[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 118 (Wednesday, June 20, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 33982-33983]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 07-3025]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army


Notice of Availability (NOA) of the Final Fort Carson 
Transformation Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), Clean Air Act 
General Conformity Determination, and Evaluation of Environmental 
Effects of Renewed Land and Mineral Withdrawal Under Public Law 104-
201, Colorado

AGENCY: Department of the Army, Department of Defense.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: The Army announces the availability of the Final Fort Carson 
Transformation EIS evaluating the environmental effects of implementing 
restationing actions of the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) 2005 
and other Army transformation programs at the Fort Carson military 
installation near Colorado Springs, Colorado. The final EIS also 
documents the U.S. Army's evaluation of environmental effects of 
withdrawal of public land and mineral rights under Public Law 104-201.

DATES: The waiting period for the Final EIS will end 30 days after 
publication of an NOA in the Federal Register by the U.S. Environmental 
Protection Agency.

[[Page 33983]]


ADDRESSES: To obtain a copy of the FEIS contact the Fort Carson 
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPAP) Coordinator, Directorate of 
Environmental Compliance and Management, 1638 Elwell Street, Building 
6236, Fort Carson, Colorado 80913-4000; e-mail: 
[email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Fort Carson NEPA Coordinator at (719) 
526-4666 or fax (719) 526-1705.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Final Fort Carson Transformation EIS 
evaluates the environmental and socioeconomic effects of implementing 
three Army transformation programs at Fort Carson: BRAC 2005, 
Integrated Global Presence and Basing Strategy (also known as Global 
Defense Posture Realignment), and the Army Modular Force initiative. 
These programs are part of the overall Army restructuring and are 
needed to prepare the Army's combat forces for deployment around the 
world.
    The Proposed Action evaluated in the Final Fort Carson 
Transformation EIS is the Army's preferred alternative to implement the 
three transformational programs. The Proposed Action includes three 
primary components: (1) Changes in force structure resulting in a net 
gain of military units and personnel; (2) facility construction, 
renovation, and demolition; and (3) increased frequency of live-fire 
and maneuver training. The EIS also documents the compliance of the 
Proposed Action with the General Conformity Rule requirements of the 
Clean Air Act. In addition, the Final EIS evaluates the environmental 
effects of renewal of the current withdrawal and reservation of 
3,133.02 acres of public land and 11,415.16 acres of federally owned 
minerals at Fort Carson (as required by Section 2908 of Public Law 104-
201).
    Under the Proposed Action alternative, the number of troops at Fort 
Carson will increase by approximately 8,500 Soldiers. Military 
dependent, civilian, and contractor worker populations supported by 
Fort Carson also will increase. In total, Soldiers, their dependents, 
and support personnel will grow to approximately 59,700 by 2011, an 
increase of approximately 21,300 persons (60 percent) over the 
implementation period.
    The Army will construct 25 projects, primarily in the Cantonment 
area. In addition, facilities and infrastructure no longer needed to 
support the Proposed Action alternative will be demolished; facilities 
will be relocated to support new construction; and existing facilities 
and infrastructure will be renovated to support the new population and 
training activities.
    The Proposed Action alternative will provide for increased 
frequency of training for existing and new units stationed at Fort 
Carson. The installation's downrange area will be used more frequently 
for individual and crew live fire, maneuver, and combined live fire and 
maneuver training. Fort Carson will continue to implement its existing 
land and environmental management programs to balance training 
requirements and land sustainability. Large area maneuver training for 
Fort Carson's troops will continue to occur at the Pinon Canyon 
Maneuver Site, which is Fort Carson's maneuver-training area located 
approximately 150 miles southeast of Fort Carson.
    The Final EIS also evaluated the No Action alternative, which would 
result in not implementing the Proposed Action troop restationing; 
construction, renovation, and demolition projections; and increased 
frequency of training. The No Action alternative is not feasible 
because restationing has been directed by BRAC 2005. It was included in 
the Final EIS, as required by the Council on Environmental Quality and 
the Army's NEPA implementing regulations, to provide a benchmark by 
which to compare the magnitude of environmental effects of the Proposed 
Action.
    Permanent restationing alternatives, therefore, were not considered 
in the Final EIS in accordance with the BRAC Act of 1990, which does 
not permit decisions on restationing troops to alternate installations 
to be revisited in NEPA documents. Other alternatives considered by the 
Army, but determined not to be feasible, included training troops at 
other locales, acquiring additional land for training, or varying 
training schedules to account for operational deployments. These 
alternatives were determined not to be reasonable because they either 
did not meet the purpose and need of the action or unreasonably 
restricted the Army's ability to react to changing conditions.
    The Proposed Action has the potential to result in adverse effects 
to land use, air quality, geology and soils, water resources, 
biological resources, cultural resources, transportation, utilities, 
and hazardous and toxic materials. It could also result in cumulative 
environmental effects. Beneficial effects of the Proposed Action will 
result for socioeconomic resources. With implementation of mitigation 
measures and best management practices, significant adverse 
environmental impacts will not occur.
    An electronic version of the Final EIS can be viewed or downloaded 
online at http://www.hqda.army.mil/acsim/brac/nepa_eis_docs.htm. 
Copies can be requested from the Fort Carson NEPA Coordinator or viewed 
at local libraries.

    Dated: June 13, 2007.
Addison D. Davis, IV
Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army (Environmental, Safety and 
Occupational Health).
[FR Doc. 07-3025 Filed 6-19-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3710-08-M