[Federal Register: January 27, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 18)]
[Notices]               
[Page 4571-4572]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr27ja06-37]                         

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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Office of the Secretary

 
Notice of Availability of the Draft Programmatic Environmental 
Impact Statement for DTRA Activities on White Sands Missile Range, New 
Mexico

AGENCY: Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, 
Technology, and Logistics, Defense Threat Reduction Agency, DoD.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to section 102(2)(c) of the National Environmental 
Act (NEPA), 42 U.S.C. 4321-4370, as implemented by the Council of 
Environmental Quality Regulations (40 CFR parts 1500-1508), the Defense 
Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) announces the availability of the Draft 
Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS) for DTRA activities 
on White Sands Missile Range (WSMR), New Mexico. As a major cooperating 
agency, WSMR has participated in the

[[Page 4572]]

preparation of the PEIS. Future development of DTRA's testing 
facilities and program, and its scope require a PEIS to adequately 
address potential environmental impacts.

ADDRESSES: Written comments may be forwarded to the Defense Threat 
Reduction Agency, ATTN: WSMR PEIS Comments, 1680 Texas St., SE., 
Kirtland AFB, NM 87117-5669; faxed to (505) 853-1793; or emailed to 
WSMR_PEIS_Comments@abq.dtra.mil.


FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: DTRA Public Affairs at (703) 767-5870 
or (800) 701-5096.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: White Sands Missile Range covers 
approximately 8,288 km\2\ (3,200 mi\2\) of south-central New Mexico. 
Proposed DTRA activities at WSMR have the potential to significantly 
impact certain natural, social, cultural, and economic resources in the 
region. The study area for environmental analyses includes the Hard 
Target Defeat Test bed (HTDT), Permanent High Explosive Test Site 
(PHETS), Seismic hardrock In Situ Test site (SHIST), Alternate SHIST, 
and Large Blast/Thermal Simulator (LBTS). The objective has been to 
provide a thorough, comprehensive and PEIS that will serve as a 
planning and decision-making tool, a public information source, and a 
reference for mitigation tracking concerning DTRA future activities.
    Alternatives consist of modifications of specific activities; 
variations in type and toxicity of simulants; and the No Action 
alternative. These alternatives were developed during preparation of 
the Draft PEIS as a result of environmental analyses of the activities 
and public input.
    Significant Issues: Certain biologically diverse areas on White 
Sands Missile Range utilized by the Defense Threat Reduction Agency 
serve as habitat or potential habitat for protected floral and faunal 
(plant and animal) species. To date, several locations in the areas 
studied have been identified as important cultural resources. The most 
significant are Ground Zero and McDonald Ranch House, part of Trinity 
Site National Historic Landmark located within the Permanent High 
Explosive Test Site boundaries.
    Significant issues that are addressed in the Draft PEIS include:
    1. The continued operation and maintenance of various test 
structures used as targets for weapon system evaluations.
    2. Construction of new test structures, enlargement of existing 
test beds, and possible development of new test beds.
    3. Testing, operations and maintenance activities at tunnel targets 
in the Capitol Canyon area (HTDT).
    4. The use of chemical and biological simulants in collateral 
damage tests.
    5. Planned improvements to the DTRA Administrative Park within the 
PHETS boundaries.
    Public hearings will be held on Tuesday, February 28, 2006, at the 
Civic Center in Alamogordo, NM (800 East First Street, Alamagordo, NM); 
on Wednesday, March 1, 2006, at the Ramada Palms in Las Cruces, NM (201 
E University Ave., Las Cruces, NM); and on Thursday, March 2, 2006, at 
the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, Macey Center, in 
Socorro, NM (801 Leroy Place, Socorro, NM) to facilitate public input 
to the PEIS.
    All hearings will begin at 5 p.m. with a 2-hour open house session 
for the public to ask questions of subject matter experts. These 
sessions will be followed by the public hearings, beginning at 7 p.m. 
in order to receive public comments.
    Please note any changes to the times, dates, and locations for the 
hearings will be published in local newspapers and on the PEIS Web site 
at http://www.dtra.mil/Toolbox/Directorates/TD/programs/dpeis/index.cfm.

    For those that cannot attend the public hearings, written comments 
via mail or e-mail are encouraged. Comments should clearly identify and 
describe the specific issue(s) or topics that the PEIS should address.
    To be considered in the Final PEIS, comments and suggestions must 
be postmarked no later than 60 days following this Federal Register 
announcement.

    Dated: January 23, 2006.
L.M. Bynum,
Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison Officer, Department of Defense.
[FR Doc. 06-815 Filed 1-26-06; 8:45 am]

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