[Federal Register: April 3, 2009 (Volume 74, Number 63)]
[Notices]
[Page 15257]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr03ap09-21]
[[Page 15257]]
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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Army
Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for
Mission and Master Planning Actions at Fort Stewart/Hunter Army
Airfield, GA
AGENCY: Department of the Army, DoD.
ACTION: Notice of intent.
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SUMMARY: The United States Army announces its intent to proceed with an
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to address known and reasonably
anticipated changes in missions and operations at Fort Stewart/Hunter
Army Airfield. This is necessary to analyze the cumulative
socioeconomic and environmental impacts associated with a number of
recent personnel stationing actions and changes in how the Army trains
and deploys our nation's Soldiers. When the EIS is completed, it will
also be used by Army decision makers as an important resource to
consult when making future decisions about future land uses and
operations at Fort Stewart/Hunter Army Airfield.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Melissa Kendrick, National
Environmental Policy Act Specialist, Directorate of Public Works,
Prevention and Compliance Branch, Environmental Division, 1550 Frank
Cochran Drive, Building 1137-A, Fort Stewart, Georgia 31314-4928.
Written comments may be mailed to that address or e-mailed to
MeIissa.B.Kendrickus.army.mil. For media queries please contact Fort
Stewart Public Affairs Office at (912) 435-9874 during normal business
hours (9 a.m. to 5 p.m.).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Fort Stewart/Hunter Army Airfield, located
in southeastern Georgia, is the largest Army installation east of the
Mississippi River covering approximately 280,000 acres. Updates to the
installation's mission and master planning process will allow the
installation to continue to train Soldiers, protect valuable
environmental and cultural resources, and minimize negative impacts to
neighboring communities. The Army's intent in moving forward with this
EIS is to provide decision makers with a comprehensive planning tool, a
public information source, and a reference for mitigation.
The proposed action involves constructing ranges and facilities to
support military units assigned to Fort Stewart, accommodating current
and future training requirements, and the updating of operational and
management plans for training lands and infrastructure. The EIS will
address the effects of the proposed activities beginning in FY11 and
extending through FY14. Construction projects include ranges,
cantonment expansion, Georgia Highway 144 by-pass, widening of Highway
144, and other transportation improvements on Fort Stewart. The EIS
will also include an assessment of Fort Stewart's alternative energy
potential and will evaluate alternative energy projects which may be
implemented at Fort Stewart in the future.
Alternatives may consist of different locations on the installation
for specific projects or modifications to those projects. Range
projects will be located on areas currently dedicated to military
training. The size of the cantonment area may increase. Alternatives
will be developed during preparation of the Draft EIS and as a result
of public input and environmental analysis.
Several areas present the potential for significant impacts. Fort
Stewart/Hunter Army Airfield land provides known or potential habitat
for protected plant and wildlife species. Fort Stewart/Hunter Army
Airfield provides habitat for 40 percent of the protected red-cockaded
woodpecker in Georgia and intensively manages installation land to
protect their habitat. Approximately 60 percent of the installation has
been surveyed for cultural resources. As a result of these surveys,
numerous sites have been recommended as eligible or potentially
eligible for the National Register of Historic Places. Another issue of
concern is that approximately 30 percent of the installation is
potentially wetlands.
The EIS will analyze the potential impacts of the proposed action
and the alternatives. Impacts analyzed will include a wide range of
environmental resource areas including, but not limited to, air
quality, traffic, noise, water resources, biological resources,
cultural resources, socioeconomic, utilities, land use, solid and
hazardous materials/waste, and cumulative environmental effects.
Additional resources and conditions may be identified as a result of
the scoping process initiated by this Notice of Intent (NOI).
The public will be invited to actively participate in the EIS
process, which includes three scoping meetings to provide input on the
proposed actions and alternatives. The public will also be invited to
review and comment on the Draft EIS. Dates and times for these public
involvement opportunities will be announced in the local news media.
Comments from the public will be considered before any decision is made
regarding implementing the proposed action at Fort Stewart/Hunter Army
Airfield.
The public scoping period will last for 30 days following the
publication of this NOI in the Federal Register. Comments from the
public will be considered before any decision is made regarding
implementing the proposed action.
Dated: March 20, 2009.
Addison D. Davis, IV,
Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army (Environment, Safety and
Occupational Health).
[FR Doc. E9-7320 Filed 4-2-09; 8:45 am]
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