[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 36 (Friday, February 22, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 9779-9780]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 08-793]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army


Notice of availability of the Final Environmental Impact 
Statement (FEIS) 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 
FEIS 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 an Environmental 
Impact Statement (EIS) 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 that are capable of meeting the SBCTs training, 
operational, Soldier and Family quality of life, and strategic 
deployment requirements. This FEIS identifies Schofield Barracks 
Military Reservation in Hawaii as the Army's preferred alternative for 
the stationing location of the 2/25th SBCT. A Record of Decision (ROD) 
will announce the final location decision after the 30-day waiting 
period for the FEIS has been completed.

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

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Public Affairs Office at (410) 436-
2556; facsimile: (410) 436-1693 during normal business hours Monday 
through Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. eastern standard time.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The proposed action and analysis within the 
FEIS 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 Department of the Army (Army) released the 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 4,100 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 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 and 
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 operations to be conducted 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 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. Since this time, 
the Brigade has completed its transformation in Hawaii and is currently 
deployed to Southwest Asia. The SBCT is scheduled to return to the 
permanent stationing location selected by the Army in early 2009.
    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 alternative 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 station the 2/25th SBCT permanently.
    The Army analyzed 140 installations for their suitability to meet 
the appropriate training infrastructure, maneuver land, compatible 
mission and garrison support infrastructure to support the SBCT. Out of 
the 140 installations, three Army installations were determined to have 
the appropriate infrastructure capable of supporting the permanent 
stationing of the 2/25th SBCT. The FEIS examines the three Army 
installations. 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 SBCT. 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 needs and screening criteria. Alternatives for 
implementing the proposed action included: (1) Permanently stationing 
the 2/25th SBCT at Schofield Barracks Military Reservation 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, which 
provides the baseline conditions for comparison to the proposed 
alternative, was fully assessed and considered.
    Direct, indirect, and cumulative impacts of the proposed action 
have been considered in the FEIS along with public comments received 
during scoping and on the Draft EIS published in July 2007. The EIS 
identifies impacts

[[Page 9780]]

at each of the three alternative locations that would occur as a result 
of implementing the proposed action and responds to public comments. 
Impacts at alternative sites would result from construction and 
training activities. Each of the impacts can be mitigated.
    The Army invited 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 
were urged to participate in this NEPA evaluation process. The public 
has provided input and comments at scoping meetings and public meetings 
held at all potential alternative stationing locations for the 2/25th. 
The Army held scoping meetings in January and February 2007 and Draft 
EIS meetings in September and October 2007. Responses to the public 
comments are addressed in this FEIS.

    The FEIS is available for review at http://www.aec.army.mil.

    Dated: February 15, 1008.
Addison D. Davis, IV,
Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army, (Environment, Safety and 
Occupational Health).
[FR Doc. 08-793 Filed 2-21-08: 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3170-08-M