U.S. Army Announces Notice of Intent to Prepare a Supplement to the Fifth Stryker Brigade Combat Team Environmental Impact Statement
Posted on: Thursday, 4 January 2007, 15:00 CST
ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, Md., Jan. 4 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The U.S. Army announced today its intention to prepare a supplement to the 2004 Final Environmental Impact Statement for the permanent stationing of the fifth Stryker Brigade Combat Team (SBCT). The unit directed by the Army to transform to the fifth SBCT is currently designated as the 2nd Brigade, 25th Infantry Division (Light).
The Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) will assess the potential environmental impacts associated with the proposed permanent home stationing of the fifth SBCT in Hawaii and at other locations outside of Hawaii. The SEIS will include evaluation of reasonable alternative locations to accommodate, support, and sustain the fifth SBCT and meet its requirements for range and maneuver training infrastructure; maintenance facilities; and infrastructure and services needed to support Soldier and family quality of life.
The Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) for Transformation of the 2nd Brigade, 25th Infantry Division (Light) to an SBCT in Hawaii was released in May 2004, with the Record of Decision following in July 2004. The selected action was to transform the unit to the fifth SBCT and permanently home station it in Hawaii. The 2nd Brigade, 25th Infantry Division (Light) began its transformation to the fifth SBCT shortly thereafter. On Oct. 5, 2006, the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit issued an opinion declaring the Army had failed to consider a sufficient range of reasonable alternatives. In particular, the court concluded the Army had a duty under the National Environmental Policy Act to consider locations other than Hawaii for the fifth SBCT.
The Army will develop a range of reasonable alternatives. Analysis will focus on identifying those alternatives that are appropriate and feasible as well as meeting the purpose of and need for the proposed action. The SEIS will assess, consider, and compare the direct, indirect, and cumulative environmental effects from the permanent stationing of the fifth SBCT in Hawaii and reasonable alternate locations. These locations could include permanent stationing of the fifth SBCT in Hawaii, at Fort Richardson and Donnelly Training Area in Alaska, Fort Lewis and Yakima Training Center in Washington, Fort Carson and Pinon Canyon Maneuver Site in Colorado, or Fort Knox in Kentucky. Alternative permanent stationing locations other than Hawaii may consider the stationing of a modular Infantry Brigade Combat Team in Hawaii to replace the 2nd Brigade, 25th Infantry Division (Light).
The primary environmental issues to be analyzed will incorporate considerations that result from the scoping process, along with installation- specific considerations. The action may have significant environmental impacts from the stationing and the training of the brigade to both natural and cultural resources, as well as impacts from construction. These issues may include soil, water and air quality, airspace conflicts, natural and cultural resources, land use compatibility, noise, social economics, environmental justice, energy use, human health and safety considerations, and infrastructure and range/training requirements.
There will be a 45-day public comment period following publication of the Notice of Intent in the Federal Register. Scoping meetings will be held at the installations identified as potentially reasonable alternative home stationing sites. Notifications of the times and locations for the scoping meetings will be published in local newspapers.
For more information on the U.S. Army Environmental Command, visit
http://aec.army.mil/.
U.S. Army Environmental Command
CONTACT: Robert E. DiMichele, USAEC Public Affairs Officer,+1-410-436-2556, Robert.DiMichele@us.army.mil
Web site: http://aec.army.mil/
Source: PRNewswire-USNewswire
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