[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 64 (Wednesday, April 4, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16331-16332]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 07-1638]



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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army


Preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for 
Stationing and Training of Increased Aviation Assets Within U.S. Army 
Alaska (USARAK)

AGENCY: Department of the Army, DoD.

ACTION: Notice of Intent.

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SUMMARY: The Army intends to prepare an EIS to assess the potential 
environmental impacts associated with the stationing and training of 
increased numbers and types of aviation assets within Alaska. The 
proposed increase and reorganization will allow the Army to transition 
to a force that is capable of providing a broad range of integrated 
aviation training experience to the forces of USARAK and more aviation 
capabilities when the unit deploys to support operational missions 
abroad. Existing aviation units would potentially be reorganized and 
stationed at Fort Wainwright, Fort Richardson or other military 
installations to support the training of aviation assets on U.S. Army 
training lands in Alaska. The reorganized unit would be capable of 
providing first line air transport, air reconnaissance, and close air 
support. The new aviation unit would be built around the existing 
USARAK aviation fleet of 30 medium and heavy lift transport 
helicopters, and USARAK's 640 aviation personnel. To this the Army 
proposes to add helicopters capable of providing medical evacuation, 
air reconnaissance, close air support, and aviation attack 
capabilities. The proposed aviation unit, an Aviation Task Force or 
Combat Aviation Brigade (CAB), would potentially consist of up to 62 
medium and heavy lift helicopters, 30 combat scout helicopter, 24 
attack helicopters, and between 1,200 to 2,850 personnel. This proposed 
stationing and training of increased aviation assets involves 
construction of new facilities, execution of day-to-day support 
operations, and routine joint military training at nearby training 
lands and ranges. The action may have significant environmental impacts 
resulting from training and construction required as part of the 
proposed reorganization. Significant impacts resulting from this action 
may include impacts to air space, noise, and cultural resources. The 
EIS will analyze the impacts of the proposed action and a full range of 
reasonable alternatives upon Alaska's natural and man-made 
environments.

DATES: Written comments identifying potential impacts to be analyzed in 
the EIS must be received not later than May 4, 2007.

ADDRESSES: Written comments should be forwarded to Ms. Carrie McEnteer, 
Directorate of Public Works, Attention: IMPA-FWA-PWE (C. McEnteer), 
1060 Gaffney Road 4500, Fort Wainwright, AK 99703-4500; fax: 
(907) 353-9867; e-mail: [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Robert Hall, Public Affairs 
Office, 724 Postal Service Loop Road,  6000, Bldg. 600, Room 
B349, Fort Richardson, AK 99505-6000; telephone: (907) 384-2546, e-
mail: [email protected], or at Fort Wainwright, AK; telephone: 
(907) 353-6701.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: To better support current and future 
national defense requirements, USARAK has restructured its two major 
military combat component units into modular force structures. These 
two components, the Stryker Brigade Combat Team (BCT) and Airborne BCT, 
have been reorganized to fit the Army's Modularity model as directed by 
the Army Campaign Plan. The new force structure offers a more flexible, 
sustainable, and rapidly deployable force, better to meet current and 
future defense requirements. The goal is for each BCT to be able to 
operate either independently or to integrate readily into a larger 
mission-tailored force capable of accomplishing a designated mission.
    An essential element of USARAK combat capabilities is the 
development of modern war-fighting skills. Chief among these skills is 
the ability to integrate USARAK efforts with the vital support offered 
by modern Army aviation assets. These skills can only be mastered 
through frequent training with an aviation unit that is equipped with 
the full spectrum of aviation assets that are typically deployed to 
support a BCT during wartime. Such avaition units would provide 
infantry and light armored combat units first line air transport, air 
reconnaissance, and close air support.
    While USARAK has historically supported unit training activities 
within Alaska with rotary-winged aircraft (helicopters), the types and 
numbers of current assets are not sufficient to provide the full range 
of integrated tactical training required by the modern BCT. To resolve 
this shortcoming, USARAK is proposing to reorganize its existing 
aviation assets (approximately 640 personnel and 30 medium and heavy 
lift helicopters) to become a front line aviaiton unit with an 
increased capacity that could range in size from an Aviation Task Force 
(approximately 1,200 personnel, 40-50 medium and heavy lift 
helicopters, and 30 combat scout helicopters) to a CAB (approximately 
2,850 personnel, 60 medium and heavy lift helicopters, 30 combat scout 
helicopters, and 24 attack aviaiton helicopters). The new aviation unit 
would provide key aviation assets for operational deployment abroad, 
and would serve to enhance the training capability of USARAK's two BCTs 
by providing a local opportunity to conduct integrated training with 
multiple types of Army aviation assets.
    In addition to consideration of a No Action Alternative (use of 
existing aviation assets and infrastructure to support USARAK BCT 
training with no increase to current integrated land-air training 
capability), three additional alternatives are proposed as possible 
scenarios for the reorganization of existing USARAK aviation assets. 
The alternatives vary by aviation unit size, aviation asset 
composition, and amount of facility construction. Alternatives include: 
(1) Expansion of Existing Aviation Units into an Aviation Task Force 
with Full Construction and Increased Training--convert existing USARAK 
aviation assets into an Aviation Task Force (approximately 1,200 
personnel, station additional helicopters, build sufficient new 
infrastructure to support indoor storage of 100% of the Aviation Task 
Force's aviation inventory and conduct increased aviation training on 
existing Alaska military ranges; (2) Expansion of Existing Aviation 
Assets into a CAB with Partial Construction and Increased Training--
convert existing USARAK aviation assets into a CAB, station additional 
helicopters, build sufficient new infrastructure to support indoor 
storage of 20% of the CABs aviation inventory and conduct increased 
aviation training on existing Alaska military ranges; and (3) Expansion 
of Existing Aviation Assets into a CAB with Full Construction and 
Increased Training--convert existing USARAK aviation assets into a CAB, 
station additional helicopters, build sufficient new infrastructure to 
support indoor storage of 100% of the CABs aviation inventory and 
conduct increased aviation training on existing Alaska military ranges. 
Additional potential alternative sites within Alaska will be evaluated 
based upon the purpose and need and criteria associated with the 
proposed action.
    Scoping and Public Comment: Tribes, Federal, state, and local 
agencies and the public are invited to participate in the scoping 
process for the preparation of this EIS. Scoping meetings will be held 
in Fairbanks, Anchorage, and Delta

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Junction, Alaska. The scoping process will help identify possible 
alternatives, potential environmental impacts, and key issues of 
concern to be analyzed in the EIS. Notification of the times and 
locations for the scoping meetings will be published in local 
newspapers.

    Dated: March 26, 2007.
Addison D. Davis, IV,
Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army (Environment, Safety, and 
Occupational Health).
[FR Doc. 07-1638 Filed 4-3-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3710-08-M