[Federal Register: May 8, 2009 (Volume 74, Number 88)]
[Notices]
[Page 21665]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr08my09-52]
[[Page 21665]]
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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Army
Notice of Availability for the Draft Environmental Impact
Statement (DEIS) for Development and Implementation of Range-Wide
Mission and Major Capabilities at White Sands Missile Range (WSMR), New
Mexico
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 that assesses environmental impacts associated with new mission
requirements and new test and training capabilities at WSMR. It
analyzes the impacts of land use changes that provide for increased
research, development, and testing activities. The impacts of expanded
off-road maneuver and facilities needed to support increased Future
Combat Systems testing and the stationing and training of a Heavy
Brigade Combat Team (HBCT) of approximately 3,800 Soldiers is also
analyzed.
DATES: The public comment period will end 45 days after publication of
an NOA in the Federal Register by the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency.
ADDRESSES: For specific questions regarding the DEIS, please contact
the White Sands Test Center; Operations Office, Attention: Catherine
Giblin, 124 Crozier Street, Building 124, Room B-15, White Sands
Missile Range, NM 88002. Written comments may be mailed to the above
address, faxed to (575) 678-4082, or e-mailed to:
wsmreis@conus.army.mil.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Monte Marlin, Public Affairs Office,
Building 1782, Headquarters Avenue, White Sands Missile Range, NM
88002; (575) 678-1134; or e-mail monte.marlin@us.army.mil.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The proposed action would result in a
flexible, capabilities-based land use and airspace plan able to
accommodate rapidly evolving customer needs, support current and future
mission activities, and support a full range of test and training
efforts from individual components up through major joint and
multinational programs. The DEIS assesses the environmental impacts
associated with the testing, training, and stationing activities under
the proposed plan. Testing typically involves activities such as
missile flight tests, aerial intercepts, air-delivered munitions tests
against ground targets, directed energy and various weapon systems
tests. Training involves military personnel using the land for maneuver
as well as for field evaluation of weapons, equipment, communication
systems, or other objectives. Testing, training and stationing require
additional infrastructure such as barracks, motor pools, and
administrative buildings. Implementation of the Proposed Action is
anticipated in 2009 and would begin following the completion of a Final
EIS and signing of a Record of Decision (ROD).
The stationing of an HBCT at WSMR and other force structure
realignment actions across the Army were analyzed in the 2007 Final
Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement for Army Growth and Force
Structure Realignment. The ROD determined that WSMR would receive an
HBCT in 2013. The development and implementation of a land use plan and
airspace is intended to more fully realize and integrate the
capabilities of the WSMR primary mission (research, development,
testing, and evaluation (RDTE)) with new training capabilities and Army
stationing decisions. Establishing new test and training capabilities
requires changing land use designations within the current installation
boundaries. These changes would support current and future requirements
and allow off-road vehicle maneuver on designated portions of the
installation. WSMR will maintain its current RDTE mission and continue
to support testing objectives of all military services and federal
agencies.
The DEIS evaluates and discloses the environmental effects
associated with two alternatives and a no action alternative on the
natural, cultural, and man made environments at WSMR and in the
southern New Mexico region. The no action alternative includes current
test capabilities and land use designations with current levels of
operations and activities. It also provides the baseline conditions for
comparison to the other alternatives. Alternative 1 changes land use to
expand testing and maneuver capabilities to include Future Combat
Systems or similar programs. It supports the Grow the Army decision to
station an HBCT at WSMR by expanding the cantonment area and adding
additional supporting infrastructure. Alternative 2 includes those
activities described in Alternative 1 and adds additional off-road
maneuver areas for testing and training on WSMR.
The Army invites full public participation to promote open
communication and better decision making, including comment on the DEIS
and participation in public meetings, which will be announced in
advance in local news media. The DEIS is available at local libraries
surrounding WSMR and may also be accessed at http://www.wsmr.army.mil.
A Preferred Alternative has not been selected at this time. Comments
from the public will be considered before any decision is made
regarding the Preferred Alternative or implementation of the Proposed
Action.
Dated: April 27, 2009.
Addison D. Davis, IV,
Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army (Environment, Safety, and
Occupational Health).
[FR Doc. E9-10603 Filed 5-7-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3710-08-M