[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 77 (Wednesday, April 21, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 21501-21502]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-8988]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army


Notice of Availability (NOA) of the Final Environmental Impact 
Statement (FEIS) for Transformation of U.S. Army Alaska (USARAK) at 
Forts Wainwright and Richardson, AK

AGENCY: Department of the Army, DoD.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: The Department of the Army announces the availability of the 
FEIS to assess the potential impact of transformation of the 172nd 
Infantry Brigade (Separate) to a Stryker Brigade Combat Team (SBCT). 
The proposed action would affect changes to force structure and changes 
to ranges, facilities, and infrastructure designed to meet objectives 
of Army transformation in Alaska. Proposed locations for changes 
include Fort Wainwright (FWA), Fort Richardson (FRA), and outlying 
training areas (e.g., Gerstle River Training Area and Black Rapids 
Training Site). Proposed areas of activity changes on FWA would include 
cantonment areas, Tanana Flats Training Area, Yukon Training Area, and 
Donnelly Training Area (areas which were part of the former Fort 
Greely).

DATES: The waiting period for the FEIS will end 30 days after 
publication of the Notice of Availability in the Federal Register by 
the U.S. environmental Protection Agency.

ADDRESSES: If you have questions regarding the FEIS, or to request a 
copy of the document, please contact: Mr. Kevin Gardner, Directorate of 
Public Works, 730 Quartermaster Rod, Attention: APVR-RPW-GS (Gardner), 
Fort Richardson, AK 99505-6500; or Mr. Calvin Bagley, Center for 
Environmental Management of Military Lands (CEMML), Colorado State 
University, Fort Collins, CO 80523-1490.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Kevin Gardner at (907) 384-3331; 
by facsimile at (907) 384-3028; by e-mail at 
[email protected]; or Mr. Calvin Bagley at (970) 491-
3324; by facsimile at (970) 491-2713; by e-mail at 
[email protected]. The following Web site contains the FEIS 
and additional information: http://www.cemml.colostate.edu/alaskaeis.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The proposed action would alter various 
activities on military and training lands in Alaska. The range of 
proposed activities include (1) Stationing of forces within USARAK to 
achieve emission requirements; (2) construction, renovation, and 
demolition activities; (3) training to achieve and maintain readiness 
to perform assigned missions; (4) fielding of weapons systems and 
equipment (to include the Stryker (a light armored vehicle) and the 
Shadow (an unmanned aerial vehicle)); (5) deployment of forces and 
equipment and specific deployment training activities; and (6) 
institutional matters to include entire range of day-to-day management 
and operational activities not otherwise accounted for in other 
activity categories.
    The FEIS analyzed the following three alternative courses of action 
with respect to the transformation of the 172nd Infantry Brigade 
(Separate) into an SBCT or USARAK: (1) Alternative 1, No Action 
Alternative--no transformation activities would occur and the existing 
172nd Infantry Brigade (Separate) mission would continue; (2) 
Alternative 3, Transformation of the 172nd Infantry Brigade (Separate) 
with New Infrastructure Alternative--transform the 172nd Infantry 
Brigade (Separate) except for the 1-501st Parachute Infantry Regiment 
(PIR), into an SBCT and construct five new SBCT-required facilities; 
and (3) Alternative 4, Transformation of the 172nd Infantry Brigade 
(Separate) with New Infrastructure and an Airborne Task Force 
Alternative (Army's preferred alternative)--transform the 172nd 
Infantry Brigade (Separate), except for the 1-501st PIR, into an SBCT 
and construct five new SBCT-required facilities. Under Alternative 4, 
the 1-501st PIR would be assigned to USARAK and would expand to an 
Airborne Task Force.
    The Department of the Army prepared a Final Programmatic EIS (PEIS) 
for Army Transformation in 2002. The corresponding Record of Decision 
(ROD) declared the Army's decision to undertake a program of 
transformation and identified three brigades and an armored cavalry 
regiment for transformation into a Stryker Force during the next five 
to ten years. The 172nd Infantry Brigade (Separate), Forts Wainwright 
and Richardson, Alaska, were selected in the PEIS to transform into an 
SBCT.
    Copies of the FEIS are available at the following libraries: Z.J. 
Loussac Public

[[Page 21502]]

Library, 3600 Denali Street, Anchorage; Chugiak/Eagle River Public 
Library, 12400 Old Glenn Highway, Eagle River; Noel Wien Public 
Library, 1215 Cowles Street, Fairbanks; and the Delta Junction Public 
Library, Deborah Street, Delta Junction.

    Dated: April 14, 2004.
Richard E. Newsome,
Assistant for Restoration, (Environment, Safety and Occupational 
Health) OASA (I&E).
[FR Doc. 04-8988 Filed 4-20-04; 8:45 am]
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