[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 119 (Thursday, June 19, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 34920-34921]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-13622]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army


Preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for 
Development and Implementation of Range-Wide Mission and Major 
Capabilities at White Sands Missile Range (WSMR), NM

AGENCY: Department of the Army.

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: The Department of the Army announces its intent to prepare an 
EIS for expanded activities on WSMR. This EIS will analyze the impacts 
of new mission requirements and development of new test and training 
capabilities and associated land use changes to support Army 
Transformation, the Army Campaign Plan, Future Combat Systems, Grow the 
Army, and other Army initiatives. This includes the stationing of a 
Heavy Brigade Combat Team (HBCT) of approximately 3,800 Soldiers at 
WSMR. This action also supports WSMR as a test bed for rapid 
development and deployment of new systems in response to rapidly 
changing world conditions and long-term Department of Defense, U.S. 
Army Developmental Test Command, and Army planning. Specifically, this 
EIS will assess environmental impacts associated with changing land 
uses to allow for expanded off-road maneuver in some areas, to support 
new testing capabilities and requirements, and continuing off-post to 
on-post tests. It will also address new weapons firing ranges and 
capabilities, as well as Soldier and Family housing, schools, 
infrastructure, utilities, and administrative and related facilities 
needed to support stationing of the HBCT at WSMR. The proposed action 
would result in a flexible, capabilities-based airspace and land use 
plan able to accommodate rapidly evolving customer needs, support 
current and future mission activities, and support a full range of test 
and training efforts from individual components up through major joint 
and multinational programs.

ADDRESSES: Written comments should be forwarded to: White Sands Test 
Center, Operations Office, Attention: Catherine Giblin, 124 Crozier 
Street, Building 124, White Sands Missile Range, NM 88002; faxed to 
(575) 678-4082; or e-mailed to: [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Monte Marlin, Public Affairs Office, 
Building 1782, Headquarters Avenue, White Sands Missile Range, NM, 
88002; (575) 678-1134; or e-mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The EIS will assess the environmental 
impacts associated with WSMR's development and implementation of an 
airspace and land use plan to support Army Transformation, Grow the 
Army and the Army Campaign Plan initiatives by more fully realizing and 
integrating the capabilities of the WSMR primacy mission--research, 
development, testing, and evaluation (RDTE)--and impacts associated 
with new training capabilities and stationing decisions. Testing 
typically involves activities such as missile flight tests, aerial 
intercepts, air-delivered munitions tests against ground targets, 
directed energy and various weapons systems tests. Training involves 
military personnel using the land and airspace for maneuver and weapons 
firing, as well as for field evaluation of weapons, equipment, 
communication systems, or other objectives. Stationing involves the 
establishment of infrastructure such as barracks, motor pools, and 
administrative buildings for Soldiers of the HBCT and their equipment. 
Requirements for new use of test and training capabilities would result 
in changing land use designations within the current installation 
boundaries. These changes would support current and future requirements 
and allow off-road vehicle maneuver on designated portions of the 
installation. WSMR will maintain its current RDTE mission and continue 
to support joint testing objectives.
    The EIS will evaluate and disclose the impacts of two alternatives 
as well as a no action alternative.
    No Action Alternative: This alternative includes current test 
capabilities and land use designations with current levels of 
operations and activities.
    Alternative 1: This alternative includes those activities described 
in

[[Page 34921]]

the No Action alternative plus changes in land use to expand testing 
and maneuver capabilities to include Future Combat Systems and 
supporting infrastructure. This alternative supports the Grow the Army 
decision to station an HBCT at WSMR that requires main cantonment 
expansion and additional supporting infrastructure. Training for the 
newly stationed units, to include the HBCT and the 2nd Engineer 
Battalion, will leverage the considerable range modernization that is 
taking place at Fort Bliss.
    Alternative 2: This alternative includes those activities described 
in Alternative I and also includes the construction and operation of 
training ranges and the identification of maneuver areas for testing 
and training on WSMR.
    The EIS will evaluate the environmental effects associated with the 
varying testing, training, maneuver and facility requirements of each 
alternative on the natural, cultural, and man-made environments at WSMR 
and in the southern New Mexico region.
    Federal, State, and local agencies, affected federally recognized 
Indian tribes, and other interested persons are invited to participate 
in the scoping process for the preparation of this EIS. Public scoping 
meetings in the vicinity of the installation will be held to facilitate 
input to the EIS process from interested parties. Dates for the 
meetings will be announced in the local media and will be at times and 
locations convenient to the public. To ensure scoping comments are 
fully considered in the Draft EIS, comments and suggestions should be 
received within the 30-day scoping period or no later than 15 days 
following the last scoping meeting, whichever is later.

    Dated: June 11, 2008.
Addison D. Davis, IV,
Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army (Environment, Safety, and 
Occupational Health).
[FR Doc. E8-13622 Filed 6-18-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3710-08-M