[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 119 (Tuesday, June 22, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 34658-34659]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-14043]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army


Record of Decision for 2d Armored Cavalry Regiment Transformation 
and Installation Mission Support, Joint Readiness Training Center 
(JRTC) and Fort Polk, Louisiana, and Long-Term Military Training Use of 
Kisatchie National Forest Lands

AGENCY: Department of the Army, DoD.

ACTION: Notice of availability of Record of Decision.

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SUMMARY: The Department of the Army announces the availability of its 
Record of Decision (ROD) for 2d Armored Cavalry Regiment (2d ACR) 
Transformation and Installation Mission Support, Joint Readiness 
Training Center (JRTC) and Fort Polk, Louisiana, and Long Term Military 
Training Use of Kisatchie National Forest Lands. On March 19, 2004, the 
Army published a Notice of Availability of its Final Environmental 
Impact Statement (EIS) that considered the environmental consequences 
of the proposed actions and alternatives. The ROD describes the Army's 
decisions with respect to the proposed actions and alternatives 
considered in the EIS and its rationale for the decision. Based on the 
EIS and other relevant factors, the Army has decided to implement its 
proposed actions. This decision allows the Army to proceed with 
transformation of the 2d ACR at the JRTC and Fort Polk, Louisiana, and 
to undertake additional actions to support the installation's current 
and future missions. The decision includes fielding of the Army's new 
Stryker vehicle and equipment; construction and improvement of firing 
ranges, roads, stream crossings, and training support facilities; land 
use agreements and leases; creation and expansion of helicopter 
training areas; training and deployment of Army troops; and continued 
environmental stewardship. The decision also affirms the Army's 
commitment to implementing a series of mitigation and monitoring 
measures to offset potential adverse environmental impacts associated 
with the proposed actions, as identified in the Final EIS.

ADDRESSES: Requests for copies of the ROD may be submitted to: Dan 
Nance, Fort Polk Public Affairs Office, 7073 Radio Road, Fort Polk, LA 
71459-5342; phone: (337) 531-7203; fax: (337) 531-6014; e-mail: 
[email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Stacy Basham-Wagner, Joint Agency 
Liaison, Attention: AFZX-PW-E (Basham-Wagner), 1799 23rd Street, Fort 
Polk, LA 71459; telephone: (337) 531-7458, fax: (337) 531-2627.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Department of the Army, as the lead 
agency, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service and U.S. 
Department of Transportation, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), as 
cooperating agencies, prepared the EIS for 2d ACR Transformation and 
Installation Mission Support, JRTC and Fort Polk, Louisiana, and Long 
Term Military Training Use of Kisatchie National Forest Lands. The EIS 
was prepared to address proposed actions affecting the JRTC and Fort 
Polk, portions of the Kisatchie National Forest in west-central 
Louisiana; and England Industrial Airpark at Alexandria, Louisiana. The 
EIS identified the relevant environmental and socioeconomic impacts of 
the proposed actions and alternatives on the biological, physical, and 
cultural environment.
    The Army has designated the 2d ACR to transform to the 2d Cavalry 
Regiment (2d CR), a medium-weight force equipped with Stryker vehicles 
that will be strategically responsive and more rapidly deployable by 
air. In addition to transformation of the 2d ACR, units stationed at 
other Army installations will participate in exercises at the JRTC and 
Fort Polk on a rotational basis. To these ends, the Army has decided to 
implement force transformation and installation mission support 
activities at the JRTC and Fort Polk with respect to home station 
training (maneuver and gunnery exercises for Army units assigned to 
Fort Polk), rotational unit exercises, and facilities construction.
    In accordance with Forest Service decisions, the Army will also 
continue its use of Kisatchie National Forest lands to support military 
training. The areas of the Kisatchie National Forest to be used by the 
Army are known as the Intensive Use Area and Limited Use

[[Page 34659]]

Area of the Vernon Unit, Calcasieu Ranger District and the Special 
Limited Use Area (also known as Horse's Head) of the Kisatchie Ranger 
District.
    Transformation of the 2d ACR will involve force structure changes 
(the unit will have approximately 110 more personnel); the addition of 
approximately 238 Stryker Interim Armored Vehicles and 48 Mobile Gun 
Systems; and a reduction of approximately 155 High Mobility 
Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicles and 273 other medium and heavy tactical 
trucks. The Shadow Tactical Unmanned Aerial Vehicle will also be 
fielded to the 2d ACR to support reconnaissance, surveillance and 
target acquisition missions.
    Installation mission support activities will include 19 of 20 
proposed construction projects on Army lands, national forest lands, 
and at England Industrial Airpark in Alexandria, Louisiana. The 
projects include 13 facilities in the Fort Polk cantonment area, road 
construction/improvements and construction of a sniper range in the 
Intensive Use Area, construction of 20 stream crossings in the Limited 
Use Area, and 3 deployment support facilities at England Industrial 
Airpark. The JRTC and Fort Polk will also create additional helicopter 
training area and expand an existing helicopter training area within 
Military Operations Airspace overlying adjacent privately owned lands.
    In making its decision, the Army considered the analysis of effects 
contained in the EIS, assessment of the alternatives in relationship to 
the primary issues of concern, comments provided during formal public 
review periods, and Army-wide transformation, national security and 
mission requirements. The Army determined that the proposed actions 
best meet its underlying purpose and need, and that the proposed action 
reflects a proper balance between mission imperatives and goals for 
protection of the environment.
    The no action alternative (considered in detail in the EIS) was not 
selected for implementation because it would not support the Army's 
purpose and need for action. Failure to transform the 2d ACR and to 
provide the needed training and support facilities and lands to meet 
ongoing and future mission requirements of the JRTC and Fort Polk could 
place at risk the Army's readiness and ultimately could hinder national 
security interests. Six other alternatives were considered but 
eliminated from detailed study in the EIS because they were not deemed 
``reasonable'' or did not meet the Army's purpose and need for action.
    The Army has deferred a decision on whether or not to proceed with 
digitization and expansion of the existing Multi-Purpose Range Complex 
(MPRC) on Fort Polk's main post. A decision on this project was 
deferred to insure full consideration of its environmental 
consequences, in light of evolving project elements and designs. 
Additional environmental impacts analysis will be conducted on the 
proposed digitization and upgrade of the MPRC in order to ensure full 
understanding of potential impacts. That future study may be tiered 
from the Final EIS.
    The Army ROD also includes a series of 15 mitigation and monitoring 
measures to rectify, reduce, or eliminate adverse effects to land 
cover, soils, water quality, and biological resources on both Army and 
Forest Service lands. The Army and Forest Service have jointly 
developed a Sustainability and Environmental Monitoring Plan to 
evaluate the effectiveness of the mitigation measures. Results of 
monitoring will be made available to the public and stakeholders on an 
annual basis and used to inform future management and decision-making 
by both agencies.
    The Forest Service published a legal notice of its decision on 
March 16, 2004, and distributed its ROD with the Final EIS. Based on 
the Final EIS, the Forest Service decided to authorize certain Army 
activities and land uses in specified areas of the Forest over a 20-
year period (2004-2024). Army use of Kisatchie National Forest lands 
will be governed by the terms and conditions of a Special Use Permit 
issued by the Forest Service. The Forest Service has also decided to 
conduct thinning over a 10-year period of approximately 21,500 acres of 
upland pine stands on the Intensive Use Area of the Forest to improve 
habitat conditions for the endangered red-cockaded woodpecker, and to 
improve the suitability of the land for military training.
    The FAA intends to rely on analyses in this EIS to make decisions 
concerning the Alexandria International Airport Layout Plan as it may 
be affected by three Army projects proposed to occur at the airport and 
consequent movement of aircraft, materiel, and personnel through that 
facility.
    Copies of the Army and Forest Service ROD's and the Final EIS are 
available for review at the following libraries: Allen Parish Library 
(Oberlin Branch), 320 S. Sixth Street, Oberlin; Beauregard Parish 
Library, 205 South Washington Avenue, DeRidder; Calcasieu Public 
Library, 301 W. Claude Street, Lake Charles; East Baton Rouge Parish 
Library, 7711 Goodwood Boulevard, Baton Rouge; Lafayette Public 
Library, 301 W. Congress Street, Lafayette; Lincoln Parish Library, 509 
West Alabama Avenue, Ruston; Natchitoches Parish Library, 431 Jefferson 
Street, Natchitoches; New Orleans Public Library (Orleans Parish); 219 
Loyola Avenue, New Orleans; New Orleans Public Library (Algiers Point 
Branch), 725 Pelican Avenue, New Orleans; Ouachita Parish Library, 1800 
Stubbs Avenue, Monroe; Rapides Parish Library, 411 Washington Street, 
Alexandria; Vernon Parish Library, 1401 Nolan Trace, Leesville; Sabine 
Parish Library, 705 Main Street, Many, Louisiana; and Shreve Memorial 
Library (Caddo Parish), 424 Texas Street (71101), Shreveport, 
Louisiana. The Army and Forest Service ROD's and Final EIS, as well as 
additional information concerning the EIS process, may also be reviewed 
at http://notes.tetratech-ffx.com/PolkEIS.nsf.

    Dated: June 15, 2004.
Raymond J. Fatz,
Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army, (Environment, Safety and 
Occupational Health) OASA(I&E).
[FR Doc. 04-14043 Filed 6-21-04; 8:45 am]
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