[Federal Register: October 16, 2001 (Volume 66, Number 200)]
[Notices]
[Page 52596-52597]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr16oc01-49]
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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Army
Notice of Intent To Prepare a Supplemental Draft Environmental
Impact Statement (SDEIS) for the National Training Center (NTC) Land
Expansion Proposal at Fort Irwin, California and Notice of Substitution
of Lead Agency
AGENCY: U.S. Army National Training Center and Fort Irwin, Department
of the Army, DoD.
ACTION: Notice of intent and notice of substitution of lead agency.
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SUMMARY: Fort Irwin proposes to expand upon existing maneuver land in
order to meet training needs for force-on-force and live fire training
of heavy brigade and battalion-sized task forces. The advances in
weapon systems (e.g., longer engagement ranges) require units to cover
and operate over more ground (50km x 100km, as opposed to the 26km x
58km maneuver space currently available). The need for additional
maneuver land at the NTC was identified because of changes in doctrine,
equipment, and tactics. The need was validated and quantified by two
Land Use Requirement Studies (LURS). The studies indicated a shortfall
of approximately 193,000 acres. In 1997, a Draft Environmental Impact
Statement (DEIS) was released for the proposed project. The DEIS
examined several different alternatives and identified the preferred
alternative as the ``Silurian Valley Alternative,'' an alternative that
consisted of acquiring lands that lay primarily to the east and north
of the present boundaries of Fort Irwin. After examining the impacts
and feasibility of the alternatives contained within the DEIS, it was
determined that no alternative in the 1997 DEIS, including the
preferred alternative, met the Army's project goals and requirements.
As such, new alternatives have been formulated that now must be
examined in a supplement to the 1997 DEIS. The new alternatives consist
of various configurations of land that is to the east, west and south
of the existing boundaries and will also utilize land within Fort Irwin
boundaries that are currently off limits to mechanized training. Due to
the age of the 1997 DEIS and the data contained therein, the supplement
will also update all existing condition information for the study area
and, as such, constitutes a complete redraft in addition to being a
supplemental document.
The preferred alternative involves acquisition of approximately
110,000 new acres on the east and southwest sides of the existing NTC
and the return to training use of approximately 22,000 acres in the
south that are currently set aside on the NTC. While the proposed land
expansion is less than the 193,000 acres identified in the LURS, it
satisfies the most critical needs for additional maneuver land, while
taking into account the Army's environmental stewardship
responsibilities.
The Department of the Army has assumed responsibility for the SDEIS
and has replaced the Bureau of Land Management as lead agency for this
project. The Bureau of Land Management shall hereafter act as a
cooperating agency to the project.
ADDRESSES: Direct written inquiries or comments concerning the proposed
land expansion of the NTC and Fort Irwin to: NTC Land Expansion
Program, Mr. Tim Reischl, NTC Site Manager, AFZJ-SP Strategic Planning
Division, P.O. 105004, Forth Irwin, CA 92310.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Tim Reischl at (760) 380-3872 by
fax at (760) 380-2294 or Mr. Gary Ethridge at (909) 695-1999.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The SDEIS will consider reasonable
alternatives including expansion (1) only to the east, (2) the east and
south, (3) to the east and southwest and (4) to the east and west. The
no action (continue operations with existing ranges and facilities)
alternative required by National Environmental Policy Act will be
evaluated. Other reasonable alternatives will also be considered.
Significant issues: The primary issues to be analyzed in this SDEIS
include: Endangered species issues (potential impacts to two listed
species--desert tortoise and Lane Mountain Milk vetch), air quality
including PM10 standards, noise (aircraft/range firing),
soil erosion, water quality, cultural resources, and other issues
raised during public scoping.
Scoping: The SDEIS is being prepared as a supplement to the draft
EIS published in 1997. The supplement considers other land and
alternatives that were not considered in the DEIS. As such, an
additional scoping meeting will be conducted on November 29, 2001, 2-5
p.m. and 6-9 p.m. in the Barstow City Hall Council Chambers, 220 E.
Mountain View Avenue, Barstow.
[[Page 52597]]
Additional, the public will be notified through media and proper
channels of the date, time and location. A mailing list has been
prepared for public scoping and review throughout the process of
preparation of this SDEIS. This list includes local, state and Federal
officials having jurisdictional expertise or other interests in the
project; concerned citizens; conservation groups; and local news media.
To comment by electronic mail or for more information, see the web
site at www.fortirwinlandexpansion.com.
Dated: October 10, 2001.
Raymond J. Fatz,
Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army (Environment, Safety and
Occupational Health) OASA (I&E).
[FR Doc. 01-25996 Filed 10-15-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3710-08-M