46448 Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 160 / Monday, August 20, 2007 / Notices 

mortar training. The Army has utilized 

ERF for weapons training since the 

1940s and a wide range of direct and 

indirect fire weapons have been used at 

this site, including mortars, howitzers, 

missiles, rockets, and small arms. 

Currently, ERF can only be used for 

live-fire weapons training during winter 

months when wetland sediments are 

frozen, which requires Fort Richardson 

units to travel to Fort Wainwright and 

Donnelly Training Area to complete 

training requirements during the 

summer. Firing restrictions were 

imposed in 1991 following completion 

of an environmental assessment that 

established a link between firing 

munitions containing white phosphorus 

and waterfowl mortality at ERF. The 

intent of limiting weapons firing to 

winter months was two-fold; first, to 

reduce possible disturbance and 

redistribution of white phosphorus 

within wetlands in order to decrease the 

chance for additional waterfowl 

mortality; and, second, to mitigate 

possible noise impact on ERF until such 

time as the Army properly evaluated the 

effect on resident wildlife. 

Following the discovery that white 

phosphorus was the cause of waterfowl 

mortality in 1991, Fort Richardson (to 

include the ERF ordnance impact) was 

listed on the National Priorities List 

(NPL) under the Comprehensive 

Environmental Response, 

Compensation, and Liability Act 

(CERCLA). A comprehensive remedial 

investigation was undertaken as part of 

the CERCLA process and white 

phosphorus was determined to be the 

only contaminant of concern at ERF. In 

1998, a CERCLA Record of Decision that 

outlined the process for cleanup of 

white phosphorus at ERF was signed by 

the U.S. Army Alaska, U.S. 

Environmental Protection Agency, and 

the State of Alaska. Remedial actions at 

ERF have resulted in successful 

treatment of 99% of the wetlands and 

reduced waterfowl mortality to 

acceptable levels in accordance with the 

Record of Decision. 

Environmental conditions have 

significantly improved at ERF since 

1991, and the Army is proposing to 

reassess potential impacts at ERF from 

year-round use. U.S. Army Alaska 

proposes to remove existing winter only 

live-fire restrictions and return to yearround weapons training in order to 

fulfill current training needs at Fort 

Richardson. Both direct and indirect fire 

weapons would be used. Use of white 

phosphorus containing munitions in 

ERF would still be banned under the 

proposed action. 

Potential impacts resulting from the 

proposed action include possible 

disturbance of white phosphorus lying 

below the surface in contaminated 

areas, accumulation of munitions 

residues, increased noise, and physical 

disturbance of natural resources. The 

environmental components to be 

evaluated in the EIS include 

environmental health and safety, 

wildlife and fisheries, soil, water 

resources, cultural resources, noise, air 

quality, vegetation, and socioeconomics. 

Analysis of additional environmental 

components may be added based upon 

input from agency and tribal 

consultations and public scoping. 

A range of reasonable alternatives, 

including an alternative considering 

‘‘No Action’’ will be developed and 

analyzed in the EIS. The No Action 

Alternative represents the status quo 

with respect to live-fire training at ERF. 

Alternatives to be considered include 

varying the degree, timing, and location 

of weapons training at Fort Richardson 

and will take into consideration 

environmental components such as 

migratory bird and beluga whale 

migrations. Other alternatives 

reasonably capable of meeting the 

project purpose and need and criteria 

that may be raised during the scoping 

process will be considered. 

Scoping and Public Comment: 

Federally-recognized Indian Tribes, 

Native Alaskans, Native Hawaiian 

groups, Federal, State, and local 

agencies, organizations, and interested 

members of the public are invited to 

participate in the scoping process for 

the completion of this EIS by 

participating in scoping meetings or 

submitting written comments. The 

scoping process will help identify 

possible alternatives, potential 

environmental impacts, means to 

mitigate adverse environmental impacts, 

and key issues of concern to be analyzed 

in the EIS. Scoping meetings will be 

held in Anchorage, Alaska and 

surrounding areas. Notification of the 

times and locations for the scoping 

meetings will be published in local 

newspapers. 

Dated: August 5, 2007. 

Addison D. Davis, IV, 

Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army 

(Environment, Safety, and Occupational 

Health). 

[FR Doc. 07–4038 Filed 8–18–07; 8:45 am] 

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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE 

Department of the Army 

Advisory Committee Meeting Notice 

AGENCY: Department of the Army, DOD. 

ACTION: Notice of meeting. 

SUMMARY: In accordance with Section 

10(a)(2) of the Federal Advisory 

Committee Act (Pub. L. 92–463), 

announcement is made of the following 

meeting: 

Name of Committee: Army Education 

Advisory Committee. 

Date: September 13, 2007. 

Place: The Pentagon, Room 2E477, 

Arlington, VA 20310. 

Time: 0900–1700. 

Proposed Agenda: The meeting 

agenda includes an overview of Army 

training and a Pentagon tour, an 

overview of Federal Advisory 

committees, an update on the five 

subcommittees: Defense Language 

Institute Foreign Language Center, 

Command and General Staff College, 

Army War College, Distance Learning/ 

Training Technology Applications, and 

the Reserve Officer Training Corps, and 

discussions focused on education and 

training within the Department of the 

Army. 

Purpose of the Meeting: To provide 

for the continuous exchange of 

information and ideas for training and 

education between the U.S. Army 

Training and Doctrine Command 

(TRADOC), HQ Department of the 

Army, and the academic and business 

communities. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: All 

communications regarding this 

committee should be addressed to Mr. 

Carlton Hardy, at Commander, 

Headquarters TRADOC, ATTN: ATTG–

CT (Mr. Hardy), Fort Monroe, VA 

23651–5000; e-mail: 

carlton.hardy@us.army.mil. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Meeting of 

the advisory committee is open to the 

public. Because of restricted meeting 

space and building security, attendance 

will be limited to those persons who 

have notified the Advisory Committee 

Management Office in writing at least 

five days prior to the meeting of their 

intention to attend. Contact Mr. Hardy 

(carlton.hardy@us.army.mil) for meeting 

agenda and specific locations. 

Any member of the public may file a 

written statement with the committee 

before, during, or after the meeting. To 

the extent that time permits, the 

committee chairman may allow public 

presentations or oral statements at the 

meeting. 

Robert E. Seger, 

Senior Executive Service, Assistant Deputy 

Chief of Staff, G–3/5/7. 

[FR Doc. 07–4057 Filed 8–17–07; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3710–08–M 


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