[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 166 (Friday, August 27, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 52733-52734]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-21376]
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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Army
Record of Decision (ROD) for Fort Bliss Army Growth and Force
Structure Realignment
AGENCY: Department of the Army, DoD.
ACTION: Notice of availability.
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SUMMARY: The Department of the Army announces the availability of a ROD
that documents and summarizes the implementation of the preferred
alternative described in the Fort Bliss Army Growth and Force Structure
Realignment Final Environmental Impact Statement (hereinafter referred
to as the FEIS). The preferred alternative consists of actions in three
different categories (stationing/training, land use changes, and
training infrastructure improvements) of interrelated alternatives.
The following actions will be implemented as elements of the
preferred alternative: The stationing of two Infantry Brigade Combat
Teams (IBCTs), up to two Stryker Brigade Combat Teams (SBCTs), and
various support units to Fort Bliss (Stationing Action Alternative 4);
land use changes that allow fixed site bivouac areas, mission support
facilities, live-fire ranges and off-road vehicle grounds in new
locations in the vicinity of the Sacramento Mountains and areas of
McGregor Range (Land Use Alternative 5); and training infrastructure
improvements, including construction of new ranges to support the
stationing of IBCTs and SBCTs, expansion of existing range camps,
construction of 16 Contingency Operating Locations (COLs), and
construction of a rail line connecting the Fort Bliss Cantonment to the
Fort Bliss Training Complex (Training Infrastructure Alternative 4).
ADDRESSES: Copies of the ROD are available from Mr. John F. Barrera,
IMWE-BLS-PWE, Building 624, Taylor Road, Fort Bliss, TX 79916-6812; e-
mail: [email protected].
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Jean Offutt, Public Affairs
Officer, IMWE-BLS-PA; Fort Bliss, TX 79916-6812; telephone: (915) 568-
4505; fax: (915) 568-2995; e-mail: [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The ROD supports Army expansion, future
stationing actions, and land use changes and training infrastructure
improvements. These changes take advantage of Fort Bliss's varied
terrain and full suite of training ranges which will allow collocation
of heavy, light, and aviation combat units and support units.
Land use analysis focused primarily on the McGregor Range's
northeast terrain, with minor changes in the southeast and Tularosa
Basin portions to support light infantry training. None of the land use
changes involve the Culp Canyon Wilderness Study Area or the
[[Page 52734]]
Black Grama Grassland Area of Critical Environmental Concern.
Construction of additional firing ranges and the expansion or
construction of administrative and training support facilities were
also analyzed.
The effects of implementing the ROD alternatives included
substantial erosion to interior range roads, requiring increased
maintenance. Frequent overseas deployments will require an increase in
training, which may reduce public and Native American access to some
areas of the installation. Use of restricted airspace for military
training will increase, making military scheduling of the airspace more
complex. Training-related noise remains significant in areas adjacent
to Dona Ana Range and portions of McGregor Range. The Army has
identified measures in the FEIS to mitigate most of the significant
environmental effects. The preferred alternatives may result in a small
increase in the economic benefit provided by growth of the
installation, and a small decrease in certain quality of life
indicators (e.g., traffic, air quality).
The ROD, FEIS and other environmental documents are available on
the Fort Bliss Web site (http://www.bliss.army.mil) or at the following
locations: El Paso, TX: Richard Burges Regional Library, 9600 Dyer;
Irving Schwartz Branch Library, 1865 Dean Martin; the Clardy Fox Branch
Library, 5515 Robert Alva; Doris van Doren Regional Branch Library, 551
Redd Road; Las Cruces, NM: New Mexico State University Zuhl Library,
2999 McFie Circle; Alamogordo, NM: Alamogordo Public Library, 920
Oregon Avenue.
Dated: August 12, 2010.
Addison D. Davis, IV,
Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army (Environment, Safety, and
Occupational Health).
[FR Doc. 2010-21376 Filed 8-26-10; 8:45 am]
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