the scoping process by providing written comment by mail 
or by facsimile through the Scoping Page on the Army Homepage web site 
(www.army.mil). The time and location for scoping via the web site will 
be announced by public notice in the national news media. To be 
considered in the draft PEIS, comments and suggestions should be 
received no later than 30 days following activation of the Scoping 
Page. Questions regarding this PEIS may be directed to Headquarters, 
Department of the Army, ATTN: ODCSOPS (DAMO-FMF), 400 Army Pentagon, 
Washington, D.C. 20310-0400 or by facsimile transmission to (703) 614-
3601.

    Dated: December 11, 2000.
Raymond J. Fatz,
Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army, (Environment, Safety and 
Occupational Health), OASA (I&E).
[FR Doc. 00-32000 Filed 12-14-00; 8:45 am]
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