[Federal Register: October 13, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 198)]
[Notices]
[Page 60482]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr13oc06-36]
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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Army
Notice of Availability (NOA) of the Pinon Canyon Maneuver Site
(PCMS), Colorado, Transformation Draft Environmental Impact Statement
(DEIS) and Evaluation of Continued Land Withdrawal under Public Law
104-201
AGENCY: Department of the Army, DoD.
ACTION: Notice of Availability.
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SUMMARY: The U.S. Army announces the availability of a DEIS that
evaluates the implementation of transformational activities at the
PCMS, Colorado. The PCMS is a training center area administered and
used by military units stationed at, or otherwise under the
responsibility of, Fort Carson, Colorado. Implementation actions
associated with these transformational activities include training of
additional Soldiers at the PCMS, and as funds become available,
constructing a limited number of facilities in the cantonment and
training areas, and increasing the use of the PCMS maneuver training
lands.
DATES: The public comment period for the DEIS will end 45 days after
publication of an NOA in the Federal Register by the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency.
ADDRESSES: Written comments or materials should be forwarded to the
PCMS NEPA Coordinator (proponent), Directorate of Environmental
Compliance and Management, 1638 Elwell Street, Building 6236, Fort
Carson, Colorado 80913-4000.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: PCMS NEPA Coordinator via phone at
(719) 526-0912; fax: (719) 526-1705; or e-mail:
pcmsnepa@carson.army.mil.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Proposed Action and subject of the DEIS
is the implementation of three major Army transformation programs at
the PCMS: Base Realignment and Closure; Integrated Global Presence and
Basing Strategy (also known as Global Defense Posture Realignment); and
the Army Modular Force initiative. Implementing these transformation
programs would require training of additional troops at the PCMS,
construction of a limited number of storage facilities in the
cantonment (to include a Brigade Support Complex, medical facilities,
storage facilities, Soldier support functions, a vehicle maintenance
facility, motor pools, and upgraded roads and utilities) and in the
training areas (a live hand-grenade range, an ammunition holding area,
a protective equipment training facility, upgrades to an existing
small-arms range, and communication facilities), and increasing the use
of the PCMS maneuver training lands.
The transformation of the PCMS would occur between 2006 and 2011,
although planned construction projects would be built as funding
becomes available and some may occur in out years. Upon completion of
transformation activities, the PCMS would be responsible for supporting
the large-scale ground maneuver and small arms live-fire training needs
of the approximately 23,000 active duty Soldiers stationed at Fort
Carson as well as potentially thousands of Reserve Component Soldiers
in the western United States. Supporting increased training would
involve an increased use of the PCMS maneuver training lands and small
arms ranges, including a greater number of and longer-duration training
rotations.
The alternatives considered in the DEIS include the Proposed Action
(Preferred Alternative) and No Action. Other action alternatives were
considered and discussed in the DEIS but were not analyzed further
because they did not meet the purpose and need for the Proposed Action
or, in accordance with President's Council on Environmental Quality
regulations, were not ``ripe for decision.'' The substantive issues
analyzed in this DEIS include land use, air quality, noise, geology and
soils, water resources, biological resources, cultural resources,
socioeconomics (including environmental justice), transportation,
utilities, hazardous and toxic substances, and cumulative environmental
effects.
Additionally, the Army has made a determination of a need for the
continued withdrawal of approximately 2,500 acres of public land and
approximately 130,000 acres of publicly owned land with mineral rights
from the public domain. The withdrawal of these lands and minerals was
extended until 2011 by Public Law 104-201, the National Defense
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1997. The law requires the Army to
reevaluate the need for these withdrawals to continue after 2011 and
hold a public hearing concerning the evaluation. The DEIS documents the
Army's continued military need for these lands and evaluates the
environmental effects of the continued military use of withdrawn lands.
The Army will hold public meetings in Trinidad, Colorado, and La
Junta, Colorado, to receive comments on the DEIS and land withdrawal.
The Trinidad meeting will be held on November 2, 2006 from 5:30 p.m. to
7:30 p.m. at the Trinidad State Junior College, Sullivan Center, 600
Prospect Street, Trinidad, Colorado. The La Junta meeting will be held
on November 3, 2006 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Otero Junior
College, Student Center Banquet Room, 2001 San Juan Avenue, La Junta,
Colorado.
An electronic version of the DEIS can be viewed or downloaded from
the following URL: http://www.hqda.army.mil/acsim/brac/nepa_eis_docs.htm
.
Dated: October 6, 2006.
Addison D. Davis, IV,
Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army, (Environment, Safety and
Occupational Health).
[FR Doc. 06-8641 Filed 10-12-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3710-08-M