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Preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for Force Transformation of the 172nd Infantry Brigade (Separate) and Mission Sustainment in Alaska

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[Federal Register: March 4, 2002 (Volume 67, Number 42)]
[Notices]
[Page 9716-9717]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr04mr02-51]

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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Army
 
Preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for Force 
Transformation of the 172nd Infantry Brigade (Separate) and Mission 
Sustainment in Alaska

AGENCY: Department of the Army, DoD.
ACTION:  Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: The Army proposes to implement a range of activities related 
to force transformation and mission sustainment in Alaska. The primary 
proposed activities are associated with conversion of the 172nd 
Infantry Brigade (Separate) into an Interim Brigade Combat Team (IBCT), 
a rapidly deployable, early entry, medium weight force with a decreased 
logistical footprint. Impacts to the human environment, to include 
surrounding communities, from restructuring the 172nd infantry Brigade 
(Separate) and from enhancing associated ranges, facilities, and 
infrastructure to meet transformation and mission sustainment 
objectives will be analyzed.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Kevin Gardner, Directorate of 
Public Works, 730 Quartermaster Road, Attention: APVR-RPW-EV (Gardner), 
Fort Richardson, AK 99505-6500; telephone: (907) 384-3003, fax: 
(907)384-3047; or Mr. Calvin Bagley, Center for Environmental 
Management of Military Lands (CEMML), Colorado State University, Fort 
Collins, CO 80523-1490; telephone: (970) 491-3324, fax: (970) 491-2713; 
or www.cemml.colostate.edu/alaskaeis.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The proposed action would affect changes to 
force structure and changes to ranges, facilities, and infrastructure 
designed to meet objectives of Army Transformation in Alaska. Proposed 
locations for changes include Fort Richardson, Fort Wainwright, and 
outlying training areas (e.g., Gerstle River and Black Rapids). 
Proposed areas of activity changes on Fort Wainwright would include 
cantonment areas, Tanana Flats Training Area, Yukon Training Area, and 
Donnelly Training Area (formerly Fort Greely). The proposed action 
would alter various activities on military and training lands in 
Alaska. The range of proposed activities include: (1) Fielding weapon 
systems and equipment (to include a net increase of over 300 Interim 
Armored

[[Page 9717]]

Vehicles and probable additions of several unmanned aerial vehicles); 
(2) Construction, renovation, and demolition activities to include 
construction and upgrades to several small to large arms ranges, range 
complexes and urban training facilities; construction of IBCT vehicle 
motor pool facilities; construction of troop and equipment cargo and 
deployment facilities; enhancements to installation information 
infrastructure and corresponding facilities; upgrades to transportation 
infrastructure; construction/replacement of barracks and/or housing; 
and construction of additional administrative/control buildings and 
structures; (3) Land transactions (acquisition, asset management and 
disposal); (4) Deployment of forces and specific training for 
deployment; (5) Training to achieve and maintain readiness to perform 
assigned missions; (6) institutional matters to include the entire 
range of diverse day-to-day activities not otherwise accounted for in 
other activities.
    Alternatives include: (1) No Action (existing unit structure and 
training, no specifically planned activities for transformation); (2) 
Transformation of the 172nd Infantry Brigade (Separate) to an IBCT 
using existing ranges facilities and infrastructure as they are now 
configured; (3) Transformation of the 172nd Infantry Brigade (Separate) 
to an IBCT and mission sustainment activities including new, 
additional, or modified ranges, facilities and infrastructure; (4) 
Total transformation of U.S. Army Alaska (USARAK) mission activities 
and capabilities, to include the near-term transformation of the 172nd 
Infantry Brigade (Separate) to an IBCT, in order to meet Objective 
Force requirements fulfilling the Army Vision of an Army that has the 
characteristics of being more responsive, deployable, agile, versatile, 
lethal, survivable, and sustainable; being strategically responsive; 
and being able to deploy rapidly and being dominant across the full 
spectrum of operations.
    Other alternatives that may be raised during the scoping process 
will be considered.
    Publication of this Notice of Intent does not foreclose 
consideration of any courses of actions or possible decisions addressed 
by the U.S. Department of the Army in its Draft Programmatic 
Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS) for Army Transformation, dated 
June 2001. No final decisions will be made regarding Transformation in 
Alaska prior to completion and signature of the Record of Decision for 
the PEIS for Army Transformation.
    Federal, state, and local agencies, organizations, and 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 assist the Army in identifying 
potential impacts to the quality of the human environment. Scoping 
meetings will be held in Anchorage, Delta Junction, and Fairbanks, 
Alaska. Notification of the times and locations for the scoping 
meetings will be published in local newspapers. Written comments will 
be accepted within 30 days of the scoping meetings. Written comments 
may be forwarded to Mr. Kevin Gardner at the above address.

    Dated: February 25, 2002.
Raymond J. Fatz,
Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army (Environment, Safety and 
Occupational Health, OASA(I&E).
[FR Doc. 02-5085 Filed 3-1-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3710-08-M

 
 

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