[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 176 (Monday, September 14, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 46985-46986]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-21932]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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

[[Page 46986]]

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