[Federal Register: October 3, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 191)]
[Notices]
[Page 58385]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr03oc06-58]
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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Army
Notice of Availability of a Draft Environmental Impact Statement
(DESI) for Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) Actions at Fort Sam
Houston, TX
AGENCY: Department of the Army, DoD.
ACTION: Notice of Availability (NOA).
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SUMMARY: The Department of the Army announces the availability of a
DEIS which evaluates the potential environmental impacts associated
with realignment actions directed by the BRAC Commission and Army
Modular Force (AMF) transformation activities at Fort Sam Houston
(FSH), Texas and Camp Bullis, Texas.
DATES: The public comment period for the DEIS will end 45 days after
publication of this NOA in the Federal Register by the Environmental
Protection Agency.
ADDRESSES: Please send written comments on the DEIS to: Mr. Phil
Reidinger, Fort Sam Houston, Public Affairs Office, Building 124, 1212
Stanley Road, Fort Sam Houston, TX 78234, or via e-mail at
Phillip.Reidinger@[fxsp0]samhouston.army.mil.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Phil Reidinger at (210) 221-1151
during normal business hours Monday through Friday.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Proposed Action and subject of the DEIS
covers the construction and renovation activities, and movement of
personnel associated with the BRAC-directed realignment of FSH. The
DEIS also covers those AMF transformation activities that would occur
at FSH at the same time that the BRAC action is being implemented.
To implement these actions, FSH would be receiving personnel,
equipment, and missions from various realignment and closure actions
within the DoD. The Army would provide the necessary facilities/
buildings and infrastructure to support the changes in force structure.
Permanent facilities would be constructed or renovated to house the
470th Military Intelligence (MI) Brigade (BDE) and various Headquarters
(HQ) units of the new Army North (ARNORTH) and Sixth Army, which are
currently located in a mix of temporary and existing facilities.
These actions would impact several areas at the installation, as
well as specific field training areas on Camp Bullis. The buildup of
facilities and personnel would be concentrated in four mission-related
subareas at FSH and the training area at Camp Bullis.
Alternatives analyzed in the EIS include: (1) The Preferred
Realignment Alternative and (2) a No Action Alternative. The Preferred
Realignment Alternative includes construction, renovation, and
operation of proposed facilities to accommodate incoming military
missions at FSH as mandated by the 2005 BRAC recommendations and AMF
actions. Minor alternative siting variations of proposed facilities
were also evaluated.
The DEIS analyses indicate that implementation of the preferred
alternative would have no long-term, significant impacts on the
environmental resources of FSH, Camp Bullis or their surrounding areas.
Potential significant impacts to aesthetics and historic district
viewscapes from implementation of the preferred alternative would be
mitigated through strict adherence to procedures identified in the FSH
Installation Design Guide, Landscape Design Guide, and Historic
Properties Component of the Integrated Cultural Resources Management
Plan. No long-term significant impacts to earth (geology, topography,
caves, karst features or soils) or wetlands are expected at either
installation. Minor land use impacts would be expected at FSH. Use of
utilities and generation of hazardous and non-hazardous wastes would
likely increase at both installations, but not in significant amounts.
Cultural resources would be impacted with the removal or renovation of
existing facilities on FSH, some of which are potentially eligible for
registration as historic properties. Minor air, noise, and
transportation impacts would also occur during short-term construction
activities under the preferred alternative at both installations and
continue after final construction and occupancy. No significant impacts
to biological resources (vegetation, wildlife and threatened and
endangered species) are expected from the implementation of the
preferred alternative. Alternative siting variations would result in
impacts and benefits similar to those of the preferred alternative. The
no action alternative provides the baseline conditions for comparison
to the preferred alternative.
The Army invites the general public, local governments, other
Federal and state agencies to submit written comments or suggestions
concerning the alternatives and analyses addressed in the DEIS. The
public and government agencies are invited to participate in a public
meeting where oral and written comments and suggestions will be
received. The public meeting will be held on October 24, 2006 from 7
p.m. to 9 p.m. at St. Patrick's Church, 1801 IH-35 North, San Antonio,
Texas.
An electronic version of the DEIS can be viewed or downloaded from
the following URL: http://www.hqda.army.mil/[fxsp0]acsim/brac/nepa--
[fxsp0]eis--docs.htm.
Dated: September 27, 2006.
Addison D. Davis, IV,
Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army (Environment, Safety and
Occupational Health).
[FR Doc. 06-8441 Filed 10-2-06; 8:45 am]
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