[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 87 (Friday, May 5, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 26471-26473]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-4233]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army


Notice of Availability of the Record of Decision To Determine the 
Level of Training on the Overhills Tract, Fort Bragg, Cumberland and 
Harnett Counties, NC

AGENCY: Department of the Army, DOD.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: The Department of the Army (DA) announces the availability of 
the Record of Decision to Determine the Level of Training on the 
Overhills Tract, Fort Bragg, Cumberland and Harnett Counties, NC. A 
decision is hereby made to implement Alternative IV (Preferred 
Alternative-Maximum training, existing recreation, and no preservation 
of the District) to allow the full integration of the Overhills tract 
into Fort Bragg's training program. The proposed action to fully 
integrate the Overhills into Fort Bragg's training program was 
evaluated in the ``Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) To 
Determine The Level Of Training On The Overhills Tract Fort Bragg, 
Cumberland And Harnett Counties, NC,'' January 2006 (71 FR 920)). This 
Decision Notice summarizes the environmental, social and economic 
impacts of the four alternatives identified in the FEIS that were 
considered in making this decision, and explains why DA selected 
Alternative IV (Preferred Alternative-Maximum training, existing 
recreation, and no preservation of the District).

ADDRESSES: Copies of the ROD are available upon request from Mr. David 
A. Heins, Chief, Environmental Sustainment Division, Public Works

[[Page 26472]]

Business Center, ATTN: AFZA-PW-E, Fort Bragg, NC 28310. A copy of the 
FEIS and the ROD may be accessed at: http://www.bragg.army.mil/envbr/nepa_review.htm.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: David A. Heins, Chief, at (910) 396-
8207 or e-mail at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Fort Bragg serves as headquarters for the 
XVIII Airborne Corps and Army Special Operations Command, and is home 
to the 82nd Airborne Division. The primary mission of Fort Bragg 
involves training and logistical and mobilization/deployment support of 
the XVIII Airborne Corps, United States Army Special Operations 
Command, the 82nd Airborne Division, and other assigned units. In order 
to fulfill this mission, Fort Bragg supports the most intensive and 
varied training program in the continental United States. A 1995 land 
use requirements study identified a shortfall of maneuver training land 
in excess of 80,000 areas. Congress authorized the purchase of the 
Overhills property (approximately 10,580 acres) in 1997 to help reduce 
the training land deficit. While Fort Bragg's mission remains constant, 
training concepts and space requirements are continually changing to 
meet the needs of today's transforming Army. These factors, in 
conjunction with the training land deficit, demonstrate the need to 
make maximum use of available training lands on Fort Bragg and to fully 
incorporate the Overhills tract into the installation's training 
program. The purpose of the integration of Overhills into the Northern 
Training Area (NTA) is to enhance training and to sustain environmental 
resources on Fort Bragg.
    In 1999 Fort Bragg prepared an Environmental Assessment (EA) to 
adopt an Interim Training Program (ITP) on the Overhills tract. The ITP 
allows low impact (limited) military training with attendant management 
activities. Training is limited to company-size exercises (250 
personnel, including support personnel) and must be conducted in 
accordance with the Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) for low impact 
training on the Overhills tract. The SOP prescribes procedures for 
occupation, training and police of the tract. Seven types of training 
activities are authorized. The Overhills represents the eastern part of 
the NTA (NTA units V-VIII) and comprises almost forty percent of the 
23,313-acres NTA. Training in the remainder of the NTA (NTA units I-IV) 
is governed by the Installation Range Regulation (IRR) which allows up 
to brigade-size units to train using a full array of training 
activities. Training activities currently conducted in NTA units I-IV 
consist of ground and air maneuvers; operation of wheeled and tracked 
vehicle on and off road; river crossing, bridging, and waterborne 
operations; construction of fortifications and obstacles; helicopter 
landing zones; excavations for survivability emplacements, such as 
vehicle fighting positions; and use of tear agents and obscurants. 
There are no live fire impact areas on the NTA.
    Fort Bragg proposes to fully integrate the Overhills into the 
installation's training program. Presently, realistic training in Fort 
Bragg's NTA, one of Fort Bragg's largest training areas, is hampered by 
the two sets of training rules that govern training in the units. No 
physical barriers separate the Overhills training units, NTA V-VIII, 
from NTA units I-IV, yet the Overhills SOP limits the number of 
personnel and types of activities during training exercises, 
effectively creating a training barrier. Applying the same training 
regulation to the Overhills that governs training on the rest of the 
installation would allow Fort Bragg to fully incorporate the Overhills 
into the installation's training program, and maximize training 
possibilities throughout the NTA.
    Alternatives considered in detail in the FEIS were:
    Alternative I (No Action Alternative)--Limited training, existing 
recreation, and preservation of the Overhills Historic District (the 
District) (environmentally Preferred Alternative). Alternative I 
describes the current conditions and activities occurring on the 
Overhills; it serves as the baseline for the analysis of alternatives 
and would maintain the status quo. Under this alternative, training 
activities that were analyzed in the 1999 EA and implemented by the 
Overhills SOP would not increase or decrease. Training on Overhills 
(NTA V-VIII) is currently restricted to company-level, low impact 
military training. The Overhills SOP limits training exercises to 
approximately 250 personnel to the following training activities: 
Dismounted movement; air mobile insertions; firing of blank small arms 
ammunition and simulators; movement of wheeled vehicles on maintained 
roads and trails; fixed activities limited to bivouac, signal, or 
medical in existing clearings; military operations on urbanized terrain 
(MOUT) training in buildings within the District that are not 
historically significant and non-eligible resources outside of the 
District; and hasty hand dug fighting positions. The use of pyrotechnic 
devices must be approved.
    Hunting and fishing would continue in accordance with the Fort 
Bragg Integrated Natural Resources Management Plan (INRMP) and FB Reg. 
420-11, Hunting and fishing Regulation, and would be subject to 
restrictions imposed on public access by military training schedules. 
No additional recreational use of the Overhills would occur.
    All 56 of the structures, buildings, and landscapes considered 
contributing elements to the Overhills Historic District would continue 
to be preserved in accordance with the ``Standards for Preservation'' 
in the Secretary of Interior's Standards for the Treatment of Historic 
Properties (38 CFR part 68).
    The No Action Alternative would retain the two sets of rules that 
govern the use of the entire NTA. Training in NTA I-IV would be in 
accordance with the IRR which allows a full array of training 
activities without restricting the number of persons. NTA units V-VIII 
would continue to operate under the Overhills SOP. No physical barriers 
would prevent the movement of troops from NTA I-IV into Overhills or 
vice versa, but the two sets of training rules and the unit-size 
restrictions on Overhills result in barriers to effective, realistic 
training.
    Alternative II--Limited training, additional recreation, and 
adaptive reuse and/or layaway of selected contributing elements within 
the District. Management of the Overhills tract would be under the IRR 
and the restrictions imposed by the Overhills SOP would no longer 
apply. The training activities would include the full spectrum of 
training as authorized by the IRR. Exercises would continue to be 
limited to company size (250 personnel plus support personnel). In 
addition to the training listed in Alternative I, the following actions 
would occur on Overhills: Ground and air maneuvers; operation of 
wheeled and tracked vehicle on and off road; river crossing, bridging, 
and waterborne operations; construction of fortifications and 
obstacles; helicopter landing zones; excavations for survivability 
emplacements, such as vehicle fighting positions; and use of tear 
agents and obscurants.
    A youth golf program and a horse stables program would be 
implemented under this alternative. The golf program would require 465 
acres and utilize the historic golf course, 7 buildings that surround 
the course and the existing recreational facilities. The horse stables 
program would require 196 acres on Overhills as well as the restoration 
of 7

[[Page 26473]]

buildings. Hunting and fishing would continue in accordance with the 
Fort Bragg INRMP and FB Reg. 420-11, Hunting and Fishing Regulation, 
and would be subject to restrictions imposed on public access by 
military training schedules.
    A total of 15 contributing elements (14 buildings and the golf 
course) would be required to operate the youth golf and horse stables 
programs. These buildings, structures and landscapes would be 
adaptively reused or preserved in layaway in support of the recreation 
programs in accordance with the Standards for Rehabilitation or the 
Standards for Preservation in the Secretary of Interior's Standards for 
the Treatment of Historic Properties (38 CFR part 68). The remaining 41 
contributing elements would be incorporated into the training program 
after all legal requirements under the National Historic Preservation 
Act (NHPA), the Fort Bragg Integrated Cultural Resources Management 
Plan (ICRMP) and AR 200-4, Cultural Resources Management are fulfilled.
    Alternative II would allow for more effective and realistic 
training, although on a small scale (limited to 250 personnel plus 
support personnel), because training activities on both NTA I-IV and on 
Overhills (NTA V-VIII) would be governed by one set of rules, the IRR. 
However, this alternative requires over 600 acres of Overhills west of 
Hwy NC-87 for the recreation programs. Additionally, a buffer zone 
would have to be established in order to prevent incompatible adjacent 
land uses between the land used for the recreational programs and 
training. This alternative would channelize training activities near 
the southern boundary of Overhills and also limit the avenues of 
approach and maneuver formations that could be conducted on Overhills.
    Alternative III--Intermediate Training, additional recreation, and 
adaptive reuse and/or layaway of selected contributing elements within 
the District. Under this alternative the level of activity on Overhills 
would be increased to accommodate battalion-sized units (approximately 
1,000 personnel), plus support personnel. Training activities listed in 
Alternatives II would be conducted in accordance with the IRR, which 
allows for more effective, realistic training scenarios.
    The youth golf and horse stable programs and hunting and fishing 
would occur as described in Alternative II. Historic buildings would be 
preserved as described in Alternative II. The acreage and buildings 
identified in Alternative II that are required for the additional 
recreation programs would also be eliminated from training use under 
this alternative This alternative would channelize training activities 
near the southern boundary of Overhills and also limit the avenues of 
approach and maneuver formations that could be conducted on Overhills.
    Alternative IV (Preferred Alternative)--Maximum training, existing 
recreation, and no preservation of the District. Under this alternative 
the level of training would be increased to accommodate brigade-sized 
units (approximately 5,000 personnel), and the Overhills would be used 
in the same manner as the other training areas on Fort Bragg. Units up 
to and including brigade size would train in accordance with the IRR 
and the training activities listed in Alternative II would be 
permitted. Overhills would be fully incorporated into the 
installation's training program.
    The number of personnel would depend on such factors as the type of 
training (i.e. Infantry, Armor, Special Operations, etc.), unit 
configuration, and training area landscape. Incorporating Overhills 
fully into the Fort Bragg training program would not change the number 
of brigade size exercises presently held on the installation. However, 
permitting brigade-size training on the Overhills in accordance with 
the IRR would provide trainers with additional training areas when 
scheduling exercises.
    Hunting and fishing would continue in accordance with the Fort 
Bragg INRMP and FB Reg. 420-11, Hunting and Fishing Regulation, and 
would be subject to restrictions imposed on public access by military 
training schedules. No additional recreational use of the Overhills 
would occur.
    After fulfillment of all requirements under NHPA, the Fort Bragg 
ICRMP and AR 200-4, Cultural Resources Management, all 56 contributing 
elements would be integrated into the training program.
    After review of the FEIS, and careful consideration of public 
comments received throughout the NEPA process, Alternative IV 
(Preferred Alternative--Maximum training, existing recreation, and no 
preservation of the District) was selected for the Record of Decision. 
This alternative best supports Fort Bragg's ability to enhance the 
overall capability of the installation to perform its primary mission--
the training and logistical and mobilization/deployment support of the 
XVIII Airborne Corps, United States Army Special Operations Command, 
82nd Airborne Division, and other assigned units--, while continuing to 
sustain the environmental resources on Fort Bragg. The following 
factors were considered in making the selection of Alternative IV: (1) 
Fullest use of training lands; (2) maintenance and upkeep of the 
historic buildings; (3) compatibility of recreation and training; and 
(4) sustainability of the environment.
    Although the No Action Alternative has fewer environmental impacts 
it does not fully support Fort Bragg's primary mission--the training 
and logistical and mobilization/deployment support of the XVIII 
Airborne Corps, United States Army Special Operations Command, 82nd 
Airborne Division, and other assigned units. The Preferred Alternative 
allows Fort Bragg to fulfill its mission requirements while meeting the 
installation's responsibility for environmental stewardship. Fort Bragg 
has identified all practicable means to avoid or minimize environmental 
impacts resulting from implementation of the Preferred Alternative 
(IV); all identified mitigation and monitoring in the FEIS will be 
adopted.

Thomas M. Jordan,
Brigadier General, United States Army, Assistant Deputy Chief of Staff, 
G-3/5/7, (Readiness).
[FR Doc. 06-4233 Filed 5-4-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3710-08-M