[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 92 (Friday, May 12, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 30730-30731]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-10144]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army


Draft Legislative Environmental Impact Statement Addressing Land 
Withdrawal Extension at Fort Wainwright, Alaska

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 a Draft Legislative Environmental Impact Statement (LEIS) to address 
continued military use of the Yukon Training Area, near Fort 
Wainwright, Alaska, and Donnelly Training Area East and Donnelly 
Training Area West, near Delta Junction, Alaska. The current land 
withdrawal will expire on November 6, 2026, unless Congress enacts 
legislation to extend it. The Draft LEIS evaluates reasonable 
alternatives, potential environmental impacts, and key issues of 
concern. The LEIS will inform proposed legislation presented to 
Congress and Congress' decision regarding the Proposed Action. Comments 
received on the Draft LEIS will be fully considered and submitted as 
part of the legislative proposal. The comment period will last 60 days 
and will include virtual or in-person public meetings.

DATES: Comments must be received by July 11, 2023.

ADDRESSES: Please send written comments to Mr. Matt Sprau, 
Environmental Planning Branch Chief, at: Directorate of Public Works, 
ATTN: AMIM-AKP-E (M. Sprau), 1046 Marks Road #4500, Fort Wainwright, AK 
99703-4500; email: [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Please contact Mr. Grant Sattler, 
Public Affairs Office, at: AMIM-AKG-PA (Sattler), 1060 Gaffney Road 
#5900, Fort Wainwright, AK 99703-5900; telephone: (907) 353-6701; 
email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In October 1999, Congress--through the 
Military Lands Withdrawal Act (Public Law (Pub. L.) 106-65)--withdrew 
869,862 acres of public land comprising Yukon Training Area, Donnelly 
Training Area East, and Donnelly Training Area West from all forms of 
appropriation under public land laws and reserved the acreage for use 
by the Army. The withdrawal extended to November 6, 2026. The Army 
determined there is a continuing military need for this land and is 
requesting to extend its use of the three training areas, which are 
federal lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) that 
Congress has withdrawn and reserved for military use.
    The Engle Act (Pub. L. 85-337; title 43, sections 155-158, United 
States Code) requires land withdrawals in excess of 5,000 acres to be 
authorized by Congress through legislation. The U.S. Department of the 
Interior (DOI) has authority to process federal land withdrawal 
applications (title 43, part 2300, Code of Federal Regulations (CFR)). 
The Military Lands Withdrawal Act requires the Army to notify the 
Secretary of the Interior and Congress regarding whether there is a 
continuing military need for the withdrawn land. If there is such a 
need, the Army and DOI shall submit a legislative proposal to Congress 
no later than May 1, 2025. BLM, a subordinate agency within DOI, agreed 
to participate in the LEIS process as a cooperating agency.
    Fort Wainwright is in the interior of Alaska. It is located in the 
Fairbanks North Star Borough and is home to U.S. Army Garrison--Alaska 
and to units of the 11th Airborne Division. The Yukon Training Area 
covers approximately 246,277 acres and is located approximately 16 
miles east-southeast of Fairbanks and immediately east of Eielson Air 
Force Base. Donnelly Training Areas East and West are located near Fort 
Greely. These areas are situated in the Tanana River Valley in central 
Alaska, approximately 80 miles southeast of Fort Wainwright, near the 
city of Delta Junction in the Southeast Fairbanks Census Area. Donnelly 
Training Area East is approximately 51,590 acres and Donnelly Training 
Area West is approximately 571,995 acres.
    The purpose of the Proposed Action is to obtain an extension of the 
land withdrawal of the three training areas for 25 years or more, until 
such time as the Army determines it no longer needs the land for 
military purposes. The Army requires the continued use of the training 
areas on withdrawn land to execute and fulfill its mission in Alaska. 
Access to the withdrawn land enables the Army to produce a force 
trained to

[[Page 30731]]

mobilize, deploy, fight, and win anywhere in the world. Army training 
conditions must match or closely resemble all possible environments 
throughout the world, including arctic and subarctic conditions. In 
addition to the Army's use of the withdrawn land, the U.S. Air Force 
plans, conducts, and coordinates air operations in the restricted 
airspace over the withdrawn land.
    The Draft LEIS evaluates the reasonably foreseeable effects of 
multiple alternatives. The alternatives considered include: (1) 
requesting that Congress extend the land withdrawal for 25 years or 
more until such time as the Army determines it no longer needs the land 
for military purposes; and (2) a No-Action Alternative, under which the 
withdrawal would not be extended. Besides the first alternative above, 
there are no reasonable alternatives capable of meeting the project's 
purpose and need.
    Resource areas and impacts analyzed in the Draft LEIS include, but 
are not limited to, the following: recreational uses of the withdrawn 
land; subsistence uses; air quality; noise; soil; water quality; 
biological resources; socioeconomics; public health and safety; 
archaeological sites and districts; traffic and transportation; land 
use; airspace; and hazardous materials. The Draft LEIS also identifies 
measures that would reduce or eliminate adverse impacts. BLM's findings 
regarding potential impacts on subsistence uses will--consistent with 
the requirements of section 810 of the Alaska National Interest Lands 
Conservation Act--be appended to the Draft LEIS. The Army coordinated 
with federal, state, and Tribal entities during development of the 
LEIS, including the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and BLM.
    The No-Action Alternative could have significant economic impacts 
on the cities of Delta Junction and Fairbanks. Under the Proposed 
Action, there would be no change to training activities. The Draft LEIS 
identified ongoing, potential, moderate and minor adverse impacts on 
biological resources, cultural resources, water resources, air quality, 
and hazardous material levels resulting from the Proposed Action. The 
Army does not anticipate the Proposed Action causing any significant 
impacts.
    The Army announced the release of the Draft LEIS through local 
media outlets, beginning a public comment period during which public 
meetings will be held in Delta Junction and Fairbanks. Pursuant to 
section 810(b) of the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act 
(Pub. L. 96-487, title 16, section 3120, United States Code), the 
public meeting in Delta Junction will also serve as a public hearing on 
BLM's finding of potential impacts on subsistence uses. Following the 
60-day public comment period, the Army will consider all comments and 
append them to the Draft LEIS for inclusion in the legislative 
proposal. Under title 40, part 1506, CFR, a Final EIS is not required 
in the LEIS process, and the Army will not prepare a Final EIS for this 
Proposed Action.
    Federal, state, and local agencies, Alaska Native Tribes, Alaska 
Native Tribal organizations, and the general public are invited to 
participate in a public meeting and/or submit written comments. Written 
comments must be received within 60 days of publication of this Notice 
of Availability in the Federal Register. Public meetings will be held 
in a virtual environment, in person, or both. Dates and times will be 
advertised in local newspapers and will be posted online at: https://home.army.mil/alaska/index.php/fort-wainwright/NEPA.

James W. Satterwhite, Jr.,
Army Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 2023-10144 Filed 5-11-23; 8:45 am]
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