Jump to main content.

Notice of Availability of the Draft Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement for DTRA Activities on White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico

Note: EPA no longer updates this information, but it may be useful as a reference or resource.

 [Federal Register: March 15, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 50)]
[Notices]
[Page 12167-12168]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr15mr07-48]

=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Office of the Secretary

Notice of Availability of the Draft Programmatic Environmental Impact
Statement for DTRA Activities on White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico

AGENCY: Department of Defense, Office of the Under Secretary of Defense
for Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics, Defense Threat Reduction
Agency.
ACTION: Notice of availability of final programmatic environmental
impact statement (PEIS) for increased testing activities at White Sands
Missile Range (WSMR), NM.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as
amended (NEPA) (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) and the Council on
Environmental Quality Regulations for Implementing the Procedural
Provisions of NEPA (40 CFR Parts 1500-1508), DTRA has prepared and
issued a final PEIS for the proposed testing activities at WSMR. The
PEIS addresses the potential environmental impacts associated with
implementing the proposed action, alternative, and no action
alternative over a 10 year period. The purpose of the proposed action
is to provide adequate test areas and facilities to evaluate the
lethality effectiveness of weapon systems used against simulated enemy
ground targets producing, storing, or controlling Weapons of Mass
Destruction (WMD). There is a need to improve weapon systems designed
to defeat enemy military assets including hardened and reinforced
structures. These enemy military assets can house WMD and pose a
significant threat to international stability and peaceful coexistence
among nations. The military structures and equipment of the United
States and its allies must also be refined to better withstand attack
by enemy weapons systems to reduce collateral damage. The PEIS presents
descriptions of the proposed action, an overview of the affected
environment at and near the test sites, and the potential environmental
consequences associated

[[Page 12168]]

with the proposed action and alternatives, including the no action
alternative.
    The final PEIS evaluates two alternatives in addition to the no
action alternative. The proposed action (alternative 1, DTRA's
Preferred Alternative) involves expanding existing test beds and
creating new ones; expanding the range of test types including targets,
simulants, delivery systems and explosives; implementing infrastructure
improvements at the Permanent High Explosive Test Site Administrative
Park; and testing special weapons and delivery systems.
    Alternative two contains all of the actions described in
alternative one plus the use of chemical simulants and taggants/tracers
that are considered to have higher toxicity levels than those
considered under alternative one. The increased hazards of using these
chemicals lead to identifying alternative one as the preferred alternative.

DATES: Effective Dates: DTRA will take no final action on the proposed
activities before April 15, 2007 or April 16, 2007. After April 15,
2007, DTRA will issue a Record of Decision (ROD). This ROD will
document the Agency's final determinations, in light of the PEIS, with
regard to its intended activities at WSMR. A NoA will be published in
the Federal Register announcing the ROD's availability for public viewing.

ADDRESSES: The final PEIS is available for public viewing on the DTRA Web
site, http://www.dtra.mil, Exit Disclaimer and at the following public libraries:
Albuquerque Public Library, 501 Copper Ave. Northwest, Albuquerque, NM;
Socorro Public Library, 401 Park Street, Socorro, NM; Alamogordo Public
Library, 920 Oregon Ave., Alamogordo, NM; Branigan Memorial Library,
200 East Picacho Ave., Law Cruces, NM; Consolidated Library Building
464, White Sands Missile Range, NM; Holloman Air Force Base Library,
596 4th Street, Holloman Air Force Base, NM; and the El Paso Public
Library, 501 North Oregon Street, El Paso, TX.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: DTRA Public Affairs Office; (800) 701-
5096 or (703) 767-5870.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A draft PEIS was published in the Federal
Register on January 27, 2006 (71 FR 4571) for a 60-day public review
and comment period that ended March 28, 2006. Public hearings were held
February 28, 2006 in Alamogordo, March 1, 2006 in Las Cruces, and March
2, 2006 in Socorro, NM. All comments received were addressed and
incorporated into the final PEIS.

    Dated: March 9, 2007.
L.M. Bynum,
Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison Officer, DoD.
[FR Doc. 07-1214 Filed 3-14-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 5001-06-M

 
 

Local Navigation

Jump to main content.