[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 42 (Thursday, March 3, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 12122-12123]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-04465]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army


Programmatic Environmental Assessment and Draft Finding of No 
Significant Impact Regarding Iron Dome Defense System--Army

AGENCY: Department of the Army, Defense (DoD).

ACTION: Notice of Availability.

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SUMMARY: The Department of the Army (Army) announces the availability 
of a Programmatic Environmental Assessment (PEA) and a Draft Finding of 
No Significant Impact (FONSI) regarding the proposed fielding of two 
Iron Dome Defense System--Army (IDDS-A) batteries. In accordance with 
the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the PEA analyzes the 
potential environmental impact of IDDS-A at each candidate-
installation. That is, the PEA analyzes the potential environmental 
impact of the additional soldiers, materiel, and training that are 
required to field IDDS-A. The Proposed Action would enhance the 
defensive capability of fixed and semi-fixed assets against aerial 
threats.

DATES: Comments must be received by April 4, 2022 to be considered in 
finalizing the PEA and Draft FONSI.

ADDRESSES: Please mail comments to U.S. Army Environmental Command, 
ATTN: IDDS-A Public Comments, 2455 Reynolds Road, Mail Stop 112, JBSA-
Fort Sam Houston, TX 78234-7588, or email comments to 
[email protected] with ``IDDS-A Public Comments'' 
in the subject line.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Cathy Kropp, U.S. Army 
Environmental

[[Page 12123]]

Command Public Affairs Office, by email ([email protected]), by mail (U.S. Army Environmental Command, ATTN: 
Public Affairs, 2455 Reynolds Road, Mail Stop 112, JBSA-Fort Sam 
Houston, TX 78234-7588), or by phone (210-466-1590 or 210-488-6061).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The purpose of the Proposed Action is to 
field two batteries of IDDS-A in fiscal year (FY) 2022 and improve the 
defense of fixed and semi-fixed sites (e.g., airfields and forward 
operating bases). IDDS-A would enhance the Army's capacity to defend 
against attacks from aircraft, cruise missiles (CM), unmanned aerial 
systems (UAS), and rocket, artillery, and mortar (RAM) fire. The Army 
has been developing an air defense system for years, but it is not yet 
ready to deploy. The Proposed Action ensures compliance with Section 
112 of the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act for FY 
2019 (Pub. L. 115-232), which requires the Army to deploy an interim 
missile defense capability while the Army continues to develop an 
enduring solution. After evaluating existing air defense systems, the 
Army chose IDDS-A as the interim capability. This capability is part of 
an air and missile defense modernization strategy that seeks to improve 
systems across the air defense portfolio.
    IDDS-A is a mobile, all-weather, air defense system designed to 
intercept RAM threats fired from distances of up to 70 km. It is also 
effective against CM, UAS, airplane, and helicopter threats. Each IDDS-
A battery would consist of approximately 60 soldiers, 13 heavy expanded 
mobility tactical trucks, six missile-firing units, one radar system, 
battle management and communications systems, and support equipment. 
All soldiers would be outfitted with a standard set of small arms and 
equipment. Since IDDS-A is an interim solution, the Army does not 
intend to construct additional office space, maintenance space, 
barracks, or training ranges in support of IDDS-A at this time.
    The Army considered multiple locations at which existing temporary 
or permanent infrastructure can accommodate IDDS-A units and at which 
training can be accomplished through live fire or approved simulations. 
These installations met a number of mission-related screening criteria. 
The Action Alternative is to field the IDDS-A batteries at one or two 
of seven installations: Fort Bliss, TX; Fort Hood, TX; Fort Campbell, 
KY; Fort Riley, KS; Fort Sill, OK; Fort Stewart, GA; and Joint Base 
Lewis-McChord, WA.
    The PEA analyzes the potential environmental impact associated with 
the Proposed Action at each assessed installation, including direct, 
indirect, and cumulative effects. The Army did not conduct a detailed 
analysis of socioeconomic impacts because relative to the assessed 
installations' respective populations, the IDDS-A batteries represent a 
small percentage of total personnel. The PEA takes into account 
minimization measures, standard procedures, and best practices 
routinely employed by the relevant installations to mitigate the 
adverse effects of similar actions.
    The PEA also studied a No-Action Alternative. While the No-Action 
Alternative would not satisfy the purpose of or need for the Proposed 
Action, it provides a comparative baseline against which to examine the 
effects of the Proposed Action and the Action Alternative.
    Resources considered in the PEA include biological resources, 
cultural resources, water resources, soils, land use/compatibility, and 
facilities. Based on the PEA's findings, the Army expects the 
environmental impact of the Proposed Action at all assessed 
installations to be less than significant (i.e., negligible or minor).
    Government agencies, Native American Tribes, and the public are 
invited to review and comment on the PEA and Draft FONSI. The public 
comment period begins with publication of this Notice of Availability 
in the Federal Register and lasts for 30 days. The PEA and Draft FONSI 
are available on the U.S. Army Environmental Command website at https://aec.army.mil/index.php?cID=352. If you cannot access the PEA and Draft 
FONSI online, please request a hard copy by contacting U.S. Army 
Environmental Command by email ([email protected]), by mail (U.S. Army Environmental Command, ATTN: 
Public Affairs, 2455 Reynolds Road, Mail Stop 112, JBSA-Fort Sam 
Houston, TX 78234-7588), or by phone (210-466-1590 or 210-488-6061).
    The Army will consider all timely public comments and will 
thereafter issue either a Final FONSI or a Notice of Intent to prepare 
an Environmental Impact Statement. Comments must be received or 
postmarked by April 4, 2022 to be considered.

James W. Satterwhite, Jr.,
Army Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 2022-04465 Filed 3-2-22; 8:45 am]
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