[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 187 (Thursday, September 25, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 55502-55503]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-22478]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army


Preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for Army 
Growth and Force Structure Realignment at Fort Bliss, Texas and New 
Mexico

AGENCY: Department of the Army, DoD.

ACTION: Notice of Intent (NOI).

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SUMMARY: This announces the intention of the U.S. Army to prepare an 
EIS analyzing the impacts of Army Growth and Force Structure 
Realignment at Fort Bliss. The Fort Bliss Army Growth EIS will tier 
from the Final Programmatic EIS for Army Growth and Force Structure 
Realignment, for which a Record of Decision (ROD) was signed in 
December 2007. That ROD directed stationing of two Infantry Brigade 
Combat Teams (IBCTs) at Fort Bliss, and the stationing of Heavy Brigade 
Combat Teams (HBCTs) (returning from Germany) at Fort Bliss and White 
Sands Missile Range (WSMR). Army BCTs consist of approximately 3,500-
4,000 soldiers. The HBCT at WSMR will leverage training infrastructure 
and range modernization that has taken place at Fort Bliss. These 
actions are scheduled over the next five years.

ADDRESSES: Written comments should be forwarded to: Mr. Walter J. 
Christensen, Attention: FB GTA EIS; IMWE-BLS-PWE; Fort Bliss, TX 79916 
6812; or faxed to (915) 568-3548.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jean Offutt, Fort Bliss Public Affairs 
Office; IMWE-BLS-PA; Fort Bliss, Texas, 79916-6812; phone: (915) 568-
4505.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Actions proposed to be taken at Fort Bliss 
in support of Army growth have the potential to significantly impact 
the natural and human environment in and around Fort Bliss as a result 
of facility construction and new and different uses of the Fort Bliss 
Training Complex (FBTC). The study area for the environmental analysis 
will be the Fort Bliss installation and surrounding communities. The 
objective of this analysis is to provide a comprehensive EIS that will 
serve as a planning tool and public information source. Several 
categories of alternatives will be considered:
    (1) Stationing/Training: Known and reasonably foreseeable 
stationing and training actions will be analyzed. This includes 
additional units and use of any element of the Army's equipment 
inventory (e.g., Stryker).
    (2) Land Use: Various land use changes in support of the Fort Bliss

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mission are proposed for analysis. Portions of the Sacramento Mountains 
and foothills are anticipated for infantry maneuver and training use, 
to include off-road vehicle maneuver where the terrain permits. 
Additional bivouac/logistics sites are proposed in grasslands on the 
FBTC, including southeast McGregor Range and Otero Mesa.
    (3) Facility Improvement: New firing ranges necessary to support 
IBCTs will be analyzed as part of the proposed action. In addition, the 
proposed action contemplates construction of a rail line linking the 
cantonment area to the FBTC, expansion of range camps, and construction 
of Forward Operating Bases similar to those used in current operations. 
Cantonment area development to support the growth of personnel at Fort 
Bliss will also be analyzed.
    Initial screening of the proposed action for potentially 
significant environmental impacts suggests the following eight resource 
areas receive the greatest scrutiny in this EIS: Land use, 
archaeological resources, Native American consultation, natural 
resources, water and wastewater, facility construction, population and 
housing, and public services.
    Federal, state, and local agencies, Tribal governments and the 
public are invited to participate in the scoping process for this EIS 
through public meetings and submission of written comments. 
Notification of times and locations for the scoping meetings will be 
published in local newspapers. The scoping process will help identify 
alternatives, potential environmental impacts, and key issues of 
concern for analysis in the EIS. To ensure scoping comments are fully 
considered in the Draft EIS, comments and suggestions should be 
received no later than 45 days following publication of this NOI.

    Dated: September 18, 2008.
Addison D. Davis, IV,
Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army (Environment, Safety, and 
Occupational Health).
[FR Doc. E8-22478 Filed 9-24-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3710-08-M