[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 171 (Friday, September 4, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Page 45836]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-21300]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army


Record of Decision (ROD) for the Maneuver Center of Excellence 
(MCOE) Actions at Fort Benning, GA

AGENCY: Department of the Army, DoD.

ACTION: Record of Decision.

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SUMMARY: The Department of the Army announces the availability of the 
ROD that implements MCOE actions at Fort Benning including 
construction, operation and maintenance of proposed operational 
facilities, training areas (including ranges and maneuver areas), and 
infrastructure to accommodate the consolidated Armor and Infantry 
missions of the MCOE and the increase in military personnel and 
students due to Army growth.

ADDRESSES: To obtain a copy of the ROD, contact Mr. John Brent, 
FortBenning Directorate of Public Works, Environmental Management 
Division, 6650 Meloy Hall, Building 6, Room 308, Fort Benning, GA 
31905, or e-mail to: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Two action alternatives were identified in 
the June 2009 MCOE Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) that would 
fulfill the purpose and need of the MCOE action: Alternative A and 
Alternative B. The No Action Alternative was also considered but it 
does not meet the purpose and need of the MCOE actions. The Army has 
identified Alternative A as its preferred alternative because it best 
meets the purpose and need of the MCOE actions. Of the two action 
alternatives, Alternative A is the environmentally preferred 
alternative.
    The Army has decided to proceed with implementing the Preferred 
Alternative (Alternative A) consistent with the analysis in the MCOE 
EIS and supporting studies and comments provided during formal comment 
and review periods. Administrative, maintenance, barracks, commercial 
services, medical, community, dining, and recreation facilities would 
be constructed in three of the four cantonment areas: Main Post, Sand 
Hill, and Harmony Church. Additional construction in the ranges and 
maneuver areas include small- and large-caliber weapons ranges, heavy 
maneuver areas and corridors, drivers' training course, and vehicle 
recovery area to support the training requirements. In addition, MCOE 
activities will include a substantial long-term increase in training 
operations and associated land disturbance. Included in this EIS is an 
increase of 118 military personnel and 2,640 new military students 
(daily average) resulting from Grow the Army actions.
    Special consideration was given to the effect of the preferred 
alternative on natural, cultural, and human environments. Mitigation 
measures, as described in the ROD, will be implemented to avoid, 
minimize, or compensate for the adverse effects identified in the MCOE 
EIS at Fort Benning for land use, operational noise, biological 
resources (fish and wildlife), water resources, cultural resources, and 
soils. Alternative B would also meet the MCOE purpose and need, but it 
was not selected because it would have substantially greater impacts on 
the red-cockaded woodpecker (RCW) and other natural and cultural 
resources. The No Action Alternative would not meet the Army's purpose 
and need for the MCOE actions. There are no differences between 
Alternatives A and B in impact to resources such as aesthetics and 
visual, socioeconomics, transportation, utilities, noise, hazardous and 
toxic materials and waste, and safety. Alternative A would impact fewer 
acres of soil and water resources than Alternative B resulting in 
substantially less impacts on biological resources, water resources, 
soils, and cultural resources. Impacts on land use and noise would be 
significant under both alternatives. Both alternatives will have 
significant impacts on special status species but Alternative B would 
have much greater impacts to the federally endangered RCW than 
Alternative A.
    The Preferred Alternative includes actions to avoid or reduce 
adverse effects on federally listed species as identified in the Army's 
Biological Assessment and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Jeopardy 
Biological Opinion (JBO) including the Reasonable and Prudent 
Alternative, minimization measures, and terms and conditions. Even with 
these mitigation measures, impacts could still be potentially 
significant. Among the changes required by the JBO are the relocation 
of the Scout Leaders Course field training outside of Fort Benning 
boundaries to a location yet to be identified. This will further reduce 
impacts to environmental resources. This relocation action will be the 
subject of further National Environmental Policy Act analysis.
    Substantive comments received on the Final ElS during the waiting 
period are addressed in the ROD.
    An electronic version of the ROD is available at http://www.hqda.army.mil/acsim/brac/nepa_eis_docs.htm.

    Dated: August 28, 2009.
Addison D. Davis, IV,
Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army, (Environment, Safety and 
Occupational Health).
[FR Doc. E9-21300 Filed 9-3-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3710-08-M