[Federal Register: January 4, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 3)]
[Notices]
[Page 857-858]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr04ja08-22]
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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Army
Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) for the Renewal of
the Special Use Permit (SUP) for Military Activities on the De Soto
National Forest and Implementation of Installation Mission Support
Activities at Camp Shelby, MS
AGENCY: National Guard Bureau (NGB), Department of the Army, DoD.
ACTION: Notice of Availability.
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SUMMARY: This FEIS has been prepared by the NGB and the U.S. Department
of Agriculture--Forest Service (USDA-FS). NGB is the lead agency and
the USDA-FS is serving as a cooperating agency in the development of
this FEIS for the renewal of the current SUP that authorizes military
training activities at Camp shelby Training Site.
DATES: The waiting period for the FEIS will end 30 days after
publication of an NOA in the Federal Register by the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency.
ADDRESSES: Written comments or questions regarding the FEIS may be
forwarded to Mr. Tim Powell, Public Affairs Officer, Joint Forces
Headquarters, Mississippi National Guard, P.O. Box 5027, Jackson,
Mississippi, 39296-5027.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Tim Powell, Public Affairs
Officer, at (601) 313-6349. The alternate point of contact for this
action is Major Robert A. Lemire, Mississippi Army National Guard,
Director Environmental Programs at (601) 313-6228.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This FEIS discusses in-depth two
alternatives: the Preferred Alternative and the No-Action Alternative.
Under the Preferred Alternative, the Mississippi National Guard (MSNG)
proposes the renewal of the USDA-FS SUP for a 20-year timeframe and
authorizes current activities and mission requirements to continue on
State of Mississippi, DoD, and National Forest lands. This alternative
will help meet the Army requirements associated with the Proposed
Action by constructing various new ranges and facilities at Camp Shelby
and allowing for the continuation of necessary maintenance, repair, and
rehabilitation of the infrastructure at Camp Shelby. The No Action
Alternative would authorize the renewal of the SUP for a 10-year
timeframe (same as previous SUP) and military activities would continue
as currently permitted. this alternative would not authorize the
proposed construction of new ranges and facilities and improvements and
improved management practices. Other alternatives considered but
eliminated from detailed study are also addressed in the FEIS. the
potential for significant impacts exists for both alternatives; however
with the implementation of the ongoing and proposed mitigation and
monitoring measures, the unavoidable adverse impacts can be mitigated
to an acceptable level. Under the preferred alternative, current
activities and mission requirements will continue on State of
Mississippi, DoD, and National Forest lands. This alternative includes
implementation of the projects and programs discussed in this FEIS, in
addition to the continuation of necessary maintenance, repair, and
rehabilitation of the military training infrastructure at Camp Shelby.
Environmental consequences for the proposed actions; e.g. renewal of
the SUP, and construction, operation, and maintenance of several new
projects at Camp Shelby have been analyzed. The new project proposals
have the potential for the following adverse impacts:
(1) Direct and/or indirect effects on habitat for other proposed,
endangered, threatened, and sensitive species such as Louisiana
quillwort (federal endangered species), black pine snake (federal
candidate species), and other state and USDA-FS sensitive plant
species. There would be direct positive effects on the red-cockaded
woodpecker when colonies are relocated into the proposed Habitat
Management Area at sometime in the future.
(3) Direct and/or indirect effects on approximately 275 acres of
wetlands
[[Page 858]]
(requiring fill of an estimated 20 acres of wetlands).
Direct effects by removal of approximately 120 acres for pine and
hardwood forested areas.
(5) Direct effects by movement of approximately 250,000 cubic yards
of earth and resulting direct and/or indirect effects from erosion and
sedimentation.
The proposed Combined Arms ARea (CAA) reconfiguration in this FEIS
would result in a 4,300 acre reduction in the amount of unavoidable
impacts associated with forest clearing/thinning from the scope of the
CAA last addressed and approved for construction in the 1994 SUP EIS.
Also associated with the CAA is the proposed Combined Arms Collective
Training Facility (CACTF), which would be co-located within the CAA
maneuver areas to be cleared and/or thinned and would not require any
further significant timber removal. This reduction of approximately
4,300 acres of impacts is an improvement from an environmental
standpoint over the original plan and it still meets military training
requirements.
The No Action alternative has two subsets, one related to the SUP
and the other to actions associated with mission support (construction
in the cantonment area and the range and training area). In regards to
the SUP, this is defined as renewal of a 10-year SUP for ``continuation
of military activities as presently permitted.'' This alternative does
not allow for improved and future mission requirements, future military
construction funding, improved management practices, and a 20-year SUP
permit.
A copy of the FEIS can be found at the following Web site: http://www.ngms.state.ms.us/env/Natural%20Resources/nat_resources_06.htm
.
Following the 30-day waiting period, a Record of Decision will be
signed.
Dated: November 13, 2007.
Addison D. Davis, IV,
Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army, (Environment, Safety, and
Occupational Health).
[FR Doc. 07-6286 Filed 01-03-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3710-08-M