Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 176 / Monday, September 14, 2009 / Notices 46985 

increase numbers and types of aviation 

assets and training at Fort Wainwright, 

Fort Richardson, or other military 

installations in Alaska. The proposed 

aviation unit, an Aviation Task Force or 

Combat Aviation Brigade, would 

potentially consist of up to 62 medium 

and heavy lift helicopters, 30 combat 

scout helicopters, 24 attack helicopters, 

and between 1,200 to 2,850 Soldiers. 

DATES: The waiting period for the FEIS 

will end 30 days after the publication of 

an NOA in the Federal Register by the 

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. 

ADDRESSES: Written comments should 

be forwarded to Ms. Carrie McEnteer, 

Directorate of Public Works, Attention: 

IMPA–FWA–PWE, 1060 Gaffney Road 

#4500, Fort Wainwright, AK 99703– 

4500, by fax at (907) 361–9867, or by 

e-mail at carrie.mcenteer@us.army.mil. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. 

Linda L. Douglass, Public Affairs Office, 

1060 Gaffney Road #5900, Fort 

Wainwright, AK 99703–5900; 

telephone: (907) 353–6701, e-mail: 

linda.douglass@us.army.mil. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The 

Proposed Action and analysis in the 

FElS includes the reorganization of 

existing aviation assets (approximately 

490 Soldiers and 32 medium and heavy 

lift helicopters) in U.S. Army Alaska 

(USARAK) to become a frontline 

aviation unit with an increased capacity 

that could range in size from an 

Aviation Task Force (approximately 

1,200 Soldiers, 42 medium and heavy 

lift helicopters and 30 combat scout 

helicopters) to a Combat Aviation 

Brigade (approximately 2,850 Soldiers, 

62 medium and heavy lift helicopters, 

30 combat scout helicopters, and 24 

attack aviation helicopters). 

While USARAK has historically 

supported unit training activities within 

Alaska with rotary-winged aircraft 

(helicopters), the types and numbers of 

current assets are not sufficient to 

provide the full range of integrated 

tactical training required by the modern 

Brigade Combat Team. The proposed 

increase and reorganization of 

USARAK’s aviation assets would 

resolve this shortcoming. The new 

aviation unit would provide key 

aviation assets for operational 

deployment abroad and would serve to 

enhance the training capability of 

USARAK’s two Brigade Combat Teams 

by providing a local opportunity to 

conduct integrated training with 

multiple types of Army aviation assets. 

In addition to consideration of a No 

Action Alternative (use of existing 

aviation assets and infrastructure to 

support USARAK Brigade Combat Team 

training with no increase to current 

integrated land-air training capability), 

two additional alternatives are proposed 

as possible scenarios for the 

reorganization of existing USARAK 

aviation assets. The alternatives vary by 

aviation unit size, aviation asset 

composition, and stationing location. 

Alternatives include: (1) Expansion of 

Existing Aviation Units into an Aviation 

Task Force—convert existing USARAK 

aviation assets into an Aviation Task 

Force (station 710 additional Soldiers 

and 40 additional helicopters, build 

sufficient new infrastructure to support 

the new aviation inventory at Fort 

Wainwright, and conduct increased 

aviation training on existing Alaska 

military training lands and ranges); and 

(2) Expansion of Existing Aviation 

Assets into a Combat Aviation Brigade 

with stationing of Soldiers and 

helicopters at Fort Wainwright, Fort 

Richardson, and Eielson Air Force 

Base—convert existing USARAK 

aviation assets into a Combat Aviation 

Brigade (station 2,360 additional 

Soldiers and an additional 84 

helicopters (30 medium and heavy lift 

type, 30 combat scout type, and 24 

attack type) at the three military 

installations, build sufficient new 

infrastructure only at Fort Wainwright 

to support the new aviation inventory, 

and conduct increased aviation training 

on existing Alaska military training 

lands and ranges). After reviewing the 

alternatives presented in the FEIS, the 

Army has selected the Aviation Task 

Force alternative as its preferred 

alternative. 

Implementation of this proposed 

action is expected to result in direct, 

indirect and cumulative impacts as a 

result of troop stationing, facilities 

construction and helicopter training 

exercises at USARAK. The principal 

environmental impacts discussed in the 

EIS are airspace management, cultural 

and visual resources, noise, hazardous 

materials and hazardous waste, and 

wildlife. Although additional 

helicopters would be stationed in 

Alaska, existing airspace aviation travel 

routes would be utilized resulting in 

minor increases in air traffic. Significant 

adverse impacts would occur to the 

Ladd Field National Historic Landmark 

as a result of facility construction at Fort 

Wainwright. Adverse impacts would be 

the result of the new construction being 

out of scale with historic buildings, 

historical view-shed obstruction and 

change in use of two historic buildings. 

Temporary minor noise impacts would 

occur due to facility construction. Noise 

associated with helicopter training 

would increase but not to a level that 

would significantly increase annoyance 

levels at Fort Wainwright or 

surrounding lands. Hazardous materials 

and waste, both existing sources and 

those created by the stationing and 

operation of an aviation unit, will be 

managed under existing programs and 

agreements. Facility construction is 

proposed within known areas of 

contamination. USARAK will continue 

to consult with the appropriate State 

and Federal agencies as outlined in 

existing agreements in order to protect 

human health and the environment. 

Various wildlife species would be 

affected by increased military training 

(specifically moose, bison, caribou, 

trumpeter swan and bear); however, 

population level impacts would not 

occur. In addition, increased hunting 

pressure on game mammals could result 

from increased stationing of Soldiers. 

Copies of the FEIS are available for 

public review at local libraries and at 

the following Web site: http:// 

www.usarak.army.mil/conservation/ 

NEPA_home.html. Comments from the 

public will be considered before any 

final decision is made. 

Dated: September 2, 2009. 

Addison D. Davis, IV, 

Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army 

(Environment, Safety and Occupational 

Health). 

[FR Doc. E9–21933 Filed 9–11–09; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3710–08–M 

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE 

Department of the Army 

Notice of Availability of the Draft 

Environmental Impact Statement 

(DEIS) for Grow the Army Actions at 

Fort Lewis and the Yakima Training 

Center (YTC), WA 

AGENCY: Department of the Army, DoD. 

ACTION: Notice of Availability (NOA). 

SUMMARY: The Department of the Army 

announces the availability of a DEIS that 

analyzes the environmental and 

socioeconomic impacts of implementing 

the stationing and realignment decisions 

in the 2007 ‘‘Grow the Army’’ 

Programmatic EIS (GTA PEIS) and other 

ongoing Army realignment and 

stationing initiatives pertaining to Fort 

Lewis and YTC. The GTA PEIS Record 

of Decision (ROD) specified the 

stationing of additional units at Fort 

Lewis including an Expeditionary 

Sustainment Command, and directed 

unit restructuring actions that would 

increase active duty strength at Fort 

Lewis by approximately 1,900 Soldiers. 

The DEIS also analyzes Fort Lewis and 

YTC as potential locations for the 


cprice-sewell on DSK2BSOYB1PROD with NOTICES
46986 Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 176 / Monday, September 14, 2009 / Notices 

stationing of approximately 1,000 

combat service support (CSS) Soldiers 

consisting of quartermaster, medical, 

transportation, headquarters or other 

CSS units to support combat operations, 

and the potential stationing of a 

medium Combat Aviation Brigade 

(CAB) consisting of approximately 2,800 

soldiers and 110 helicopters. 

DATES: The public comment period for 

the DEIS will end 45 days after 

publication of an NOA in the Federal 

Register by the Environmental 

Protection Agency. 

ADDRESSES: Questions or comments 

regarding the DEIS should be forwarded 

to: Department of the Army, Directorate 

of Public Works, Attention: IMWE– 

LEW–PWE (Mr. Paul T. Steucke, Jr.), 

Building 2012, Liggett Avenue, Box 

339500 MS 17, Fort Lewis, WA 98433– 

9500. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. 

Bill Van Hoesen, Fort Lewis National 

Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) 

Coordinator, at (253) 966–1780 during 

business hours (8 a.m. to 4 p.m. PDT, 

Monday through Friday). 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Fort Lewis 

is an 86,176 acre major Army 

installation in western Washington 

(approximately 35 miles south of 

Seattle) and is one of 15 U.S. power 

projection platforms. The 327,231 acre 

YTC is a subinstallation of Fort Lewis 

located about 7 miles northeast of the 

City of Yakima in central Washington. 

Fort Lewis and YTC are important Army 

facilities for weapons qualification and 

field training. In addition to the units 

stationed there, Reserve and National 

Guard units, as well as units from allied 

nations, train at Fort Lewis and YTC. 

The DEIS evaluates the potential 

impacts of the site-specific actions for 

the alternatives to implement the 

Proposed Action. These actions include 

troop stationing, maneuver and live-fire 

training, and construction. The 

following alternatives are evaluated: 

(1) The No Action alternative assumes 

that the Army GTA decisions would not 

be implemented. It is not a viable 

alternative because the Army GTA 

decisions have already been made, and 

the decisions need to be implemented. 

Analysis of the No Action alternative 

serves as a baseline for comparison of 

the other alternatives. Under this 

alternative, planned construction that is 

not part of the GTA decisions includes 

troop barracks, recreational facilities, 

traffic flow improvements and other 

infrastructure upgrades at Fort Lewis. 

(2) The GTA alternative implements 

the Army GTA decisions affecting Fort 

Lewis and YTC. Maneuver and live-fire 

training of an additional 1,900 Soldiers 

will occur at Fort Lewis and YTC. This 

alternative also includes the training of 

three Stryker Brigade Combat Teams 

(SBCT5) present simultaneously at Fort 

Lewis and YTC. Planned new 

construction includes brigade barracks 

complexes, the upgrade of sub-standard 

SBCT facilities to meet Army standards, 

and additional firing ranges at Fort 

Lewis and YTC. 

(3) The CSS alternative represents the 

potential stationing at Fort Lewis of up 

to 1,000 CSS Soldiers in addition to 

Alternative 2. Maneuver and live-fire 

training of up to 2,900 new Soldiers 

would occur at Fort Lewis and YTC. 

Specific construction projects cannot be 

identified until the types and numbers 

of CSS units are known, but new 

construction would include barracks, 

motor pools, classrooms and 

administrative facilities. 

(4) The CAB alternative represents the 

potential stationing at Fort Lewis of a 

medium CAB in addition to Alternative 

3. Maneuver and live-fire training of up 

include the air and ground assets of the 

CAB. New construction facilities to 

support the CAB would be similar to 

those required for Alternative 3. 

Major impacts expected from 

implementing the Proposed Action 

include noise from the increased 

frequency of demolitions and live-fire 

training, which would extend further 

beyond the boundaries of Fort Lewis 

into the surrounding communities. 

Additional traffic volume from the 

potential stationing of the medium CAB 

would increase the delays and 

congestion at key intersections during 

peak traffic hours. Although the 

additional number of schoolchildren 

from each alternative would increase 

the number of schoolchildren in the 

local school systems, the potential CAB 

stationing would significantly impact 

the local school systems that support 

Fort Lewis. At YTC, increased use of 

training lands and firing ranges for 

maneuver and live-fire training would 

increase the risk of damage to wildlife 

and wildlife habitat. 

A copy of the DEIS may be accessed 

at the following Web site: http:// 

www.lewis.army.mil/publicworks/sites/ 

envir/EIA_2.htm. Comments from the 

public will be considered before any 

decision is made regarding 

implementation of the Proposed Action. 

Dated: September 2, 2009. 

Addison D. Davis, IV, 

Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army 

(Environment, Safety and Occupational 

Health). 

[FR Doc. E9–21932 Filed 9–11–09; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3710–08–M 

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE 

Department of the Army 

Draft Environmental Impact Statement 

(DEIS) for the Base Realignment and 

Closure (BRAC) 05 Actions at Fort 

Monroe, VA 

AGENCY: Department of the Army, DoD. 

ACTION: Notice of Availability (NOA). 

SUMMARY: The Department of the Army 

announces the availability of the DEIS, 

which evaluates the potential 

environmental and socioeconomic 

impacts of BRAC actions at Fort 

Monroe, Virginia. 

DATES: The public comment period for 

the DEIS will end 45 days after 

publication of an NOA in the Federal 

Register by the U.S. Environmental 

Protection Agency. Public meeting date 

is: October 6, 2009, 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., 

Hampton Roads Convention Center, 

1610 Coliseum Drive, Hampton, VA. 

ADDRESSES: Please send written 

comments on the DEIS to: Ms. Robin 

Mills, Chief, Directorate of Public 

Works, 318 Cornog Lane, Fort Monroe, 

VA 23651. E-mail comments should be 

sent to 

monr.post.nepapublic@us.army.mil. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. 

Robin Mills, Chief, Directorate of Public 

Works, 318 Cornog Lane, Fort Monroe, 

VA 23651. E-mail comments should be 

sent to 

monr.post.nepapublic@us.army.mil. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The DEIS 

covers activities associated with the 

BRAC actions at Fort Monroe, Virginia. 

The 2005 BRAC Commission 

recommended the closure of Fort 

Monroe and the relocation of the U.S. 

Army Training and Doctrine Command 

(TRADOC) Headquarters; the 

Installation Management Agency (IMA) 

Northeast Region Headquarters; the U.S. 

Army Network Enterprise Technology 

Command (NETCOM) Northeast Region 

Headquarters; and the Army Contracting 

Agency Northern Region Office to Fort 

Eustis, VA. The 2005 BRAC 

Commission also recommended the U.S. 

Army Accessions Command and U.S. 

Army Cadet Command relocate to Fort 

Knox, KY. Under BRAC, closure will be 

no later than September 15, 2011. 

Following closure, Fort Monroe will 

be surplus to Army needs and the Army 

will dispose of its real property 

interests. The Army has recognized the 

Fort Monroe Federal Area Development 

Authority (FMFADA) as the local reuse 

authority for reuse planning. The 

FMFADA Fort Monroe Reuse Plan was 

approved by the Governor in August 


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