[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 171 (Thursday, September 4, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Page 52575]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-22475]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army


Preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the 
Renewal of the Special Use Permit for Military Activities on the De 
Soto National Forest and the Implementation of the Master Plan at Camp 
Shelby, Mississippi

AGENCY: Mississippi National Guard (MSNG), National Guard Bureau (NGB), 
Department of the Army (DA), DoD; National Forests in Mississippi, U.S. 
Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture.

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: NGB as lead agency, along with the U.S. Forest Service as a 
cooperating agency, will prepare an EIS for the renewal of the Special 
Use Permit (SUP) for Military Use of National Forest Lands at Camp 
Shelby, Mississippi. In addition, the EIS will address the 
implementation of the Master Plan for Camp Shelby.

ADDRESSES: Written comments may be forwarded to the Mississippi Army 
National Guard Environmental Office (MSARNG-ENV), ATTN: Brian Neely, 
Natural and Cultural Resources Manager, P.O. Box 5027, Jackson, MS 
39296-5027.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Brian Neely, Natural and Cultural 
Resources Manager, at (601) 313-6128; or Colonel Robert A. Lee, 
Environmental Program Manager at (601) 313-6228.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The MSNG has historically utilized public 
lands for military activities under a special use permit administered 
by the U.S. Forest Service. The current permit is subject to renewal in 
December 2005. The SUP establishes the levels and types of military 
activities that may occur on National Forest lands. EISs completed in 
1991, 1994, and 1998 evaluated current military activities at Camp 
Shelby. The proposed EIS will evaluate extending the SUP from 10 to 20 
years and will now include an Operations and Maintenance plan with 
alternatives covering military activities proposed by the proponents 
(DA and NGB) and update previous analyses as necessary. The EIS will 
disclose and evaluate the environmental impacts associated with 
military use of National Forest lands. The U.S. Forest Service and the 
NGB will utilize the EIS in making decisions concerning military use of 
National Forest, DoD, and state lands at Camp Shelby. The U.S. Forest 
Service will make its decision concerning the renewal of the SUP based 
upon the findings of the EIS.
    Significant Issues: Camp Shelby contains approximately 134,000 
acres of land some of which serves as habitat for protected flora and 
fauna. This includes one Federally listed endangered plant species 
(Louisiana Quillwort), one Federally listed threatened species (Gopher 
Tortoise) and two Federal candidate species (Camp Shelby Burrowing 
Crawfish and the Black Pine Snake). Camp Shelby also includes two 
historic properties listed on the National Register of Historic Places, 
two prehistoric sites eligible for listing on the National Register of 
Historic Places and an additional 32 sites have been recommended for 
protection until phase II testing can assess the significance of these 
sites for inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places. Camp 
Shelby also contains over six historic cemeteries that are fenced and 
protected from any disturbance. These natural and cultural resource 
issues will be considered in all proposed projects that are identified 
in the EIS.
    Alternatives: Two alternatives for military use of Camp Shelby have 
been identified for analysis in the EIS. The alternatives are: (1) No 
action, whereby military activities would be allowed to continue as 
presently permitted to include construction and maintenance of 
facilities evaluated and approved in previous environmental documents, 
and (2) mission requirements, whereby current activities and additional 
use to support mission requirements on State of Mississippi, DoD, and 
National Forest lands would be allowed. Future mission requirements 
include: combined arms area, military operations in military terrain 
facility, urban assault course, waste water treatment plant with 
associated pipeline, simulation and exercise center and Army 
transformation. Other alternatives may be assessed as more specific 
actions are developed, public concerns are raised, and issues 
identified.
    Public scoping meetings will be held at two locations: one in 
Hattiesburg and one on the Mississippi Gulf Coast area. Dates, times 
and exact locations for these meetings will be announced through 
letters, public notices, display advertisements, and legal 
advertisements and will be released to newspapers of general 
circulation a minimum of 15 days prior to the meetings.

    Dated: August 27, 2003.
Richard E. Newsome,
Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army (Environment, Safety and 
Occupational Health) OASA (I&E).
[FR Doc. 03-22475 Filed 9-3-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3710-08-M