[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 86 (Monday, May 5, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Page 23705]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-10973]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army


Notice of Availability of the Chemical and Biological Defense 
Program (CBDP) Draft Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement 
(DPEIS)

AGENCY: U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command (USAMRMC), 
Department of the Army, DoD.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: The Army has prepared a DPEIS covering the execution of an 
integrated CBDP designed to protect our soldiers, sailors, marines, and 
airmen from the evolving chemical and biological (CB) threats they may 
encounter on the battlefield. The DPEIS evaluates the potential 
environmental impacts associated with the execution of the DoD CBDP. 
The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1994 mandated 
the coordination and integration of all DoD CB defense programs. The 
Army is the executive agency for the CBDP.

DATES: The public comment period for the DPEIS will end 45 days after 
publication of the Notice of Availability in the Federal Register by 
the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

ADDRESSES: Written comments or requests for copies of the DPEIS may be 
made to Ms. JoLane Souris, Environmental Coordinator, U.S. Army Medical 
Research and Materiel Command, Attn: MCMR-ZC-S, 504 Scott Street, Fort 
Detrick, MD 21702-5012 or visit the CBDP DPEIS Web site at http://chembioeis.detrick.army.mil.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. JoLane Souris by calling (301) 
619-2004 or by fax at (301) 619-6627.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The mission of the DoD CBDP is to provide CB 
defense capabilities to allow the military forces of the United States 
to survive and successfully complete their operational missions in 
battle space environments contaminated with CB warfare agents. If our 
military forces are not fully and adequately prepared to meet this 
threat, the consequences could be devastating. The CBDP to support this 
mission comprises research, development, and acquisition activities. 
Some of these CBDP activities necessarily involve the use of hazardous 
chemicals or infectious disease agents for research, development, and 
production purposes. The controls on and the potential environmental 
consequences of such use for both the proposed action and the 
alternative were primary focuses of the CBDP DPEIS.
    The activities take place at numerous military installations and 
contractor facilities throughout the United States. Details concerning 
the CBDP are contained in the CBDP Annual Report to Congress, April 
2002 at http://www.acq.osd.mil/cp/reports.html. The proposed action 
consists of the execution of an integrated CBDP designed to protect our 
soldiers, sailors, marines, and airmen from the evolving CB threats 
they may encounter on the battlefield. The no action alternative, 
continuation of current CBDP operations as described in and covered by 
existing environmental analyses, also was evaluated. No other 
alternatives were identified during the public scoping process.
    Although numerous environmental documents dating back to the 
Biological Defense Research Program Final PEIS (April 1989) have been 
prepared analyzing the potential environment consequences of various 
elements of he CBDP, no one document analyzes the potential 
environmental impacts of the full range of CBDP activities. In keeping 
with the purposes of NEPA, DoD has now prepared such a document in the 
form of the CBDP DPEIS. This document creates an overarching framework 
that will continue to ensure fully informed Government decision making 
within the CBDP and will provide a single, up-to-date information 
resource for the public.
    Comments, including names and addresses of respondents, will be 
available for public review during regular business hours at the 
address shown in the ADDRESSES section of this Notice. Individual 
respondents may request confidentiality. If you wish to withhold your 
name and address from public review or disclosure, you must state this 
prominently at the beginning of your comment. Such requests will be 
honored to the extent allowed by law. Anonymous comments, however, will 
not be considered. All submissions from organizations or businesses and 
from individuals identifying themselves as representatives or officials 
of organizations or businesses will be made available for public 
inspection in their entirety.

    Dated: April 28, 2003.
Raymond J. Fatz,
Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army (Environment, Safety and 
Occupational Health) OASA(I&E).
[FR Doc. 03-10973 Filed 5-2-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3710-08-M