[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 55 (Friday, March 21, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15732-15733]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-06176]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army


Final Environmental Impact Statement for the Implementation of 
Energy, Water, and Solid Waste Sustainability Initiatives at Fort 
Bliss, TX and NM

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 
Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the implementation of 
energy, water, and solid waste sustainability initiatives at Fort 
Bliss, Texas and New Mexico. The Department proposes to implement Net 
Zero energy, water, and waste initiatives at Fort Bliss, which would 
also facilitate meeting mandates for renewable energy production and 
greenhouse gas emissions reductions. In so implementing Net Zero, the 
Army will enhance Fort Bliss' energy and water security, supporting the 
military mission into the future. Although some training land would be 
converted to other uses, Fort Bliss would not lose any overall training 
capability as a result of Net Zero project implementation. The Proposed 
Action consists of multiple, related, and interconnected projects to 
achieve Net Zero goals, comply with federal and Army energy mandates, 
and meet the Army's energy and water security objectives.
    The proposed action has six alternatives. The Final EIS indicates 
that there could be significant impacts to air quality, vegetation, 
archeological sites, soils, land use, and traffic. Of these, all but 
land use (as a result of converting training land to developed land) 
are anticipated to be mitigable to less than significant.

DATES: The waiting period for the Final EIS will end 30 days after 
publication of the Notice of Availability in the Federal Register by 
the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, at which time the Army may 
execute a record of decision.

ADDRESSES: Written comments may be addressed to Dr. John Kipp, Fort 
Bliss Directorate of Public Works, Attention: IMBL-PWE (Kipp), Building 
624 Pleasonton Road, Fort Bliss, TX 79916; email: 
[email protected]; fax: (915) 568-3548.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Please contact Ms. Donita Kelley, Fort 
Bliss Public Affairs Office, Attention: IMBL-PA (Kelley), Building 15 
Slater Road, Fort Bliss, TX 79916; phone: (915) 568-4505; email: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Army examined the potential 
environmental and socioeconomic impacts from implementing multiple, 
related, and interconnected proposed projects that could be taken to 
implement Net Zero energy, water, and waste initiatives, comply with 
federal and Army energy mandates, and meet the Army's energy and water 
security objectives. Not all projects analyzed in the Final EIS would 
be implemented to the full extent discussed in the document. 
Technological advancements, legislative changes, and other factors may 
result in revisions to the proposed projects.
    The preferred alternative (Proposed Action) consists of six action 
alternatives (Alternatives 2 through 7): Implementation of conservation 
policies and procedures (Alternative 2); construction of a water 
reclamation pipeline (Alternative 3); construction and operation of a 
waste-to-energy plant (Alternative 4); construction and operation of a 
geothermal energy facility

[[Page 15733]]

(Alternative 5); and construction of dry-cooled concentrating solar 
power technology (Alternative 6). Alternative 7 proposes implementation 
of other renewable energy technologies and projects that are compatible 
with installation planning criteria and address potential future 
renewable energy, water, and waste technology actions at a programmatic 
level. As warranted, additional site-specific documentation supporting 
National Environmental Policy Act processes will occur prior to 
execution of individual facility construction activities.
    The Final EIS also analyzes the potential environmental impacts of 
the No Action Alternative (Alternative 1) and the cumulative impacts of 
the Proposed Action in combination with other past, present, and 
reasonably foreseeable future actions.
    In developing the Final EIS, the Army took into consideration the 
comments received on the Draft EIS. Included among the changes made 
since publication of the Draft EIS are the removal of site-specific 
locations for a proposed waste-to-energy plant and a commitment to 
conduct further analysis, should the Army consider pursuing this type 
of technology in the future.
    The Final EIS addresses potential environmental and socioeconomic 
impacts from implementation of the Proposed Action. Impacts range from 
beneficial to no effect to significant. There could be significant 
impacts to air quality, vegetation, archeological sites, soils, land 
use, and traffic. Of these, all but land use (as a result of converting 
training land to developed land) and soils (disturbance of up to 300 
acres for construction of concentrating solar power arrays) are 
anticipated to be mitigable to less than significant. Potentially 
beneficial impacts are projected for air quality, energy demand and 
generation, socioeconomics, water supply sources, water demand, and 
wastewater reuse. The Army has consulted with the U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service, Texas and New Mexico State Historic Preservation 
Offices, Tribes, and other consulting parties to mitigate potential 
impacts to biological and cultural resources. The EIS identifies 
mitigation to lessen adverse impacts.
    Cooperating Agencies: The US Air Force (Holloman Air Force Base 
[AFB]) is a cooperating agency on the Final EIS. Certain proposed 
projects considered in the alternatives evaluated could affect Holloman 
AFB units that use Fort Bliss ranges and airspace for training 
operations.
    The U.S. Army plans to issue a Record of Decision following a 30-
day waiting period beginning with the date of this notice. The Record 
of Decision will include final mitigation measures the Army will adopt.
    Copies of the Final EIS are available at the following libraries: 
El Paso Main Library, Irving Schwartz Branch Library, Richard Burges 
Branch Library, and University of Texas at El Paso Library in El Paso, 
TX; Alamogordo Public Library in Alamogordo, NM; and, New Mexico State 
University Zuhl Library and Thomas Branigan Memorial Library in Las 
Cruces, NM. The Final EIS may also be accessed at http://ftblissnetzeroeis.net/index.html or https://www.bliss.army.mil/DPW/Environmental/EISDocuments2.html.

Brenda S. Bowen,
Army Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 2014-06176 Filed 3-20-14; 8:45 am]
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