SBCT Final EIS - Govsupport.us

Chapter 5 – Environmental Consequencesof wildfire from military training the greatest threat to listed species on and adjacent to training areain Hawaii, the non-jeopardy BOs (USFWS 2003c and 2003d) were based in large part on the qualityof the IWFMP. By implementing the IWFMP, the USFWS feels that the Army greatly reduces thechance that a listed species will be harmed by military training related fires. Even with theimplementation of the IWFMP, there remains a risk that a wildfire could result in an irretrievable lossof individuals of sensitive species or known or unknown cultural resources. The Army has made aconservative determination that although the mitigation will considerably reduce wildfire risk, theimpacts may not be reduced to a less than significant level.Table 5-5Summary of Potential Impacts to Wildfire Management fromAlternative ALocationActivity Group SBMR DMR KTA/KLOA PTAImpacts from Cantonment Construction N/A N/A N/A N/AImpacts from Range Construction N/A Impacts from Live-Fire Training N/A / N/A Impacts from Maneuver Training / N/A = Significant + = Beneficial Impact = Significant but mitigable to less than significant N/A = Not Applicable☼ = Less than Significant = No Impact5.2.4.1 Impacts from Cantonment ConstructionThere is no cantonment construction required in USAG-HI to support the stationing of the 2/25 th .USAG-HI has adequate facilities on hand to support the SBCT and, in fact, was supporting theSBCT’s living, administrative, and vehicle maintenance requirements in 2007 prior to the unit’sdeployment.5.2.4.2 Impacts from Range ConstructionNo ImpactsConstruction of a BAX at SBMR and PTA and the Dillingham Trail would temporarily increasehuman presence and activity at construction sites. This increase is not expected to impact the risk ofaccidental wildfire ignition. No mitigation is necessary for impacts from range construction.5.2.4.3 Impacts from Live-Fire TrainingSignificant ImpactsImpact 1: Increased Wildfire Risk. The addition of a BAX range at both SBMR and PTA wouldincrease the use of larger caliber munitions. The BAX at PTA would be located in a previouslydisturbed site and oriented towards pre-existing ordnance impact areas. As a result, both live- andnonlive-fire training would increase, resulting in the potential to increase the frequency of wildfires.At KTA, nonlive-fire and live-fire training using SRTA, which still has the potential to ignitewildfires, would increase but would not likely produce a significant wildfire risk because theammunition has a plastic tip and does not include tracer rounds. Overall, SBCT training wouldFebruary 2008 5-23 2/25th SBCT Final EIS