[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 93 (Friday, May 13, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 28005-28006]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-11345]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army


Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for Training Land 
Expansion at Fort Benning, GA and AL

AGENCY: Department of the Army, DoD.

ACTION: Notice of Availability (NOA).

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SUMMARY: The Department of the Army has prepared a DEIS pursuant to the 
National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 to analyze the potential 
environmental impacts connected with the proposed acquisition of 
approximately 82,800 acres of land in the vicinity of Fort Benning, 
Georgia (GA) and Alabama (AL) for military training use. This Proposed 
Action will allow Fort Benning's Soldiers to conduct realistic maneuver 
training exercises through the battalion level as they train for 
contingency operations. The DEIS analyzes five acquisition 
alternatives, as well as the No Action Alternative (not acquiring more 
training land). Alternative 3 (acquire land in Stewart County, GA) is 
the Army's preferred alternative.

DATES: The public comment period will end 45 days after publication of 
the

[[Page 28006]]

NOA in the Federal Register by the U.S. Environmental Protection 
Agency.

ADDRESSES: Questions or comments regarding the DEIS should be forwarded 
to Ms. Monica Manganaro, Fort Benning Public Affairs Office, 6460 Way 
Avenue, Building 2838, Fort Benning, GA 31905, or e-mailed to 
[email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Training Land Expansion Program 
hotline at (706) 545-8830 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Fort Benning, comprised of approximately 
182,000 contiguous acres, is located in west-central GA and east-
central AL. Fort Benning, home to the Maneuver Center of Excellence, is 
the Army's premier basic training installation, training all Infantry, 
Armor, and Cavalry Soldiers in basic and advanced combat skills, as 
well as Airborne Soldiers and Rangers. Fort Benning also has the 
mission to study, test, and develop future Infantry and Armor doctrine, 
weapon systems, ground combat vehicles, robotics, tactics, techniques, 
and procedures. In addition, Fort Benning supports the training of 
deployable units stationed at Fort Benning from the U.S. Army Forces 
Command and U.S. Army Special Operations Command.
    The Army has determined Fort Benning has a doctrinal training land 
shortfall of 228,836 acres for heavy maneuver training. The shortfall 
means units must train in a degraded, less than optimal manner, 
resulting in less effective training than would be possible with 
additional maneuver land. Using a combination of land management 
practices and coordinated range scheduling, as well as the Army 
Compatible Use Buffer Program, Fort Benning has determined it can 
achieve sufficient training benefit by acquiring approximately 82,800 
acres of additional training land. Land acquisition would facilitate 
Fort Benning's compliance with a Jeopardy Biological Opinion issued by 
the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service related to the red-cockaded 
woodpecker, which requires that the field training portion of the Army 
Reconnaissance Course move off the current installation. The additional 
lands would also help to alleviate scheduling conflicts and training 
degradation which occur within existing Fort Benning training lands.
    The Fort Benning Training Land Expansion DEIS analyzes the 
potential environmental impacts of six alternatives. The six 
alternatives include the No Action Alternative, under which the Army 
would not acquire additional training land, and five acquisition 
alternatives, each of which would involve the acquisition and use of 
approximately 82,800 acres of land. The five acquisition alternatives 
are:
    (1) Alternative 1--Acquisition of lands southeast and south of Fort 
Benning within Marion, Webster and Stewart counties, GA;
    (2) Alternative 2--Acquisition of lands to the west of Fort Benning 
within Russell County, AL;
    (3) Alternative 3 (Preferred Alternative)--Acquisition of lands to 
the south of Fort Benning within Stewart County, GA;
    (4) Alternative 4--Acquisition of lands to the south of Fort 
Benning in Stewart County, GA, and lands to the west of Fort Benning in 
Russell County, AL; and
    (5) Alternative 5--Acquisition of lands to the south of Fort 
Benning in Stewart County, GA, and lands to the north of Fort Benning 
in Harris and Talbot counties, GA.
    The Army has determined that as a result of the Proposed Action 
overall significant impacts could occur involving land use 
(Alternatives 1, 2, and 3), noise, socioeconomics, and traffic and 
transportation. The Army also anticipates moderate impacts could occur 
involving land use (Alternatives 4 and 5), airspace, air quality, soils 
(Alternatives 2 through 5), surface water resources (Alternatives 2 
through 5), and wetlands (Alternative 1); minor impacts could occur 
involving soils (Alternative 1), surface water resources (Alternative 
1), wetlands (Alternatives 2 through 5), utilities, hazardous and toxic 
substances and waste, and safety; and that overall beneficial impacts 
could occur involving biological resources and cultural resources. The 
DEIS also identifies practicable mitigation for adverse environmental 
impacts.
    This DEIS also serves as documentation for consultation and public 
involvement for the Installation's compliance with Section 106 of the 
National Historic Preservation Act for this action. Fort Benning uses 
the Army Alternative Procedures as outlined in the Installation's 
Integrated Cultural Resource Management Plan.
    All government agencies, special interest groups and individuals 
are invited to attend public meetings and/or submit their comments in 
writing. Information on the time and location of the public meetings 
will be published in local news media.
    The DEIS is available for public review at local libraries and at 
http://www.benning.army.mil/garrison/tlep/.

Brenda S. Bowen,
Army Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 2011-11345 Filed 5-12-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3710-08-P