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Notice of Availability of the Fort Bliss, Texas and New Mexico, Mission Master Plan Final Supplemental Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement

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

 [Federal Register: March 23, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 56)]
[Notices]
[Page 13751]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr23mr07-53]

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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Army

Notice of Availability of the Fort Bliss, Texas and New Mexico, Mission
Master Plan Final Supplemental Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement

AGENCY: Department of the Army, DOD.
ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of the Army announces the availability of a
Final Supplemental Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS)
identifying the potential environmental effects of changing land and
airspace use at Fort Bliss to support evolving changes in missions and
units and support Army Transformation, Integrated Global Presence and
Basing Strategy (IGPBS), Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC), the Army
Campaign Plan, and other Army initiatives.
    The Final SEIS supplements the Fort Bliss, Texas and New Mexico,
Mission Master Plan Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS),
for which a Record of Decision was signed in 2001.

DATES: The waiting period for the Final SEIS will end 30 days after
publication of this NOA in the Federal Register.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Jean Offutt, Public Affairs
Officer, IMSW-BLS-PA; Fort Bliss, TX 79916-6812; telephone: (915) 568-
6812; fax: (915) 568-2995; e-mail: jean.offutt@bliss.army.mil.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Proposed Action would change land use in
the Main Cantonment Area to support units assigned to Fort Bliss under
BRAC, and in the Fort Bliss Training Complex to support construction of
live-fire ranges and designation of off-road maneuver space needed to
train soldiers to doctrinal standards. In addition to the Proposed
Action, the Final SEIS analyses the environmental affects of three
other action alternatives and a No Action Alternative.
    The action alternatives differ in the amount (216,000-352,000
acres) and location of additional land in the Tularosa Basin portion of
McGregor Range proposed for off road maneuver, resulting in varied
abilities to meet the defined need for maneuver training, accommodate
units and missions in addition to the BRAC package, and flexibility to
meet future requirements. Those portions of McGregor Range outside the
Tularosa Basin, specifically Otero Mesa and the Sacramento Mountain
foothills, would not experience changes in land use.
    Issues associated with land use changes in the Training Complex
include potential impacts to natural resources and cultural resources,
potential land use conflicts with grazing portions of the proposed off-
road maneuver space on McGregor Range, access to roads to the Forest
Service grazing allotments on McGregor Range, recreational use of
McGregor Range, and closures on NM Highway 506. Noise issues are part
of the upgrade and/or construction of firing ranges.
    Issues associated with land use changes and construction in the
Main Cantonment Area include potential increases in air pollutant
emissions, transportation issues, and socioeconomic issues including
population growth and development public services and utilities,
education, and quality of life.
    Alternative 4, the Proposed Action, is anticipated to generate
substantial economic benefits and the significantly affect population
growth and development, traffic, utility demands, and demand for public
and medical services in the region. Expansion of off-road vehicle
maneuver training into the Tularosa Basin portion of McGregor Range,
along with increased maneuvers in the North and South training Areas,
is expected to increase wind and water erosion significantly, and would
likely result in long-term changes in vegetation communities in the ore
intensely used training areas. Training related noise is also expected
to increase in areas adjacent to Do[nacute]a Ana Range and portions of
McGregor Range.
    Comments received on the Draft SEIS at public meetings and in
writing are incorporated and addressed in the Final SEIS.
    Copies of the Final SEIS are available at the following libraries:
In El Paso, the Richard Burges Regional Library, 9600 Dyer; the Irving
Schwartz Branch Library, 1865 Dean Martin; the Clardy Fox Branch
Library, 5515 Robert Alva; and the Doris van Doren Regional Branch
Library, 551 Redd Road. In Las Cruces, NM, the New Mexico State
University Zuhl Library at 299 McFie Circle; and in Alamogordo, NM, at
the Alamogordo Public Library, 920 Oregon Avenue. The document can also
be reviewed at https://www.bliss.army.mil. Exit Disclaimer

John A. Macdonald,
Brigadier General, U.S. Army, Deputy Commanding General, Installation
Management Command.
[FR Doc. 07-1432 Filed 3-22-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3710-08-M

 
 

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