[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 96 (Monday, May 19, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 27027-27028]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-12409]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Office of the Secretary


Notice of Intent to Prepare a Programmatic Environmental Impact 
Statement for Defense Threat Reduction Agency Activities at White Sands 
Missile Range, NM

AGENCY: Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, 
Technology, and Logistics, Defense Threat Reduction Agency, DoD.

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to section 102(2)(c) of the National Environmental 
Act (NEPA), 42 U.S.C. 4321-4370, as implemented by the Council of 
Environmental Quality Regulations (40 CFR parts 1500-1508), the Defense 
Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) announces intent to prepare a Draft 
Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS) in support of 
activities at White Sands Missile Range (WSMR), New Mexico. As a major 
cooperating agency, WSMR will participate in the preparation of the 
PEIS. Future development of DTRA's testing facilities and program, and 
its scope require an PEIS to adequately address potential environmental 
impacts.

ADDRESSES: Written comments may be forwarded to the Defense Threat 
Reduction Agency, ATTN: DTRA/TDTS, 1680 Texas St., SE., Kirtland AFB, 
NM 87117-5669. Emails may be forwarded to 
[email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: LTC Thomas Van Alstyne, EN, 
Environmental Engineer, DTRA at (505) 846-6612 or email 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: White Sands Missile Range covers 
approximately 8,288 km\2\ (3,200 mi\2\ ) of south-central New Mexico. 
Proposed DTRA activities at WSMR have the potential to significantly 
impact certain natural, social, cultural, and economic resources in the 
region. The study area for environmental analyses will include the Hard 
Target Defeat Test bed (HTDT), Permanent High Explosive Test Site 
(PHETS), Seismic Hardrock In Situ Test site (SHIST), Alternate SHIST, 
and Large Blast/Thermal Simulator (LBTS). The objective will be to 
provide a thorough, comprehensive and PEIS that will serve as a 
planning and decision-making tool, a public information source, and a 
reference for mitigation tracking concerning DTRA future activities.
    Alternatives may consist of alternative locations or modifications 
of specific activities. These alternatives will be developed during 
preparation of the Draft PEIS as a result of environmental analyses of 
the activities and public input.
    Significant Issues: Certain biologically diverse areas on White 
Sands Missile Range utilized by the Defense Threat Reduction Agency 
serve as habitat or potential habitat for protected floral and faunal 
(plan and animal) species. To date, several locations in the areas to 
be studied have been identified as important cultural resources. The 
most significant are Ground Zero and McDonald Ranch House, part of 
Trinity Site National Historic Landmark,

[[Page 27028]]

located within the Permanent High Explosive Test Site boundaries.
    Significant issues that will be addressed in the Draft PEIS 
include:
    1. The continued operation and maintenance of various test 
structures used as targets for weapon system evaluations.
    2. Construction of new test structures, enlargement of existing 
test beads, and possible development of new test beds.
    3. Testing, operations and maintenance activities at tunnel targets 
in the Capitol Canyon area (HTDT).
    4. The use of chemical and biological simulants in collateral 
damage tests.
    5. Planned improvements to the DTRA Administrative Park within the 
PHETS boundaries. Public scoping meeting will be held in the vicinity 
of WSMR, New Mexico, to facilitate input to the PEIS. The schedule and 
location for these meetings will be announced in the news media and the 
Federal Register.
    For those that cannot attend the public scoping meetings, written 
comments via mail or email are encouraged. Comments should clearly 
identify and describe the specific issue(s) or topics that the PEIS 
should address.
    To be considered in the Draft PEIS, comments and suggestions should 
be received no later than 30 days following the public scoping meeting.

    Dated: May 12, 2003.
Patricia L. Toppings,
Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison Officer, Department of Defense.
[FR Doc. 03-12409 Filed 5-16-03; 8:45 am]
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