[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 159 (Friday, August 16, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 50049-50050]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-19827]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army


Draft Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement for Activities 
and Operations at Yuma Proving Ground, Arizona

AGENCY: Department of the Army, DoD.

ACTION: Notice of Availability.

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SUMMARY: The Department of the Army announces the availability of the 
Draft Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (DPEIS) for 
implementation of activities and operations at Yuma Proving Ground 
(YPG). This document

[[Page 50050]]

analyzes and evaluates potential environmental impacts associated with 
short-term and long-term proposed construction projects and proposed 
changes to YPG's testing and training mission. YPG consists of 
approximately 840,000 acres of DoD-managed land in the Sonoran Desert 
in southwestern Arizona.

DATES: The public comment period will end 45 days after publication of 
an NOA in the Federal Register by the U.S. Environmental Protection 
Agency.

ADDRESSES: For questions concerning the DPEIS, please contact Mr. 
Sergio Obregon, U.S. Army Garrison Yuma Proving Ground, National 
Environmental Policy Act Coordinator, IMYM-PWE, Yuma, AZ 85365-9498. 
Written comments may be mailed to that address or emailed to 
[email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Chuck Wullenjohn, Yuma Proving 
Ground Public Affairs Office, at (928) 328-6189 Monday through Thursday 
from 6:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Mountain Standard Time.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Department of the Army prepared a DPEIS 
to analyze potential impacts from new construction, changes in testing 
and training, and activities conducted under private industry 
partnerships. Potential renewable energy initiatives are also discussed 
in the DPEIS, but project-specific National Environmental Policy Act 
(NEPA) analysis separate from the DPEIS will be required prior to 
implementing any specific renewable energy initiatives.
    There are two alternatives analyzed in this DPEIS: (1) No Action 
which describes the conditions under which no new actions would occur. 
There would be no changes in testing and training activities conducted 
at YPG, and (2) the Proposed Action which includes new construction and 
associated demolition, testing and training activities occurring on 
YPG, and new testing and training proposed by tenants to meet 
anticipated testing or training needs. The programmatic components of 
the DPEIS consist of a detailed analysis of well defined short-term 
projects and long-term projects with unspecified locations. These are 
analyzed to identify the maximum potential impact on a broad scale. 
These activities would be subjected to site-specific NEPA analysis 
prior to implementation and could include analysis of other reasonable 
alternatives to the identified action. Six other alternatives were 
considered but eliminated from further analysis.
    The PEIS will be used to develop a future Real Property Master Plan 
(RPMP) at YPG. This analysis will support the future planning to ensure 
that YPG considers environmental impacts as it seeks to improve 
facilities and capabilities for the future. The analysis in the PEIS 
will also support the alternatives analysis for the RPMP. The DPEIS 
will also address cumulative impacts for existing, proposed, and 
reasonably foreseeable projects.
    For the Proposed Action, the analysis is structured to allow the 
Army to select a subset of the proposed activities or, for certain 
activities, to select from among a range of options with regard to 
magnitude, frequency, or duration. The Army is not seeking to expand 
the boundaries of YPG and all proposed activities would be conducted 
within the boundaries of the installation or its currently authorized 
airspace. No changes are proposed to ongoing activities conducted at 
off-post areas in Arizona and California that are used for specific 
testing activities under conditions not found at YPG. Therefore, 
activities conducted in these areas are not included in the analysis in 
the DPEIS.
    The potential for environmental impacts is greatest for the 
following resource areas: soils, air quality, solid and hazardous 
materials/waste, vegetation, and wildlife. Impacts to these resources 
may occur as a result of converting existing land use to support 
military testing and training or from increasing the scope or magnitude 
of testing activities.
    All governmental agencies, interest groups, and individuals are 
invited to participate in public meetings and/or submit comments in 
writing. Information on the time and location of two public meetings 
will be published locally. In addition, YPG is engaged in consultation 
with federally recognized Native American tribes regarding the Proposed 
Action. YPG will meet the obligation to consult under Section 106 of 
the National Historic Preservation Act concurrently with this NEPA 
process through a Programmatic Agreement.
    At this time, a Preferred Alternative has not been selected. The 
Army will select a Preferred Alternative after consideration of input 
from government agencies, Native American tribes, non-governmental 
organizations, and members of the public.
    Copies of the DPEIS are available at the Yuma County Library, Main 
Branch, 2951 S. 21st Drive and the Yuma Proving Ground Post Library. 
The DPEIS can also be viewed at the following Web site: http://www.yuma.army.mil/mhub_documents.shtml.

Brenda S. Bowen,
Army Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 2013-19827 Filed 8-15-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3710-08-P