[Federal Register: August 27, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 165)]
[Notices]               
[Page 48997-48998]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr27au07-39]                         

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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army

 
Notice of Availability of a Record of Decision (ROD) for Base 
Realignment and Closure Actions at Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD

AGENCY: Department of the Army, DoD.

ACTION: Record of Decision (ROD).

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SUMMARY: The Department of the Army announces the availability of a ROD 
which summarizes the decision for implementing realignment actions as 
directed by the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) Commission at 
Aberdeen Providing Ground (APG), Maryland.

ADDRESSES: To obtain copies of the ROD, contact Mr. Buddy Keesee at: 
Department of the Army, Directorate of Safety, Health, and Environment, 
Attention: IMNE-APG-SHE-R, Building 5650, Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD 
21005-5001; e-mail Buddy.Keesee@us.army.mil.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Buddy Keesee at (410) 278-6755 
during normal business hours.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Army has decided to proceed with 
implementing the Preferred Alternative consistent with the analysis in 
the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) dated July 2007, supporting 
studies, and comments provided during normal

[[Page 48998]]

comment and review periods. The Proposed Action includes construction, 
renovation, and operation of proposed facilities to accommodate 
incoming military missions at APG. To implement the BRAC 
recommendations, APG will be receiving personnel, equipment, and 
missions from various closure and realignment actions within the 
Department of Defense. To implement the BRAC Commission 
recommendations, the Army will provide the necessary facilities, 
buildings, and infrastructure to support incoming military missions and 
a net gain of about 4,400 people as mandated by the 2005 BRAC 
Commission's recommendations at APG. The No Action Alternative would 
not meet the Army's purpose and need for the Proposed Action as the 
BRAC realignment is required by Congress and needed for Army 
transformation to be effective.
    Special consideration was given to the effect of the Preferred 
Alternative on natural resources, cultural resources, and traffic. All 
practicable means to avoid or minimize environmental harm from the 
Preferred Alternative have been adopted. The Army will minimize effects 
on all environmental and socioeconomic resources by implementing best 
management practices as described in the EIS. Mitigation measures, as 
described in the ROD, will be implemented, subject to the availability 
of funding, to minimize, avoid, or compensate for the adverse effects 
identified in the EIS at APG for biological resources and cultural 
resources. The EIS also identifies transportation projects that could 
eliminate adverse impacts from implementing the Preferred Alternative. 
The ROD describes the disposition of these projects and the approach 
the Army will take to mitigate traffic concerns.
    The ROD states that implementing the Preferred Alternative reflects 
a proper balance between initiatives for protection of the environment, 
appropriate mitigation, and actions to achieve the Army's requirements.
    An electronic version of the ROD is available for download at: 
http://www.hqda.army.mil/acsim/brac/nepa_eis_docs.htm.


    Dated: August 20, 2007.
Addison D. Davis, IV,
Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army (Environment, Safety and 
Occupational Health).
[FR Doc. 07-4191 Filed 8-24-07; 8:45 am]

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