[Federal Register: November 6, 1998 (Volume 63, Number 215)]
[Notices]               
[Page 59951-59952]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr06no98-42]

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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army

 
Record of Decision (ROD) for Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) 
for Projects and Activities Associated With Programs at White Sands 
Missile Range, New Mexico

AGENCY: Department of the Army, DoD.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: This notice of availability announces the public release of a 
ROD resulting from a recently completed EIS for White Sands Missile 
Range, New Mexico. A summary of the ROD is provided in the 
supplementary information paragraph below.

ADDRESSES: To receive a copy of the ROD contact the Commander, White 
Sands Missile Range, ATTN: STEWS-NRES-C (Mr. Robert J. Andreoli), White 
Sands Missile Range, NM 88002-5048.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Robert J. Andreoli at (505) 678-
7926.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: White Sands Missile Range is an extensive 
and complex test range. It consists of launch sites, target areas, 
instrumentation, buildings, equipment, and personnel used by DoD, the 
National Aeronautics and Space Administration, and other Federal and 
commercial testing concerns to conduct safe, large-scale experiments on 
advanced weapons and space flight systems. In accordance with the 
National Environmental Policy Act, White Sands prepared an EIS to 
address environmental quality implications of implementing projects and 
activities on the missile range. The decision resulting from the 
findings of the EIS is to adopt specific mitigation measures for the 
continuation of existing White Sands Missile Range programs and future 
testing of scientific, military, and commercial systems.
    Mitigation measures, in addition to those specifically identified 
in the EIS, will be developed by use of the White Sands Missile Range 
Decision Analysis System and Geographic Information System (DAS/GIS) 
during the planning stage and will assist in planning projects so as to 
minimize environmental impacts. White Sands has management practices 
for the conservation of sensitive natural resources, including 
wildlife, endangered species, and wetlands. Best management practices 
and common erosion control techniques will be used in ground disturbed 
activities.
    These same mitigation measures will be integrated into the DAS/GIS 
and will provide project proponents with environmental information, 
site location decision support, and regulatory approval at significant 
cost savings and with improved efficiency. As a result, White Sands 
will be better able to protect, restore, and enhance the range 
environment as it more effectively supports its operational mission.
    The White Sands EIS lacks some baseline documentation and impacts 
analysis information and is to be rectified by the preparation of 
Technical Support Documents (TSDs). TSDs are to be prepared for: water 
resources analysis; emissions analysis (including

[[Page 59952]]

analyses of noise, electromagnetic interference, lasers, light 
emissions and light pollution, radio astronomy interference, and Global 
Positioning System interference); an integrated natural resource 
management plan; chaff analysis; and cumulative impacts analysis. TSDs 
may be prioritized by immediate need, schedule, or availability of 
funding.
    The entire text of the White Sands Missile Range ROD and the 
Executive Summary of the EIS can be found on the White Sands Missile 
Range home page at http://www.wsmr.army.mil. To find these documents 
access the Public Info part of the pager and then click on the 
Environmental button and choose the desired document.

    Dated: November 3, 1998.
Raymond J. Fatz,
Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army (Environment, Safety and 
Occupational Health), OASA(I,L&E).
[FR Doc. 98-29806 Filed 11-5-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3710-08-M