SBCT Final EIS - Govsupport.us

Chapter 5 – Environmental ConsequencesLess Than Significant ImpactsChemical spills or nonpoint source discharges. Maneuver training could involve the possibility ofaccidental spills of petroleum products (from fuel or hydraulic lines) or other chemicals. Any spillswould be reported, contained, and cleaned up as soon as possible according to procedures describedin the SPCC Plan.Impacts on groundwater quality. Perched groundwater (a zone of saturation in a formation that is notconnected to the water table) occurs at a shallow depth beneath DMR. Accidental spills or releasescould occur during routine operations and, instead of affecting surface water quality, could infiltratethe subsurface and affect groundwater quality. The impacts are expected to be less than significantbecause, as described for surface water, spills would be quickly contained and then cleaned up usingstandard procedures described in the SPCC Plan. Furthermore, although there would be moremounted maneuver training at DMR under the Alternative A, the increase would not result in anappreciably higher risk of spills.Impacts on flood potential. A portion of DMR lies within a designated 100-year flood zone, and it islikely that a portion of the unmapped part of DMR is also subject to a 100-year flood. Alternative Awould not increase the potential for flooding, but it may increase the exposure of personnel orproperty to flooding. Also, storage of hazardous chemicals within a flood-prone area can lead to thepotential for chemical releases in the event of a flood. BMPs would be used to prevent this fromoccurring as well as SPCC would be implemented in case of inadvertent chemical release into theenvironment.The primary hazard from flooding at DMR is likely to be loss of property and the potential forchemical releases. The extent of the risk of flooding is not well established because flood zonedetermination has not been made for DMR. After determination of flood-prone areas, it may bepossible to reduce the hazards of flooding to acceptable levels through a combination of engineeringcontrols, training, and planning.Potential spills on Drum Road. A spill response plan and SOPs would be implemented to control anyaccidental spills that may occur. Some of the hazards of spills and accidents would actually bereduced compared to the No Action Alternative because public roads, with their inherent risks ofaccidents involving civilian vehicles, would be avoided.Impacts on surface water or groundwater. Maneuver training would continue to disturb the soilshowever, due to lack of permanent surface water resources and the depth to groundwater, waterquality impacts, if any, are expected to be less than significant.5.2.4 Wildfire ManagementTable 5-5 lists the types of impacts associated with wildfire management that would occur underAlternative A. Live-fire and maneuver training would create a significant but mitigable wildfireimpact at the installations and along the trails and roads. Hawaii’s climate, vegetation, rangeoperations, and rugged terrain limiting accessibility for fire suppression efforts have always createdhigh risk of wildfire within Army installations. New ranges would be operated, some of which wouldsupport live-fire training. Increased live-fire activities, increased nonlive-fire activities that can stillignite wildfires, and increased transportation of personnel and ordnance in areas not currently used allcontribute to the potential to start wildfires. A wildfire could damage animal and plant communities,damage cultural resources and places of traditional importance, spread invasive plant species, andexacerbate soil erosion by removing vegetation. In addition, although the USFWS considers the riskFebruary 2008 5-22 2/25th SBCT Final EIS