[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 202 (Thursday, October 18, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 52897-52898]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-26309]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army


Draft Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS) for Army 
Transformation

AGENCY: Department of the Army, DoD.

ACTION: Notice of Availability (NOA).

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SUMMARY: The Department of the Army announces the availability of the 
Draft PEIS for Army Transformation.
    The PEIS details the environmental concerns which may affect 
various aspects of Army Transformation including, but not limited to: 
unit location; materiel acquisition and testing; training areas; range 
requirements; and strategic deployment.

DATES: The comment period for the Draft PEIS will end 45 days after 
publication of the NOA in the Federal Register by the U.S. 
Environmental Protection Agency.

ADDRESSES: To obtain a copy of the PEIS write to Headquarters, 
Department of the Army, Attn: DAMO-FMF (Mr. Jim Lucas), 400 Army 
Pentagon, Washington, DC 20310-0400.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Jim Lucas, Headquarters, 
Department of the Army, ATTN: ODCSOPS (DAMO-FMF), 400 Army Pentagon, 
Washington, DC 20310-0400 or at (703) 602-9794.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The prospect of a rapidly changing and more 
turbulent, unpredictable, global security environment underscores the 
need for a high level of U.S. defense preparedness. To meet the 
challenges of a wider range of threats and a more complex set of 
operating environments, the U.S. will require an Army capable of rapid 
response and dominance across the entire spectrum of operations in 
joint, interagency, and multinational configurations. 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, 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 lack survivability; lethality and 
tactical mobility once inserted. Therefore, to meet the defense 
challenges of the future and provide the National Command Authority the 
decisive land power 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

[[Page 52898]]

that includes transforming the most respected Army in the world into a 
strategically responsive force that is dominant across the full 
spectrum of operations.
    The Army proposes to implement transformation as rapidly as 
possible, while continually maintaining the warfighting readiness of 
its operational forces, improving its installations and business 
practices, and taking care of its people. The proposed program of Army 
Transformation would be the mechanism used to integrate and synchronize 
the implementation of the Army Vision. To validate early transformation 
concepts, an Initial Force of two brigade combat teams at Fort Lewis, 
Washington, is receiving off-the-shelf equipment to support evaluation 
and refinement of new doctrinal organizational and operational 
concepts. An Interim Force of six to eight brigade combat teams will 
follow in the future. The Interim Force would be 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 would be the force that 
achieves our transformation objective. It would be a future force that 
would be a strategically responsive Army capable of dominating at every 
point across the full spectrum of operations and rapidly transitioning 
across mission requirements without loss of momentum. It would be able 
to operate as an integral member of joint, multinational, interagency 
teams and would be dominant against the asymmetric application of 
conventional, unconventional, and weapons of mass destruction threat 
capabilities.
    The PEIS complies with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) 
of 1969. Implementation of the Army Transformation, as envisioned, will 
be a major undertaking entailing a series of changes in equipment, 
force structure and training practices. As changes are proposed for 
specific sites and for equipment acquisition and testing, there will 
likely be a range of adverse and beneficial effects on the environment. 
The PEIS informs the public, regulators, concerned groups and Army 
decision-makers about potential environmental concerns that should be 
factored into all aspects of Army Transition. Additionally, the PEIS 
provides all stakeholders with an opportunity to present their views to 
Army decision-makers.
    Alternatives: (1) No Action Alternative--whereby Army 
Transformation would not be implemented and needed changes to Army 
equipment, force structure and training practices would be separately 
analyzed on a piecemeal basis; and (2) Action Alternative--whereby Army 
Transformation, as envisioned by Army decision-makers, would be 
implemented to better meet present and future national security 
requirements and fulfill the Army Vision.
    Significant issues: The PEIS addresses issues including noise, 
impacts to wetlands and riparian areas, soil erosion, air and water 
quality, endangered species, and cultural resources.
    Comments received as a result of the NOA 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 
this process by mailing written comments or by facsimile through the 
Army Homepage web site www.army.mil/a-z.htm, and scrolling to 
``Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement.''

    Dated: October 10, 2001.
Raymond J. Fatz,
Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army, (Environment, Safety and 
Occupational Health) OASA(I&E).
[FR Doc. 01-26309 Filed 10-17-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3710-08-M