[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 193 (Thursday, October 4, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Page 50626]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-24885]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army


Proposed Expansion Plan for the National Training Center (NTC) 
and Fort Irwin

AGENCY: National Training Center and Fort Irwin, Department of the 
Army, DoD.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: Congress directed the Departments of the Army and Interior to 
draft a proposed plan that would expand the maneuver training lands at 
the NTC while protecting endangered and threatened species and their 
critical habitats. Public Law 106-554, Consolidated Appropriations Act, 
2001, incorporates by reference House Report 5666, Miscellaneous 
Appropriations, Section 323, which calls upon the Secretaries jointly 
to provide to Congress the key elements of the proposed expansion plan 
no later than 45 days after enactment. Within 90 days after enactment, 
the Director of the Fish and Wildlife Service is to provide the 
Secretaries with a preliminary review of the plan that identifies an 
approach for implementing the plan consistent with the Endangered 
Species Act. Within 120 days of enactment, the Secretaries are required 
to submit a proposed expansion plan and to propose legislation for the 
withdrawal and reservation of public lands for the NTC expansion. All 
activities are to be taken in full compliance with the Endangered 
Species Act, the National Environmental Policy Act, and other 
applicable laws and regulations.
    In partial satisfaction of the requirements of the NTC and Fort 
Irwin expansion provision, the Secretaries submitted the Key Elements 
Report to Congress on January 12, 2001, identifying the proposed 
expansion areas that are necessary to meet training requirements and 
setting forth proposed conservation measures to preserve and protect 
sensitive species and their habitats.
    On March 28, 2001, the Director of the Fish and Wildlife Service 
provided the Secretaries with a Preliminary Review of the plan, 
identifying an approach for implementing the proposed expansion plan 
consistent with the Endangered Species Act. The Fish and Wildlife 
Service reviewed the key elements of the proposed expansion plan, 
including the proposed conservation measures, and provided its 
preliminary analysis of the effects of the proposed expansion on the 
desert tortoise and the Lane Mountain milk vetch. The Service also 
provided information on the aspects of an expansion for which 
additional information must be developed prior to the initiation of 
formal consultation pursuant to section 7(a)(2) of the Endangered 
Species Act. The Service noted that, although it had attempted to 
provide the most complete analysis possible, the receipt of new 
information between the date of the Preliminary Review and the 
conclusion of formal consultation may alter the conclusions it reached. 
The purpose of the Preliminary Review was to provide early information 
so the Department of the Army could prepare an expansion proposal that 
includes appropriate measures for ameliorating the effects to the 
desert tortoise and Lane Mountain milk vetch. The Preliminary Review 
does not constitute the Fish and Wildlife Service's biological opinion 
for the NTC's proposed expansion.
    The Proposed Expansion Plan builds on the comments provided by the 
Fish and Wildlife Service in its Preliminary Review of the Effects of 
the Expansion of the NTC/Fort Irwin on the Desert Tortoise and Lane 
Mountain milk vetch and is submitted concurrently with a draft of 
proposed legislation providing for the withdrawal and reservation of 
public lands for the expansion of the NTC. We understand and reiterate 
to the Congress and to the public that these documents do not 
substitute for the processes required under the Endangered Species Act, 
the National Environmental Policy Act, or other applicable laws and 
regulations.
    Copies of the Proposed Expansion Plan may be obtained via the web 
at http://www.dtic.mil/armylink/news/Jul2001/r2001071616july01.html or 
http://www.doi.gov/doipress/.

ADDRESSES: Requests for copies of the Proposed Expansion Plan may be 
made to the Public Affairs Office, National Training Center and Fort 
Irwin, P.O. Box 105001, Fort Irwin, California 92310 or by calling 
(760) 380-3078, FAX (760) 380-4860.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: MAJ Robert Ali, Public Affairs Office, 
National Training Center and Fort Irwin, P.O. Box 105001, Fort Irwin, 
California, or by calling (760) 380-3078.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This Notice of Availability (NOA) of the 
Proposed Expansion Plan is not a call for public comments on the Plan 
as would be required for a NOA of an Environmental Impact Statement 
(EIS). This NOA of the Proposed Expansion Plan does not substitute for 
the processes required under the Endangered Species Act, the National 
Environmental Policy Act, or other applicable laws and regulations. 
Consequently, there will be a Federal Register notice of intent to 
prepare a supplemental EIS and a subsequent notice of availability of a 
draft EIS for the NTC land expansion. Public comments will be accepted 
at that time on the draft EIS as required by the National Environmental 
Policy Act.

    Dated: September 28, 2001.
Raymond J. Fatz,
Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army (Environment, Safety and 
Occupational Health) OASA(I&E).
[FR Doc. 01-24885 Filed 10-3-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3710-08-M