[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 207 (Friday, October 24, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 63450-63451]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-25425]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army


Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement to 
Construct a Second Runway at the Killeen-Fort Hood Regional Airport, 
Killeen, TX

AGENCY: Department of the Army, DOD.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 
1969, as amended (42 U.S.C. 4321, et seq.), the Council on 
Environmental Quality (CEQ) Regulations for Implementing the Procedural 
Provisions of NEPA (40 CFR parts 1500-1508), and Department of the Army 
(DoA) Implementing regulations (32 CFR part 651 Environmental Analysis 
of Army Actions; Final Rule), the DoA is issuing this notice to advise 
the public of its intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement 
(EIS) to assess the potential environmental impacts on a proposal to 
construct a second runway at the Killeen-Fort Hood Regional Airport 
(Airport) at Killeen, TX. Initial assessment indicates that the 
preparation of an EIS is warranted because the proposed action would 
involve construction of facilities that would have a significant effect 
on habitat for the federally listed black-capped vireo and golden 
cheeked warbler. The City of Killeen initiated the proposed project, 
thus is the project's proponent. Because the proposed

[[Page 63451]]

project will be located on Fort Hood Military Reservation, or Federal 
land, the Department of the Army is the lead agency.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John MacFarlane, Environmental 
Research Group, LLC, P.O. Box 11544, Fort Worth, TX 76110, 817-923-
6455, 817-923-6456 (fax), http://www.envrg.com.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Fort Hood Military Reservation occupies 
214,778 acres in central Texas in Bell and Coryell Counties. It is 58 
miles north of Austin, TX, and 39 miles southwest of Waco, TX, and lies 
adjacent to the City of Killeen, TX. The installation has three 
cantonment areas (designated Main Cantonment Area, West Fort Hood, and 
North Fort Hood) on 8,604 acres, two instrumented airfields on 2,915 
acres, and maneuver and live-fire training areas on 197,603 acres.
    In 1999, Fort Hood and the City of Killeen (City) completed 
negotiations for a joint-use agreement that allowed the City to lease 
property southeast of Robert Gray Army Airfield and allow civilian 
access to Fort Hood's 10,000 ft runway. The resulting Killeen-Fort Hood 
Regional Airport began commercial operations on August 2, 2004. It is a 
small, regional/commercial joint-use airport also known by its military 
designation as Robert Gray Army Airfield. The airport is within the 
boundaries of the Fort Hood Military Reservation and is located a few 
miles southwest of the City of Killeen. The joint-use airport operates 
with a single runway.
    The EIS will analyze the impacts of all practicable alternatives, 
including the No Action Alternative. Impacts analyzed in the EIS will 
include a wide range of environmental resource areas including, but not 
limited to, air quality, traffic, noise, water resources, biological 
resources, cultural resources, socioeconomics, utilities, land use, 
solid and hazardous materials/waste, and cumulative environmental 
effects. Additional resources, conditions, and alternatives may be 
identified as a result of the scoping process initiated by this NOI.
    Opportunities for public participation will be announced in the 
local news media, on the City's Web site at http://www.ci.killeen.tx.us, and on Fort Hood's Web site http://www.dpw.hood.army.mil, click on ``Public Notices'' link. The City will 
host public scoping meetings in the vicinity of the proposed project. 
Previously identified alternatives will be displayed at those meetings, 
while public input may determine other alternatives. The exact dates, 
times, and location(s) of public scoping meetings will be announced 
through the local news media, including, but not limited to local 
newspapers. Oral and written comments presented at the public scoping 
meetings, as well as written comments received by the City during this 
scoping period and throughout the environmental impact analysis 
process, will be considered in the preparation of the EIS. Following 
completion of a Draft EIS (DEIS), the public will have an additional 
opportunity for review and comment. Comments from the public will be 
considered before any decision is made regarding implementing the 
proposed action at the Killeen-Fort Hood Regional Airport.

Steven G. Burrow,
Chief, Environmental Programs, Directorate of Public Works.
[FR Doc. E8-25425 Filed 10-23-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3710-08-P