[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 52 (Friday, March 17, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13816-13817]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-2605]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army


Availability of the Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact 
Statement for the Construction and the Operation of a Battle Area 
Complex and a Combined Arms Collective Training Facility Within U.S. 
Army Training Lands in Alaska

AGENCY: Department of the Army, DoD.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Army announces the availability of a Supplemental Draft 
Environmental Impact Statement (SDEIS) for the construction and 
operation of a Battle Area Complex (BAX) and a Combined Arms Collective 
Training Facility (CACTF) within U.S. Army training lands in Alaska, 
and the execution of routine, joint military training at these 
locations. The purpose of the proposed project is to provide year-
round, fully automated, comprehensive and realistic training and range 
facilities for U.S. Army, Alaska and other units. The SDEIS

[[Page 13817]]

analyzes the proposed action's impacts upon Alaska's natural and man-
made environments. The Army's review of comments received following the 
initial Draft EIS release in November 2004 resulted in the decision by 
the Army to prepare a SDEIS. The Army prepared this SDEIS in compliance 
with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).

DATES: Written comments on the SDEIS are invited during the 45-day 
public comment period, which begins on the date the U.S. Environmental 
Protection Agency publishes notice of receipt of the SDEIS in the 
Federal Register.

ADDRESSES: Written comments should be directed to: Mr. Kevin Gardner, 
U.S. Army Garrison Alaska, 724 Postal Service Loop 4500, 
Attention: IMPA-FRA-PWE (GARDNER), Fort Richardson, AK 99505-4500; 
facsimile: (907) 384-3047; e-mail: [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Major Kirk Gohlke, Public Affairs 
Officer, telephone: (907) 384-1542; facsimile: (907) 384-2060; e-mail: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: U.S. Army, Alaska (USARAK) proposes to 
construct and to operate two state-of-the-art, fully automated and 
instrumented combat training facilities on U.S. Army training lands in 
Alaska. This involved the construction and operation of a BAX (rural 
environment) and CACTF (urban environment). The BAX requires 
approximately 3,500 acres and the CACTF requires 1,100 acres of land 
suitable for the construction and operation of these ranges. In 
addition, surface danger zones are required for both the BAX and CACTF.
    The purpose of the proposed action is to provide year-round, fully 
automated, comprehensive, and realistic training and range facilities, 
which, in combination, would support company (200 Soldiers) through 
battalion (800 Soldiers) combat team training events. The construction 
and operation of a BAX and CACTF would support required higher levels 
of realistic combat training in both urban and rural environments. 
Automated facilities would be used to provide timely feedback that is 
critical to effective training.
    The BAX and CACTF would fully train Soldiers for war by maintaining 
unit readiness and availability in recognition of the threats facing 
our nation and the world today. The BAX would support company combat 
team live-fire operations on a fully automated rural maneuver range and 
would provide for joint combined arms team training with other 
Department of Defense organizations. The CACTF would support battalion 
combat team training and joint operations in an urban environment.
    The changes and additional analysis in the SDEIS are the result of 
public and agency comments following the initial release of the Draft 
EIS. The SDEIS provides additional analysis on such issues as: Project 
site selection; soil resources; wildlife and fisheries; cultural 
resources; surface water (particularly local flooding events); fire 
management; noise; human health and safety; airspace use; and 
mitigation. These issues have been analyzed based on the following 
proposed alternative courses of action: (1) No Action (maintain 
existing range infrastructure without constructing a BAX and a CACTF); 
(2) Construction and operation of a BAX and a CACTF within the Eddy 
Drop Zone; (3) Construction and operation of a BAX and a CACTF within 
the Donnelly Drop Zone; (4) Construction and operation of a BAX and a 
CACTF within the North Texas Range; and (5) Construction and operation 
of a BAX within the North Texas Range and a CACTF within the Eddy Drop 
Zone (new alternative). These three locations are within Donnelly 
Training Area, East, which is adjacent to Fort Greely, AK. The 
preferred alternative is to construct and operate a BAX and CACTF at 
Eddy Drop Zone.
    Copies of the SDEIS are available for review at the following 
locations: Noel Wien Public Library, 1215 Cowles Street, Fairbanks, AK; 
Delta Junction Public Library, Deborah Street, Delta Junction, AK; 
Donnelly Training Area Natural Resources Office, Building T100, Room 
201, Fort Greely, AK; and Fort Wainwright Environmental Resources 
Department, Building 3023, Fort Wainwright, AK. A copy of the SDEIS may 
be obtained at the following Web site: http://www.usarak.army.mil/conservation, or by contacting Major Kirk Gohlke (listed above).
    Comments on the SDEIS, received during the 45-day public comment 
period, will be considered in preparing the Final Environment Impact 
Statement. The Army will hold public meetings to solicit comments on 
the SDEIS. Notification of the dates, times and locations for the 
meeting will be published in local newspapers.

John M. Brown III,
Lieutenant General, USA, Commanding General, US Army, Pacific.
[FR Doc. 06-2605 Filed 3-16-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3710-08-M