[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 105 (Tuesday, June 1, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Page 30888]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-12250]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army


Preparation of Environmental Impact Statement for Expansion of 
Range Projects Within U.S. Army Training Lands in Alaska

AGENCY: Department of the Army, DoD.

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: The Army intends to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement 
(EIS) to assess the potential environmental impacts associated with the 
proposed expansion of training ranges within U.S. Army training lands 
in Alaska. The proposed federal action to be addressed in this EIS 
involves the construction and operation of a Battle Area Complex (BAX) 
and a Combined Arms Collective Training Facility (CACTF), and the 
execution of routine, joint military training at these locations. The 
purpose of the proposed project is to provide year-round, fully 
automated, multi-purpose, and realistic training facilities for U.S. 
Army Alaska and other units. The EIS will analyze the proposed action's 
impacts upon Alaska's natural and man-made environments.

DATES: Written comments identifying potential impacts to be analyzed in 
the EIS must be received not later than July 1, 2004.

ADDRESSES: Written comments should be forwarded to Mr. Kevin Gardner, 
Directorate of Public Works, 730 Quartermaster Road, Attn: APVR-RPW-GS 
(GARDNER), Fort Richardson, AK 99505-6500; fax: (907) 384-3047; e-mail: 
[email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Major Dan Hunter, Public Affairs 
Office, 600 Richardson Drive 5600, Attn: APVR-RPV-O (HUNTER), 
Fort Richardson, AK 99505-5600; telephone: (907) 384-3306, fax: (907) 
384-2060; or at Fort Wainwright, AK; telephone: (907) 353-6701; e-mail: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The proposed action would result in the 
construction and operation of ranges and support facilities designed to 
meet the objectives of established training doctrine. The design of the 
proposed projects will accommodate training requirements on ranges 
designed in accordance with the standards set out in Department of Army 
Training Circular (TC) 25-8, which include the following:
     Provide multi-echelon training--Support training in a 
combined arms, task organized element to allow joint training 
opportunities across the full spectrum of warfare.
     Support battle focused training--Allow units to train:

--As a Joint Combined Arms Team;
--For combat proficiency--realistic conditions and performance 
oriented;
--To standard;
--To adapt;
--To maintain and sustain training readiness levels;
--Using multi-echelon techniques;
--To sustain proficiency;
--To develop leadership.

     Provide mounted and dismounted training opportunities--
Afford the opportunity to train in both mounted (in tactical vehicles) 
and dismounted (on foot) operations.
     Maximizing training efficiencies and synergies--Close 
siting of individual ranges to allow for simultaneous or independent 
collective training events on both facilities.
     Realistic training--These facilities can be used either 
independently or in a combined scenario. These facilities enable combat 
teams to train in rural (BAX) or urban (CACTF) settings either 
independently, combined, or in transition from one to the other.
    In addition to consideration of a No Action Alternative (maintain 
existing range infrastructure), several U.S. Army Alaska training areas 
will be considered as possible alternate locations for the range 
expansion projects. These include: (1) Black Rapids; (2) Donnelly Drop 
Zone; (3) Eddy Drop Zone; (4) Fort Richardson; (5) Gerstle River; (6) 
North Texas Range; (7) Tanana Flats Training Area; (8) West Donnelly 
Training Area; (9) Yukon Training Area.
    Tribes, Federal, state, and local agencies and the public are 
invited to participate in the scoping process for the preparation of 
this EIS. Scoping meetings will be held in Fairbanks and Delta 
Junction, Alaska. The scoping process will help identify possible 
alternatives, potential environmental impacts, and key issues of 
concern to be analyzed in the EIS. Notification of the times and 
locations for the scoping meetings will be published in local 
newspapers.

James L. Campbell,
Lieutenant General, U.S. Army, Commanding General.
[FR Doc. 04-12250 Filed 5-28-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3710-08-M