[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 56 (Friday, March 23, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Page 13751]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 07-1432]



[[Page 13751]]

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

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army


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

AGENCY: Department of the Army, DOD.

ACTION: Notice.

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

SUMMARY: The Department of the Army announces the availability of a 
Final Supplemental Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) 
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 (IGPBS), Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC), the Army 
Campaign Plan, and other Army initiatives.
    The Final SEIS supplements 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 waiting period for the Final SEIS will end 30 days after 
publication of this NOA in the Federal Register.

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 Area to support units assigned to Fort Bliss under 
BRAC, and in the Fort Bliss Training Complex to support construction of 
live-fire ranges and designation of off-road maneuver space needed to 
train soldiers to doctrinal standards. In addition to the Proposed 
Action, the Final SEIS analyses 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 additional 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, would 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 proposed 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 on NM Highway 506. Noise issues are part 
of the upgrade and/or construction of firing ranges.
    Issues associated with land use changes and construction in the 
Main Cantonment Area include potential increases in air pollutant 
emissions, transportation issues, and socioeconomic issues including 
population growth and development public services and utilities, 
education, and quality of life.
    Alternative 4, the Proposed Action, is anticipated to generate 
substantial economic benefits and the 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 significantly, and would 
likely result in long-term changes in vegetation communities in the ore 
intensely used training areas. Training related noise is also expected 
to increase in areas adjacent to Do[nacute]a Ana Range and portions of 
McGregor Range.
    Comments received on the Draft SEIS at public meetings and in 
writing are incorporated and addressed in the Final SEIS.
    Copies of the Final SEIS are available 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 299 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.

John A. Macdonald,
Brigadier General, U.S. Army, Deputy Commanding General, Installation 
Management Command.
[FR Doc. 07-1432 Filed 3-22-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3710-08-M