[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 199 (Monday, October 16, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 60698-60699]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-8667]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army


Notice of Availability of the Fort Bliss, Texas and New Mexico, 
Mission Master Plan Supplemental Programmatic Environmental Impact 
Statement

AGENCY: Department of the Army, DoD.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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[[Page 60699]]

SUMMARY: The Department of the Army announces the availability of a 
Draft Supplemental Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (DSEIS) 
identifying the potential environmental effects of changing land and 
airspace use at Fort Bliss to support evolving changes in missions and 
units and support Army Transformation, Integrated Global Presence and 
Basing Strategy, Base Realignment And Closure (BRAC), the Army Campaign 
Plan and other Army initiatives.
    The SEIS will supplement the Fort Bliss, Texas and New Mexico, 
Mission Master Plan Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS), 
for which a Record of Decision was signed in 2001.

DATES: The public comment period for the DSEIS will end 60 days after 
publication of the NOA in the Federal Register by the U.S. 
Environmental Protection Agency.

ADDRESSES: Written comments should be sent to: Mr. John F. Barrera, 
Directorate of Environment, B624 Pleasonton Avenue, Attention: IMSW-
BLS-Z, (barreraj), Forest Bliss, TX 79916-6812; facsimile: (915) 568-
3548; e-mail: [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Jean Offutt, Public Affairs 
Officer, IMSW-BLS-PA; Fort Bliss, TX 79916-6812; telephone: (915) 568-
6812; fax: (915) 568-2995; e-mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Proposed Action would change land use in 
the Main Cantonment to support units assigned to Fort Bliss under BRAC, 
and in the Fort Bliss Training Complex to support construction of live-
fire ranges and off-road maneuver space needed to train soldiers to 
doctrinal standards. In addition to the Proposed Action, the DSEIS 
analyzes the environmental affects of three other action alternatives 
and a no action alternative.
    The action alternatives differ in the amount (216,000-352,000 
acres) and location of land in the Tularosa Basin portion of McGregor 
Range proposed for off road maneuver, resulting in varied abilities to 
meet the defined need for maneuver training, accommodate units and 
missions in addition to the BRAC package, and flexibility to meet 
future requirements. Those portions of McGregor Range outside the 
Tularosa basin, specifically Otero Mesa and the Sacramento Mountain 
foothills, will not experience changes in land use.
    Issues associated with land use changes in the Training Complex 
include potential impacts to natural resources and cultural resources, 
potential land use conflicts with grazing portions of the off-road 
maneuver space on McGregor Range, access to roads to the Forest Service 
grazing allotments on McGregor Range, recreational use of McGregor 
Range, and closures of NM Highway 506. Noise issues are part of the 
upgrade, or construction of firing ranges.
    Issues associated with land use changes and construction in the 
Main Cantonment include potential increases in noise and dust, and 
transportation issues. Socioeconomic issues include population growth 
and development, public services and utilities, education, and quality 
of life.
    Alternative four, the Proposed Action, is anticipated to generate 
substantial economic benefits and significantly affect population 
growth and development, traffic, utility demands, and demand for public 
and medical services in the region. Expansion of off-road vehicle 
maneuver training into the Tularosa Basin portion of McGregor Range, 
along with increased maneuvers in the North and South Training Areas, 
is expected to increase wind and water erosion and will likely result 
in long-term changes in vegetation communities in the more intensely 
used training areas. Training related noise is also expected to 
increase in areas adjacent to Dona Ana Range and portions of McGregor 
Range.
    Copies of the Draft SEIS are available for review at the following 
libraries: In El Paso, the Richard Burges Regional Library, 9600 Dyer; 
the Irving Schwartz Branch Library, 1865 Dean Martin; the Clardy Fox 
Branch Library, 5515 Robert Alva; and the Doris van Doren Regional 
Branch Library, 551 Redd Road. In Las Cruces, NM, the New Mexico State 
University Zuhl Library at 2999 McFie Circle; and in Alamogordo, NM at 
the Alamogordo Public Library, 920 Oregon Avenue. The document can also 
be reviewed at https://www.bliss.army.mil.
    Public meetings will be announced through regional newspapers and 
other public affairs outlets. These public meetings will be held in El 
Paso, Las Cruces and Alamogordo to accept comments on the DSEIS, and 
are expected to occur in November 2006.

    Dated: October 5, 2006.
John A. Macdonald,
Brigadier General, U.S. Army, Director, Installation Management Agency.
[FR Doc. 06-8667 Filed 10-13-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3710-08-M