[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 184 (Monday, September 23, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Page 59495]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-24033]



[[Page 59495]]

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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army


Notice of Availability--Record of Decision (ROD) for the Northern 
Training Complex With a Multi-Purpose Digital Training Range and 
Expanded Maneuver Areas, Drop Zones and Landing Zones at Fort Know, KY

AGENCY: U.S. Army Armor Center and Fort Knox, Department of the Army, 
DoD.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act 
(NEPA), a ROD has been prepared for the construction and operation of a 
multi-purpose digital training range and a series of maneuver areas, 
drop zones and landing zones at Fort Knox. As soon as practical, the 
Army will begin to construct and operate the facilities described as 
the Preferred Alternative (Alternative 2). Although Alternative 2 has 
significant environmental impacts, all feasible measures will be used 
to mitigate the impacts. Alternative 2 is the only course of action 
that will provide a multi-functional war fighting capability to meet 
the Army's current and future training needs for soldiers in urban and 
restricted terrain combat scenarios and the new digital technology to 
support the M1A2 System Enhancement Package (SEP) Main Battle Tank. All 
practical mitigation measures are listed in the ROD.

ADDRESSES: Interested parties desiring to review the ROD may obtain a 
copy by contacting: Environmental Management Division, Directorate of 
Base Operations Support, U.S. Army Armor Center, ATTN: ATK-OSE (Mrs. 
Pollock), Building 1110, Room 216, Ironsides & 6th Avenue, Fort Knox, 
KY 40121-5000 or by sending electronic mail to: 
[email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Al Freeland or Mrs. Gail Pollock, 
Environmental Management Division, Directorate of Base Operations 
Support, U.S. Army Armor Center, ATTN: ATZK-OSE, Building 1110, Room 
216, Ironsides & 6th Avenue, Fort Knox, KY 40121-5000; by phone at 
(502) 624-3629 or by fax at (502) 624-3000.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The proposed project includes upgrading an 
existing training range to a modern digitized multi-purpose training 
range; construction of a series of landing zones, drop zones and 
maneuver areas and a grassed mock C130 landing strip; upgrade of 
existing roads; installation of fiber optics and other infrastructure 
improvements. The facilities would prepare the mounted force warriors 
for full spectrum combat operations. The proposed facilities would 
fully support new equipment training such as the M1A2 Main Battle Tank 
(MBT) System Enhancement Package (SEP), the M2A3 Bradley Fighting 
Vehicle, and the Stryker family of vehicles, as well as other enhanced 
vehicles requiring digital capability. These vehicles are equipped with 
a dynamic new computer system that uses digital technology to provide 
soldiers with on the move and instantaneous battlefield communications.
    Public reading copies of the ROD are available at the following 
locations: Barr Library; 400 Quartermaster Street, Fort Knox, Kentucky 
40121-5000 and Ridgeway Memorial Library, 127 North Walnut Street, P.O. 
Box 146, Shepherdsville, Kentucky 40165.

    Dated: September 16, 2002.
Raymond J. Fatz,
Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army (Environment, Safety and 
Occupational Health) OASA(I&E).
[FR Doc. 02-24033 Filed 9-20-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3710-08-M