[Federal Register: June 22, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 119)]
[Notices]
[Page 34658-34659]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr22jn04-66]
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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Army
Record of Decision for 2d Armored Cavalry Regiment Transformation
and Installation Mission Support, Joint Readiness Training Center
(JRTC) and Fort Polk, Louisiana, and Long-Term Military Training Use of
Kisatchie National Forest Lands
AGENCY: Department of the Army, DoD.
ACTION: Notice of availability of Record of Decision.
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SUMMARY: The Department of the Army announces the availability of its
Record of Decision (ROD) for 2d Armored Cavalry Regiment (2d ACR)
Transformation and Installation Mission Support, Joint Readiness
Training Center (JRTC) and Fort Polk, Louisiana, and Long Term Military
Training Use of Kisatchie National Forest Lands. On March 19, 2004, the
Army published a Notice of Availability of its Final Environmental
Impact Statement (EIS) that considered the environmental consequences
of the proposed actions and alternatives. The ROD describes the Army's
decisions with respect to the proposed actions and alternatives
considered in the EIS and its rationale for the decision. Based on the
EIS and other relevant factors, the Army has decided to implement its
proposed actions. This decision allows the Army to proceed with
transformation of the 2d ACR at the JRTC and Fort Polk, Louisiana, and
to undertake additional actions to support the installation's current
and future missions. The decision includes fielding of the Army's new
Stryker vehicle and equipment; construction and improvement of firing
ranges, roads, stream crossings, and training support facilities; land
use agreements and leases; creation and expansion of helicopter
training areas; training and deployment of Army troops; and continued
environmental stewardship. The decision also affirms the Army's
commitment to implementing a series of mitigation and monitoring
measures to offset potential adverse environmental impacts associated
with the proposed actions, as identified in the Final EIS.
ADDRESSES: Requests for copies of the ROD may be submitted to: Dan
Nance, Fort Polk Public Affairs Office, 7073 Radio Road, Fort Polk, LA
71459-5342; phone: (337) 531-7203; fax: (337) 531-6014; e-mail:
eis@polk.army.mil.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Stacy Basham-Wagner, Joint Agency
Liaison, Attention: AFZX-PW-E (Basham-Wagner), 1799 23rd Street, Fort
Polk, LA 71459; telephone: (337) 531-7458, fax: (337) 531-2627.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Department of the Army, as the lead
agency, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service and U.S.
Department of Transportation, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), as
cooperating agencies, prepared the EIS for 2d ACR Transformation and
Installation Mission Support, JRTC and Fort Polk, Louisiana, and Long
Term Military Training Use of Kisatchie National Forest Lands. The EIS
was prepared to address proposed actions affecting the JRTC and Fort
Polk, portions of the Kisatchie National Forest in west-central
Louisiana; and England Industrial Airpark at Alexandria, Louisiana. The
EIS identified the relevant environmental and socioeconomic impacts of
the proposed actions and alternatives on the biological, physical, and
cultural environment.
The Army has designated the 2d ACR to transform to the 2d Cavalry
Regiment (2d CR), a medium-weight force equipped with Stryker vehicles
that will be strategically responsive and more rapidly deployable by
air. In addition to transformation of the 2d ACR, units stationed at
other Army installations will participate in exercises at the JRTC and
Fort Polk on a rotational basis. To these ends, the Army has decided to
implement force transformation and installation mission support
activities at the JRTC and Fort Polk with respect to home station
training (maneuver and gunnery exercises for Army units assigned to
Fort Polk), rotational unit exercises, and facilities construction.
In accordance with Forest Service decisions, the Army will also
continue its use of Kisatchie National Forest lands to support military
training. The areas of the Kisatchie National Forest to be used by the
Army are known as the Intensive Use Area and Limited Use
[[Page 34659]]
Area of the Vernon Unit, Calcasieu Ranger District and the Special
Limited Use Area (also known as Horse's Head) of the Kisatchie Ranger
District.
Transformation of the 2d ACR will involve force structure changes
(the unit will have approximately 110 more personnel); the addition of
approximately 238 Stryker Interim Armored Vehicles and 48 Mobile Gun
Systems; and a reduction of approximately 155 High Mobility
Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicles and 273 other medium and heavy tactical
trucks. The Shadow Tactical Unmanned Aerial Vehicle will also be
fielded to the 2d ACR to support reconnaissance, surveillance and
target acquisition missions.
Installation mission support activities will include 19 of 20
proposed construction projects on Army lands, national forest lands,
and at England Industrial Airpark in Alexandria, Louisiana. The
projects include 13 facilities in the Fort Polk cantonment area, road
construction/improvements and construction of a sniper range in the
Intensive Use Area, construction of 20 stream crossings in the Limited
Use Area, and 3 deployment support facilities at England Industrial
Airpark. The JRTC and Fort Polk will also create additional helicopter
training area and expand an existing helicopter training area within
Military Operations Airspace overlying adjacent privately owned lands.
In making its decision, the Army considered the analysis of effects
contained in the EIS, assessment of the alternatives in relationship to
the primary issues of concern, comments provided during formal public
review periods, and Army-wide transformation, national security and
mission requirements. The Army determined that the proposed actions
best meet its underlying purpose and need, and that the proposed action
reflects a proper balance between mission imperatives and goals for
protection of the environment.
The no action alternative (considered in detail in the EIS) was not
selected for implementation because it would not support the Army's
purpose and need for action. Failure to transform the 2d ACR and to
provide the needed training and support facilities and lands to meet
ongoing and future mission requirements of the JRTC and Fort Polk could
place at risk the Army's readiness and ultimately could hinder national
security interests. Six other alternatives were considered but
eliminated from detailed study in the EIS because they were not deemed
``reasonable'' or did not meet the Army's purpose and need for action.
The Army has deferred a decision on whether or not to proceed with
digitization and expansion of the existing Multi-Purpose Range Complex
(MPRC) on Fort Polk's main post. A decision on this project was
deferred to insure full consideration of its environmental
consequences, in light of evolving project elements and designs.
Additional environmental impacts analysis will be conducted on the
proposed digitization and upgrade of the MPRC in order to ensure full
understanding of potential impacts. That future study may be tiered
from the Final EIS.
The Army ROD also includes a series of 15 mitigation and monitoring
measures to rectify, reduce, or eliminate adverse effects to land
cover, soils, water quality, and biological resources on both Army and
Forest Service lands. The Army and Forest Service have jointly
developed a Sustainability and Environmental Monitoring Plan to
evaluate the effectiveness of the mitigation measures. Results of
monitoring will be made available to the public and stakeholders on an
annual basis and used to inform future management and decision-making
by both agencies.
The Forest Service published a legal notice of its decision on
March 16, 2004, and distributed its ROD with the Final EIS. Based on
the Final EIS, the Forest Service decided to authorize certain Army
activities and land uses in specified areas of the Forest over a 20-
year period (2004-2024). Army use of Kisatchie National Forest lands
will be governed by the terms and conditions of a Special Use Permit
issued by the Forest Service. The Forest Service has also decided to
conduct thinning over a 10-year period of approximately 21,500 acres of
upland pine stands on the Intensive Use Area of the Forest to improve
habitat conditions for the endangered red-cockaded woodpecker, and to
improve the suitability of the land for military training.
The FAA intends to rely on analyses in this EIS to make decisions
concerning the Alexandria International Airport Layout Plan as it may
be affected by three Army projects proposed to occur at the airport and
consequent movement of aircraft, materiel, and personnel through that
facility.
Copies of the Army and Forest Service ROD's and the Final EIS are
available for review at the following libraries: Allen Parish Library
(Oberlin Branch), 320 S. Sixth Street, Oberlin; Beauregard Parish
Library, 205 South Washington Avenue, DeRidder; Calcasieu Public
Library, 301 W. Claude Street, Lake Charles; East Baton Rouge Parish
Library, 7711 Goodwood Boulevard, Baton Rouge; Lafayette Public
Library, 301 W. Congress Street, Lafayette; Lincoln Parish Library, 509
West Alabama Avenue, Ruston; Natchitoches Parish Library, 431 Jefferson
Street, Natchitoches; New Orleans Public Library (Orleans Parish); 219
Loyola Avenue, New Orleans; New Orleans Public Library (Algiers Point
Branch), 725 Pelican Avenue, New Orleans; Ouachita Parish Library, 1800
Stubbs Avenue, Monroe; Rapides Parish Library, 411 Washington Street,
Alexandria; Vernon Parish Library, 1401 Nolan Trace, Leesville; Sabine
Parish Library, 705 Main Street, Many, Louisiana; and Shreve Memorial
Library (Caddo Parish), 424 Texas Street (71101), Shreveport,
Louisiana. The Army and Forest Service ROD's and Final EIS, as well as
additional information concerning the EIS process, may also be reviewed
at http://notes.tetratech-ffx.com/PolkEIS.nsf.
Dated: June 15, 2004.
Raymond J. Fatz,
Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army, (Environment, Safety and
Occupational Health) OASA(I&E).
[FR Doc. 04-14043 Filed 6-21-04; 8:45 am]
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