[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 87 (Thursday, May 6, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Page 24930]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-10697]
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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Army
Fort Bliss (Texas) Army Growth and Force Structure Realignment
Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS)
AGENCY: Department of the Army, DOD.
ACTION: Notice of availability.
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SUMMARY: The Department of the Army announces the availability of the
Fort Bliss Army Growth and Force Structure Realignment FEIS (hereon
referred to as FEIS) identifying the potential environmental effects
that would result from use of stationing and training capacity, land
use changes, and training infrastructure improvements at Fort Bliss to
support Army growth and force structure realignment.
The FEIS tiers from the Records of Decision (2007) for the Army
Growth and Force Structure Realignment Programmatic Environmental
Impact Statement (GTA PEIS); and the Fort Bliss, Texas and New Mexico
Mission and Master Plan Final Supplemental Programmatic Environmental
Impact Statement (SEIS).
After reviewing the alternatives presented in the FEIS, the Army
has selected its preferred alternative from a mixture of the three
different categories of interrelated alternatives. The preferred
alternative is to implement the following: Alternative 4 stationing
action; Alternative 5 land use change; and Alternative 4 training
infrastructure improvement. Alternative 4 stationing action includes a
Stryker Brigade Combat Team (SBCT) (for a total of two) or allows
replacing a BCT equivalent with an SBCT and various support units to
the Fort Bliss stationing package. Alternative 5 land use changes allow
fixed sites (e.g., military bivouac), mission support facilities, live-
fire military uses and off-road vehicle maneuvers in new locations
around the Sacramento Mountains and McGregor Range areas. Alternative 4
training infrastructure improvements include: construction of new
ranges to support the stationing of SBCTs; expansion of existing range
camps; construction of 16 austere Contingency Operating Locations
(COLs); and construction of a rail line connecting the Fort Bliss
Cantonment area to the Fort Bliss Training Complex.
DATES: The waiting period will end 30 days after the publication of a
notice of availability for the FEIS in the Federal Register by the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency.
ADDRESSES: Written comments should be sent to: Mr. John F. Barrera,
IMWE-BLS-PWE, Building 624, Taylor Road, Fort Bliss, TX 79916-6812; e-
mail: [email protected].
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Jean Offutt, Public Affairs
Officer, IMWE-BLS-PA, Fort Bliss, TX 79916-6812; telephone: (915) 568-
4505; fax: (915) 568-2995; e-mail: [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Proposed Action would support the growth
of the Army and allow for reasonably foreseeable future stationing
actions, land use changes, and training infrastructure improvements
that take advantage of Fort Bliss's varied terrain; full suite of
training ranges; collocation with heavy, light, and aviation combat
units; and collocation with various support units.
Three categories of interrelated alternatives are analyzed in this
document: stationing/training; land use changes; and training
infrastructure improvements. Each category contains a No Action
alternative and several action alternatives.
(1) The stationing/training category of alternatives analyzes the
stationing decision made in the GTA PEIS. The document also analyzes
reasonably foreseeable future growth at Fort Bliss, including adding
one or more SBCTs and additional support units.
(2) Land uses analyzed in the FEIS are primarily focused in the
rugged terrain of northeast McGregor Range, with minor changes in the
southeast and Tularosa Basin portions of McGregor Range, for the
purpose of supporting realistic and effective light infantry training.
None of the proposed land use changes include the Culp Canyon
Wilderness Study Area or the Black Grama Grassland Area of Critical
Environmental Concern.
(3) Training infrastructure improvements analyzed in the FEIS
include construction of additional firing ranges and expansion or
construction of administrative and training support facilities to
support the units stationed at Fort Bliss.
Actions analyzed in this document would result in a range of
potential impacts. Erosion would increase substantially on range roads
interior to the Fort Bliss Training Complex, requiring more frequent
maintenance. The most expansive stationing alternative selected may, as
a result of high-tempo training schedules, reduce Native American
access to areas of the installation in which they have an ongoing
interest. The proposed action would, in certain alternatives, result in
a small increase in the economic benefit provided by growth of the
installation, and a small decrease in certain quality of life
indicators (e.g., traffic, access to government services). Use of
restricted airspace for military training would increase under certain
alternatives, further limiting access of general and commercial
aviation. Training related noise remains significant in areas adjacent
to Dona Ana Range and portions of McGregor Range.
The FEIS and other environmental documents are available on the
Fort Bliss Web site at https://www.bliss.army.mil or in the following
libraries: In El Paso (TX), the Richard Burges Regional Library, 9600
Dyer; the Irving Schwartz Branch Library, 1865 Dean Martin; the Clardy
Fox Branch Library, 5515 Robert Alva; and the Doris van Doren Regional
Branch Library, 551 Redd Road. In Las Cruces (NM), the New Mexico State
University Zuhl Library, 2999 McFie Circle. In Alamogordo (NM), the
Alamogordo Public Library, 920 Oregon Avenue.
Dated: April 29, 2010.
Addison D. Davis, IV,
Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army (Environment, Safety, and
Occupational Health).
[FR Doc. 2010-10697 Filed 5-5-10; 8:45 am]
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