[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 207 (Friday, October 26, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Page 60830]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 07-5250]



[[Page 60830]]

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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army


Notice of Availability of the Final Environmental Impact 
Statement (FEIS) for the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) and 
Transformation Actions at Fort Benning, GA

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 the 
FEIS which evaluates the potential environmental and socioeconomic 
impacts associated with the BRAC and Transformation Actions at Fort 
Benning, Georgia.

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

ADDRESSES: To obtain a copy of the FEIS contact Mr. John Brent, Fort 
Benning Directorate of Public Works, Environmental Management Division, 
Bldg 6 (Meloy Hall), Room 310, Fort Benning, GA 31905; e-mails 
to [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Monica Manganaro at (706) 545-
3438, Fort Benning Public Affairs Office or Mr. Brandon Cockrell at 
(706) 545-3210.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FEIS covers the construction activities, 
personnel increases, and training activities associated with the BRAC 
Commission recommendations, the Global Defense Posture Realignment 
(GDPR) overseas restationing actions, Army Modular Force (AMF) 
initiatives, and other discretionary stationing activities at Fort 
Benning, Georgia.
    As a result of BRAC recommendations, Fort Benning will be receiving 
personnel, equipment, and missions from various realignment and closure 
actions within the Department of Defense. To implement the BRAC 
Commission recommended initiatives, the Army will provide the necessary 
facilities/buildings and infrastructure to support the changes. 
Permanent facilities will be constructed to house the Armor Center and 
School as well as several other unit relocations. Fort Benning also 
proposes to implement other transformation actions as the Army 
undergoes restructuring to meet the demands of the 21st century. The 
AMF initiative involves the Army's transition from a division-centric 
design to a standard brigade organization. The reshaping of the 
military force structure also includes provision for the return of 
units currently based overseas to United States installations as part 
of the GDPR. Finally, discretionary stationing actions (activations, 
inactivations, realignments, and relocations) are proposed, which 
contribute to and are interrelated with the transformation process.
    Following an examination of all implementation alternatives, those 
alternatives found not to be viable were dropped from further analysis 
in the Fort Benning FEIS. Alternatives carried forward are: (1) 
Transformation Alternative A, which entails cantonment area 
development, construction of small- and large-caliber weapons ranges, 
heavy maneuver areas and corridors, a driver's training course, off-
road driver's training area, and a vehicle recovery area to support the 
training range requirements; (2) Transformation Alternative B (the 
Army's Preferred Alternative), which is similar to Transformation 
Alternative A, with cantonment, maneuver and range projects, but with 
additional development of new tank training areas in the Good Hope area 
in the southern part of Fort Benning; and (3) the No Action 
Alternative, under which Fort Benning missions would continue as they 
were being performed in November 2005, when the BRAC Commission 
recommendations became law. The No Action Alternative provides the 
environmental baseline conditions for comparison to the impacts 
associated with the action alternatives.
    Environmental consequences of two action alternatives (Alternative 
A and the Preferred Alternative), as well as the No Action Alternative, 
were evaluated for 13 resources. Under Alternative A, approximately 
10,700 acres would be disturbed by Transformation activities; under the 
Preferred Alternative, approximately 19,100 acres would be disturbed. 
With the Preferred Alternative, there could potentially be land use 
compatibility issues for lands adjacent to the proposed Good Hope 
Maneuver Area. Changes would occur to aesthetic and visual resources, 
but impacts would not be significant. In terms of socioeconomics, 
development would take place and personnel growth would result in 
economic gains under both action alternatives, although the majority of 
the regional population increase is due to non-Army, private sector 
decisions; housing would be required; and if the local market could not 
support this increase in needs, there could be minor short-term 
effects. The Army and the local community are planning and coordinating 
to accommodate the increased student population. One available funding 
source for additional school construction is the Qualified Public 
Educational Facility (QPEF) Bond Program. On-post traffic congestion 
both during the construction period and operational phase is 
anticipated as well as traffic buildup at the main gate during peak 
hours; however, these would not be to such an extent to be significant 
with implementation of mitigation measures. Air quality would 
experience short-term construction emissions increases but would not 
significantly affect regional air quality in the long term. Noise would 
increase both on and off post, increasing the potential for annoyance 
in adjacent communities, but would not be significant with 
implementation of existing complaint processes. Utilities, safety, 
cultural resources, and hazardous and toxic materials and waste would 
not be significantly impacted by the proposed action. However, soils, 
water resources (including wetlands and state designated impaired 
streams), special status species (particularly, a population of relict 
trillium and the Rd-cockaded woodpecker), and Unique Ecological Areas 
could experience significant impacts under either action alternative. 
Cumulative impacts are expected to be the same for both action 
alternatives and would add significant impacts for socioeconomics given 
the anticipated additional Army and private growth in the area.
    Fort Benning proposes to mitigate significant negative effects 
through a variety of strategies, including avoiding sensitive cultural 
resource sites, and preparation of an operational noise plan among 
others. Implementing applicable road improvements on post could 
minimize significant impacts to increased traffic. Through formal 
consultation with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, plans to minimize the 
effects on federally listed species will also be implemented, as 
specified in a biological assessment and opinion.
    A Record of Decision will be signed at the end of the 30-day 
waiting period.
    An electronic version of the FEIS can be viewed or downloaded from 
the following Web site: http://www.hqda.army.mil/acsim/brac/nepa_eis_docs.htm.

    Dated: October 18, 2007.
Addison D. Davis, IV,
Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army, (Environment, Safety and 
Occupational Health).
[FR Doc. 07-5250 Filed 10-25-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3710-08-M