[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 93 (Friday, May 13, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 28005-28006]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-11345]
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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Army
Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for Training Land
Expansion at Fort Benning, GA and AL
AGENCY: Department of the Army, DoD.
ACTION: Notice of Availability (NOA).
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SUMMARY: The Department of the Army has prepared a DEIS pursuant to the
National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 to analyze the potential
environmental impacts connected with the proposed acquisition of
approximately 82,800 acres of land in the vicinity of Fort Benning,
Georgia (GA) and Alabama (AL) for military training use. This Proposed
Action will allow Fort Benning's Soldiers to conduct realistic maneuver
training exercises through the battalion level as they train for
contingency operations. The DEIS analyzes five acquisition
alternatives, as well as the No Action Alternative (not acquiring more
training land). Alternative 3 (acquire land in Stewart County, GA) is
the Army's preferred alternative.
DATES: The public comment period will end 45 days after publication of
the
[[Page 28006]]
NOA in the Federal Register by the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency.
ADDRESSES: Questions or comments regarding the DEIS should be forwarded
to Ms. Monica Manganaro, Fort Benning Public Affairs Office, 6460 Way
Avenue, Building 2838, Fort Benning, GA 31905, or e-mailed to
[email protected].
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Training Land Expansion Program
hotline at (706) 545-8830 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Fort Benning, comprised of approximately
182,000 contiguous acres, is located in west-central GA and east-
central AL. Fort Benning, home to the Maneuver Center of Excellence, is
the Army's premier basic training installation, training all Infantry,
Armor, and Cavalry Soldiers in basic and advanced combat skills, as
well as Airborne Soldiers and Rangers. Fort Benning also has the
mission to study, test, and develop future Infantry and Armor doctrine,
weapon systems, ground combat vehicles, robotics, tactics, techniques,
and procedures. In addition, Fort Benning supports the training of
deployable units stationed at Fort Benning from the U.S. Army Forces
Command and U.S. Army Special Operations Command.
The Army has determined Fort Benning has a doctrinal training land
shortfall of 228,836 acres for heavy maneuver training. The shortfall
means units must train in a degraded, less than optimal manner,
resulting in less effective training than would be possible with
additional maneuver land. Using a combination of land management
practices and coordinated range scheduling, as well as the Army
Compatible Use Buffer Program, Fort Benning has determined it can
achieve sufficient training benefit by acquiring approximately 82,800
acres of additional training land. Land acquisition would facilitate
Fort Benning's compliance with a Jeopardy Biological Opinion issued by
the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service related to the red-cockaded
woodpecker, which requires that the field training portion of the Army
Reconnaissance Course move off the current installation. The additional
lands would also help to alleviate scheduling conflicts and training
degradation which occur within existing Fort Benning training lands.
The Fort Benning Training Land Expansion DEIS analyzes the
potential environmental impacts of six alternatives. The six
alternatives include the No Action Alternative, under which the Army
would not acquire additional training land, and five acquisition
alternatives, each of which would involve the acquisition and use of
approximately 82,800 acres of land. The five acquisition alternatives
are:
(1) Alternative 1--Acquisition of lands southeast and south of Fort
Benning within Marion, Webster and Stewart counties, GA;
(2) Alternative 2--Acquisition of lands to the west of Fort Benning
within Russell County, AL;
(3) Alternative 3 (Preferred Alternative)--Acquisition of lands to
the south of Fort Benning within Stewart County, GA;
(4) Alternative 4--Acquisition of lands to the south of Fort
Benning in Stewart County, GA, and lands to the west of Fort Benning in
Russell County, AL; and
(5) Alternative 5--Acquisition of lands to the south of Fort
Benning in Stewart County, GA, and lands to the north of Fort Benning
in Harris and Talbot counties, GA.
The Army has determined that as a result of the Proposed Action
overall significant impacts could occur involving land use
(Alternatives 1, 2, and 3), noise, socioeconomics, and traffic and
transportation. The Army also anticipates moderate impacts could occur
involving land use (Alternatives 4 and 5), airspace, air quality, soils
(Alternatives 2 through 5), surface water resources (Alternatives 2
through 5), and wetlands (Alternative 1); minor impacts could occur
involving soils (Alternative 1), surface water resources (Alternative
1), wetlands (Alternatives 2 through 5), utilities, hazardous and toxic
substances and waste, and safety; and that overall beneficial impacts
could occur involving biological resources and cultural resources. The
DEIS also identifies practicable mitigation for adverse environmental
impacts.
This DEIS also serves as documentation for consultation and public
involvement for the Installation's compliance with Section 106 of the
National Historic Preservation Act for this action. Fort Benning uses
the Army Alternative Procedures as outlined in the Installation's
Integrated Cultural Resource Management Plan.
All government agencies, special interest groups and individuals
are invited to attend public meetings and/or submit their comments in
writing. Information on the time and location of the public meetings
will be published in local news media.
The DEIS is available for public review at local libraries and at
http://www.benning.army.mil/garrison/tlep/.
Brenda S. Bowen,
Army Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 2011-11345 Filed 5-12-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3710-08-P