[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 89 (Friday, May 7, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 25568-25569]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-10448]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army


Availability of the Final Environmental Impact Statement for the 
Digital Multi-Purpose Range Complex at Fort Benning, GA

AGENCY: Department of the Army, DoD.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: The Digital Multi-Purpose Range Complex (DMPRC) would provide 
gunnery training facilities for the Bradley Fighting Vehicle (BFV) and 
the Abrams M1A1 Tank System (Tank), providing the capability for both 
active and reserve components to train to required standards under 
realistic conditions. Fort Benning proposes to construct, operate, and 
maintain a DMPRC. The DMPRC would provide a state-of-the-art range 
facility to meet the Army's training needs for soldiers to conduct 
gunnery courses in a realistic training environment by expanding the 
Installation's training capacity. The current ranges on Fort Benning do 
not meet modern gunnery standards and are inadequate to support full 
gunnery training and qualifications, requiring training to modified 
standards. The project would include construction of the firing and 
target area, installation of fiber optics, construction of support 
facilities, upgrading and construction of associated roadways, 
installation of utilities to support the site, construction of a 
helipad, construction of other related equipment and facilities, and 
operation and maintenance of the DMPRC.

[[Page 25569]]


DATES: To be considered in preparation for the Record of Decision 
(ROD), comments must be received not later than June 7, 2004.

ADDRESSES: Please direct written comments or requests for copies of the 
Final Environmental Impact statement (FEIS) to Mr. Richard McDowell, 
Public Affairs Officer, U.S. Army Infantry Center, ATTN: ATZB-PO, Fort 
Benning, GA 31905-5122 or e-mail to [email protected]. 
Comments may also be submitted via the Fort Benning Web site: www-benning.army.mil/EMD/dmprcLegal&PublicNotices.htm (where the FEIS is 
also available for review).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Richard McDowell, Public Affairs 
Officer, U.S. Army Infantry Center, ATTN: ATZB-PO, Fort Benning, GA 
31905-5122, (706) 545-2211, or e-mail to [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Fort Benning is the ``Home of the Infantry'' 
and conducts training for elements of Mechanized Infantry Division 
units. Tank and BFV crews must train and qualify at different skill 
levels (gunnery tables) that are designed to develop and test the 
proficiency level of individuals, crews, and platoons. Existing 
facilities at Fort Benning do not currently meet training standards for 
advanced gunnery qualification. Specifically, the existing range 
targetry is antiquated; the natural terrain features of Hastings Range 
hamper training effectiveness and efficiency; the nearness to the 
Installation boundary restricts training due to noise; and the lack of 
digital components on the existing range delays the analysis of the 
training exercise.
    The Army proposes to construct, operate, and maintain a DMPRC. The 
FEIS analyzes the No Action/Status Quo and two action alternatives. The 
notice of intent to prepare an EIS for the DMPRC included another 
alternative, Transport to Fort Stewart; however, further analysis 
determined that this alternative was not reasonable. Alternatives 
considered in detail in the FEIS are:
    1. No Action--Continue to conduct gunnery training on existing 
ranges on Fort Benning, utilizing existing facilities.
    2. Construct, operate and maintain a DMPRC in Training Compartment 
K21 on Fort Benning. The range dimensions would be approximately 1,500 
meters by 4,500 meters and cover about 1,800 acres plus support 
facilities; however these dimensions would be subject to site-specific 
design requirements and may be modified. The DMRPC would include a 
firing and target area with 3 tank trails, numerous stationary and 
moving targets, trenches and berms, maintenance roads; a helipad; 
utilities and communication systems; and support facilities on about 25 
acres including control and instruction buildings, maintenance and 
storage buildings. The DMPRC would include a safety zone that is 
inaccessible during operation of the range.
    3. Preferred Alternative--Construct, operate and maintain a DMPRC 
in Training Compartment D13 on Fort Benning with the same approximate 
dimensions and facilities as described for Alternative 2.
    Both Alternatives 2 and 3 would also include changes in training on 
other ranges (Cactus, Carmouche, and Hastings) to incorporate the new 
DMPRC into the training regime.
    The DMPRC FEIS includes analyses of the potential environmental 
consequences, including cumulative impacts that each alternative may 
have on many environmental and socioeconomic resources or topics, 
including: Soils and vegetation, water quality, wetlands and 
streambanks, unique ecological areas, Federally and state listed 
species, migratory birds, socioeconomics, land use, cultural resources, 
utilities, noise, air quality, public health and safety, hazardous 
materials and wastes, and transportation. The findings indicate that 
the No Action alternative has the fewest potential impacts because no 
construction is proposed; however, noise concerns would continue and 
the needed improvement in range facilities would not be achieved. 
Alternatives 2 and 3 would have some potential adverse impacts to 
several of the studied resources; however, mitigations to either avoid 
or reduce those impacts are identified in the FEIS, and both 
alternatives would result in less noise disturbance from BFV and tank 
weaponry firing.

Joseph H. Plunkett,
Director, Southeast Region, U.S. Army Installation Management Agency.
[FR Doc. 04-10448 Filed 5-6-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3710-08-M