SBCT Final EIS - Govsupport.us

Chapter 5 – Environmental Consequencesmodeling data to identify areas in need of improved management, and implementing education andoutreach programs to increase user awareness of the value of good land stewardship.The Army would implement the existing spill prevention and response plan to all new lands andactivities under the Alternative A. The IWFMP for Pohakuloa and Oahu Training Areas was finalizedin 2006. The Army would fully implement this plan for all existing and new training areas to reducethe impacts associated with wildland fires. The Army would incorporate BMPs that would reducerunoff and sedimentation to aquatic environments in accordance with CWA regulations forstormwater runoff at construction sites.Less Than Significant ImpactsImpacts from nonpoint chemical loadings. Chemicals, such as petroleum hydrocarbons that may spillor leak onto soils as a result of vehicle use or refueling, could be bound to soil particles and thentransported to surface water by erosion. These impacts are expected to be less than significantbecause spills would be addressed effectively through standard procedures.Impacts from range construction sites. During ground preparation for new construction sites, grading,excavating, and trenching may expose erodible soils to stormwater runoff and increase the potentialfor sediments to contaminate surface waters. Similarly, broken hydraulic lines on heavy equipmentcould spill chemicals during equipment refueling, and chemical solvents, paints, and other chemicalsused in construction could also be spilled. These potential impacts would be reduced to acceptablelevels by implementing standard construction BMPs.Use of dust control palliatives. Applying calcium, magnesium chloride, calcium lignosulfonates, orother environmentally friendly materials or measures to control dust could affect surface waterquality, either by increasing the biological oxygen demand or by increasing total dissolved solidsconcentrations. These impacts are expected to be less than significant because the chemicals would beapplied according to industry standards (Parametrix 2001) and because the amount of runoff isexpected to be low in most of the areas where dust suppression would be needed.Regulatory and administrative mitigation 1 and 2 and additional mitigation measures described in theabove section would be implemented to protect water resources from potential impacts resulting fromrange construction.5.2.3.3 Impacts from Live-Fire TrainingSignificant Impacts Mitigable to Less Than SignificantImpact 2: Impacts on water quality from wildland fires. The risk of wildland fires is expected toremain at about the same level as under existing conditions or slightly higher due to the increase inmunitions use. The potential for wildland fires is expected to be low but could increase when the landis fallowed due to growth of grasses and other vegetation. Wildland fires can generate chemicalcontaminants, and loss of vegetation can increase the potential for soil erosion and sediment loadingto streams. Either of these effects could result in adverse impacts on surface water quality.Regulatory and Administrative Mitigation 2: Implementing the ITAM and IWFMP as describedabove would reduce water quality impacts from wildfires to less than significant.Impact 3: Nonpoint source chemical residues in soil. Drainage and runoff from training ranges couldtransport contaminants to streams, reducing water quality in the stream and ultimately dischargingFebruary 2008 5-18 2/25th SBCT Final EIS