SBCT Final EIS - Govsupport.us

Chapter 3 ⎯ Affected EnvironmentFacilitiesExisting facilities at PCMS include the cantonment area and training areas. The cantonment consistsof developed land and the training areas consist of open land. The cantonment area comprises approximately1,660 acres of the PCMS. The cantonment provides limited, austere Soldier and supportfacilities. Military training is restricted in this area.The training areas consist of unimproved or open lands that are used for military training maneuversand small arms, live-fire activities. The terrain at the PCMS varies widely from open, rolling prairiesto semi-arid, basaltic hills. To a large degree, the terrain defines the suitability of training activitiesthat occur within the training areas. The four main training land use types within the training areas includeManeuver Training, Dismounted Training, Small arms, Live-fire Ranges, and Restricted Areas.Maneuver Training Areas comprise the majority of training land available at the PCMS. ManeuverTraining Areas are appropriate (based on topography and other environmental conditions) for equipmentand personnel tactically maneuvering against an opposing force throughout the area. Equipmentand personnel move through the area according to the requirements of training exercises, resulting indisturbance to soils and vegetation. Land rest and rehabilitation are required in Maneuver TrainingAreas, so these areas are not available at all times to support training activities. Use of ManeuverTraining Areas can also be limited in the area of Small arms, Live-fire Ranges if the ranges are activelybeing used for training activities.Small arms, Live-fire Ranges include SDZs identified to protect personnel during weapons training.The SDZs are available for maneuver training when no live-fire activities are occurring. The acreageof the SDZs, therefore, is not additive to the Maneuver Training Areas.Dismounted Training Areas have no vehicular traffic, except for emergency vehicles. These areas ofthe PCMS primarily include canyons that are unsuitable for mechanized training. Soldiers can movein these areas on foot only. Activities occurring in Dismounted Training Areas include surveying,placing communication equipment, bivouacking, and rappelling. Land impacts are generally similarto recreational camping (Trame 1997).Restricted Areas protect lands that support wildlife, ecosystems, soils, facilities, and cultural resources.Varying degrees of training use are allowed in Restricted Areas. For example, in areas withknown occurrences of buried cultural resources, digging is not permitted.Public ServicesThe Army has its own police and fire departments. The Army coordinates with the county sheriff andfire departments for supplemental services, if needed. The Army has cooperative agreements with theColorado Springs Fire Department and El Paso County to provide mutual aid for the suppression ofwildland fires on PCMS and surrounding areas (DECAM 2002a).There are approximately 95 wells on the PCMS, and approximately 30 wells are functional. Some ofthe major wells are connected to distribution lines that fill stock tanks for which may be used for firesuppression (DECAM 2002a).Emergency medical facilities are available in Trinidad and Pueblo.February 2008 3–182 2/25th SBCT Final EIS