[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 139 (Friday, July 20, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 39800-39801]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 07-3530]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army


Notice of Availability of the Draft Environmental Impact 
Statement (DEIS) for the Permanent Stationing of the 2nd Brigade, 25th 
Infantry Division Stryker Brigade Combat Team (SBCT)

AGENCY: Department of the Army, DoD.

ACTION: Notice of Availability (NOA).

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SUMMARY: The Department of the Army announces the availability of a 
DEIS for the permanent stationing of the 2nd Brigade, 25th Infantry 
Division (2/25th) SBCT. Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy 
Act (NEPA), the Department of the Army has prepared this DEIS to 
disclose potential impacts to the natural, physical, and human 
environment resulting from the permanent stationing of the 2/25th SBCT. 
Potential impacts have been analyzed at installations which are capable 
of meeting the SBCTs training, operational, Soldier and Family quality 
of life, and strategic deployment requirements.

DATES: Written comments on the DEIS will be accepted for 45 days 
following publication of a notice of availability in the Federal 
Register by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

ADDRESSES: Send all written comments and suggestions concerning this 
EIS to: Public Affairs Office, U.S. Army Environmental Command, 
Building E4460, Attention: IMAE-PA, 5179 Hoadley Road, Aberdeen Proving 
Ground, MD 21010-5401. Comments may also be sent via e-mail to 
[email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Public Affairs Office at (410) 436-
2556; facsimile at (410) 436-1693 (during normal business hours Monday 
through Friday).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Proposed Action and analysis within the 
DEIS covers those activities required to implement the stationing of 
the 2/25th SBCT. These activities include garrison construction, 
training range construction, live-fire training, and maneuver training.
    In May 2004, the Army released the Final Environmental Impact 
Statement (FEIS) for Transformation of the 2nd Brigade, 25th Infantry 
Division (Light) to the 2/25th SBCT. The SBCT is a maneuver brigade 
that includes approximately 4,000 Soldiers (infantry, artillery, 
engineers, and other Army specialties) and 1,000 vehicles (including 
about 320 Stryker Combat Vehicles). In July 2004, the Army released a 
Record of Decision (ROD) documenting its decision to transform the 2/
25th from an Infantry brigade to an SBCT and permanently home station 
it in Hawaii.
    The Stryker is an armored infantry wheeled combat vehicle. The 
Stryker provides Soldiers and commanders with increased firepower, 
maneuverability, and, most importantly, survivability in a combat 
environment. The increased speed and maneuver capabilities of the SBCT 
allow it to conduct operations across much larger areas than the Army's 
traditional legacy brigades. These capabilities have allowed the SBCT 
to successfully conduct a broad range of missions in support of 
Operation Iraqi Freedom.
    To be effective when operationally deployed abroad requires that 
the SBCT have the proper training and support facilities at a home 
station. Such facilities include training ranges, maneuver land, 
housing, administrative, and quality of life infrastructure for the 
SBCTs Soldiers, their Families, vehicles and equipment. Without these 
resources, the SBCT cannot attain the readiness levels needed to ensure 
the successful accomplishment of its missions and safety of its 
Soldiers. In addition to these requirements, the SBCT must be stationed 
in a location from which it can rapidly deploy to support national 
security requirements.
    The 2/25th began its transformation to an SBCT shortly after 
completion of the 2004 FEIS and signing of the ROD. As of November 
2006, the Brigade had completed a majority of its training and 
equipment fielding in Hawaii and is

[[Page 39801]]

scheduled to complete its transformation in 2007. By November 2007, the 
Army requires that the SBCT be ready for deployment to support ongoing 
operations.
    In October 2006, the Federal Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit 
determined that the Army had not fully complied with NEPA for the 
transformation of the 2/25th because it did not adequately address or 
analyze potentially reasonable alternate locations for the 
transformation and training of this unit. In particular, the Court 
concluded that the Army had a duty under NEPA to consider locations 
other than Hawaii for the permanent stationing of the 2/25th SBCT, and 
the Court ordered the Army to prepare an EIS to address a broader range 
of alternatives. The Army has prepared an EIS in accordance with the 
Court's guidance to examine reasonable alternative locations for the 
proposed action to permanently station the 2/25th SBCT.
    The EIS examines several Army installations capable of supporting 
the permanent stationing of the 2/25th SBCT. The EIS will provide the 
Army senior leadership with a hard look at environmental impacts 
associated with the Proposed Action and better inform their decision-
making process for selecting the final stationing location. This effort 
includes analysis of all activities (training, facilities construction, 
and Soldier and Family support) required to permanently station the 2/
25th. This EIS effort will assist the Army in arriving at a decision 
that can accommodate the Brigade's training, operations, and quality of 
life requirements while meeting the strategic defense needs of the 
nation.
    After reviewing the full range of potential Army stationing 
locations, three alternatives for implementing the proposed action have 
been identified by the Army as reasonable alternatives capable of 
meeting the Army's need criteria and screening criteria. Alternatives 
for the proposed action include: (1) Permanently stationing the 2/25th 
SBCT at Schofield Barracks Military Reservation (SBMR) while conducting 
required training at military training sites in Hawaii; (2) permanently 
stationing the 2/25th SBCT at Fort Richardson while conducting required 
training at military training sites in Alaska; and (3) permanently 
stationing the 2/25th SBCT at Fort Carson while conducting required 
training at military training sites in Colorado. In addition to these 
alternatives, the no action alternative is described and its 
environmental impacts fully assessed and considered.
    Direct, indirect, and cumulative impacts of the Proposed Action 
have been considered in the DEIS. The DEIS identifies significant 
impacts at each of the three alternative locations which would occur as 
a result of implementing the proposed action. Impacts at alternative 
sites would result from construction and training activities. 
Significant impacts to resources would be direct and long term. The No 
Action Alternative provides the baseline conditions for comparison to 
the Proposed Alternative. Additional concerns or impacts may be 
identified as a result of comments received on this DEIS.
    The Army invites full public participation to promote open 
communication and better decision making. All persons and organizations 
that have an interest in the permanent stationing of the 2/25th SBCT 
are urged to participate in this NEPA evaluation process. Assistance 
will be provided upon request to anyone having difficulty understanding 
how to participate. Public meetings will be held in Hawaii, Alaska, and 
Colorado. The locations, times, and dates of the public hearing will be 
announced in advance through notices and media news releases.

    Dated: July 13, 2007.
Addison D. Davis, IV,
Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army, (Environment, Safety and 
Occupational Health).
[FR Doc. 07-3530 Filed 7-19-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3710-08-M