[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 95 (Wednesday, May 19, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 27073-27074]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-10502]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army


Programmatic Environmental Assessment for the Fielding of the 
Maneuver--Short Range Air Defense Capability

AGENCY: Department of the Army, DoD.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: The Department of the Army (Army) announces the availability 
of the Programmatic Environmental Assessment (PEA), the Draft Finding 
of No Significant Impact (FONSI), and the Draft Finding of No 
Practicable Alternative (FONPA) for the proposed fielding of the 
Maneuver--Short Range Air Defense (M-SHORAD) battalion. In accordance 
with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the PEA analyzes the 
potential environmental and socioeconomic impacts, associated with 
construction, live-fire and maneuver training, and increased number of 
soldiers required to field the M-SHORAD battalion. The Proposed Action 
would address efforts to improve the protection of tactical maneuver 
forces from current and future aerial threats.

DATES: Comments must be received by June 18, 2021 to be considered in 
the preparation of the PEA.

ADDRESSES: Please send written comments to U.S. Army Environmental 
Command, ATTN: IM-SHORAD Public Comments, 2455 Reynolds Rd., Mail Stop 
112, JBSA-Fort Sam Houston, Texas 78234-7588 or email comments to 
[email protected] with M-SHORAD Public Comments as the 
subject line.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Cathryn Kropp, U.S. Army 
Environmental Command, Public Affairs Office at 
[email protected], by mail to U.S. Army Environmental 
Command, ATTN: Public Affairs, 2455 Reynolds Rd., Mail Stop 112, JBSA-
Fort Sam Houston, Texas 78234-7588, or by phone at 443-243-0313, 210-
792-6683, or toll-free at 855-846-3940.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The M-SHORAD system and associated battalion 
addressed in this PEA is a key component of Air and Missile Defense 
modernization. Maneuvering formations require air defense capabilities 
to counter air threats. The M-SHORAD capability and the associated air 
defense artillery battalions will improve air defenses available to the 
maneuver commander.
    The primary warfighting component of the M-SHORAD battalion will be 
the IM-SHORAD capability provided by about 40 Stryker vehicles modified 
to the M-SHORAD configuration. The Proposed Action would assign 
approximately 550 soldiers, 310 tactical vehicles, and associated 
equipment to as many as three of the six assessed installations. 
Installations assessed are Fort Bliss, Fort Hood, Fort Riley, Fort 
Stewart, Fort Carson, as well as a smaller training organization at 
Fort Sill. There is a potential to require construction of office and 
maintenance space, barracks, and training ranges over a period of 
approximately 5 years, depending on facilities already available at the 
installations.
    The PEA analyzes the potential environmental and socioeconomic 
impacts associated with the Proposed Action, including direct, 
indirect, and cumulative effects. The analysis includes minimization 
measures, standard operating procedures, and best management practices 
routinely employed by the installations to reduce potential adverse 
effects of the Proposed Action.
    The Army identified one reasonable Action Alternative that would 
meet the purpose of and need for the Proposed Action: Field M-SHORAD 
units to installations at which the unit can be accommodated within 
planned or existing temporary or permanent infrastructure and training 
can be accomplished through live fire or approved simulations. Training 
requirements can also be met through flexible scheduling as facilitated 
by the Army's Sustainable Readiness Model or the Regionally Aligned 
Readiness and Modernization Model. Within this alternative, the PEA 
analyzes six different installations.
    The Army also carried forward the No Action Alternative for 
detailed analysis in the PEA. While the No Action Alternative would not 
satisfy the purpose of or need for the Proposed Action, this 
Alternative was retained to provide a comparative baseline against 
which to analyze the effects of the Action Alternative as required 
under the Council on Environmental Quality's NEPA Regulations.

[[Page 27074]]

    Resources analyzed in the PEA include air quality, airspace, 
biological resources, cultural resources, soils, land use and 
compatibility, socioeconomics, traffic and transportation, facilities, 
and water resources.
    Based on the analysis presented in the PEA, effects of the Proposed 
Action are expected to be negligible, minor, or less than significant.
    The Action Alternative may adversely impact wetlands and/or 100-
year floodplains at Fort Riley and Fort Stewart. Accordingly, the Army 
has also prepared a Draft FONPA to comply with Executive Order (E.O.) 
11988, Floodplain Management, and E.O. 11990, Protection of Wetlands. 
As described in the PEA, environmental protection measures (e.g., 
buffers from heavy maneuver training and construction best management 
practices) and regulatory compliance measures (e.g., permitting under 
Sections 401 and 404 of the Clean Water Act) would be implemented to 
minimize adverse impacts on these resources.
    Government agencies, Native American Tribes, and the public are 
invited to review and comment on the PEA. The public comment period 
begins with the publication of this Notice of Availability in the 
Federal Register and will last for 30 days. The PEA, Draft FONSI, and 
Draft FONPA are available to the public on the U.S. Army Environmental 
Command web page at https://aec.army.mil/index.php?cID=352. If you 
cannot access the PEA online, please submit a request to the U.S. Army 
Environmental Command at [email protected] or via mail at 
U.S. Army Environmental Command, ATTN: Public Affairs, 2455 Reynolds 
Rd., Mail Stop 112, JBSA-Fort Sam Houston, TX 78234-7588.
    Following the public comment period, the Army will consider all 
public comments and prepare a Final FONSI or Notice of Intent to 
prepare an Environmental Impact Statement, and a Final FONPA applying 
to Fort Riley and Fort Stewart only, prior to making any decision 
regarding the Proposed Action. Comments must be received or postmarked 
by June 18, 2021 to be considered during decision-making process.

James W. Satterwhite Jr.,
Army Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 2021-10502 Filed 5-18-21; 8:45 am]
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