SBCT Final EIS - Govsupport.us

Chapter 5 – Environmental Consequencessuppression resources would be readily available. A wildfire could damage animal and plantcommunities, damage cultural resources, and contribute to soil erosion by removing vegetation.Maneuver training would occur at SBMR, DMR, KTA, and PTA. Brigade- and battalion-leveltraining would primarily occur at PTA, and the frequency of maneuver training at PTA is expected toincrease slightly above existing levels. The Keamuku Parcel would be used for maneuver training aswell, and would remain a nonlive-fire area. Platoon- and company-level training would primarilyoccur at the other areas, and would increase in frequency. Munitions use is not part of maneuvertraining, so the risk of wildfire ignition is from vehicle use and human activity. SBCT maneuvertraining typically covers a larger area than IBCT maneuver training, potentially extending traininginto areas that have not been used as frequently. These areas may not have been managed to reducewildfire risk or have been incorporated into fire management strategies, such as new maneuvertraining areas on SMBR, KTA, and PTA. Training at DMR would occur in areas currently used foroff-road maneuvers, so impacts are expected to be less than significant. The inherent minor risk ofaccidental ignition attributed to SBCT maneuver training is expected to be similar to the existingmaneuver training. Nonetheless, maneuver training would increase the potential for wildfire, and asdescribed previously under Live-Fire Training, the impacts from the resulting wildfire are potentiallysignificant.Regulatory and Administrative Mitigation 2: Implementation of Mitigation Measures described aboveunder Impacts from Live-fire Training would reduce increased risk of wildfire from maneuvertraining, but not to less than significant.5.2.5 Cultural ResourcesThe SBCT has been temporarily stationed at SBMR and no construction would be needed at thecantonment to accommodate permanent stationing at this installation; however, range constructionand expansion of training areas have not yet been completed. Some of the projects listed in the 2004Transformation EIS are required to support the overall transformation of the Army and would also beused for combat training by all Army units to include the Stryker. The impacts of use by the Strykerare incorporated into this EIS by reference. Permanent stationing of the 2/25 th SBCT would requirethe range construction for BAX at SBMR and PTA, use of new, larger weapons, and expansion ofmaneuver training areas at SBMR, KTA, and PTA. These changes would increase the likelihood ofsignificant impacts to cultural resources. Table 5-6 summarizes the types of impacts to culturalresources that would occur under Alternative A.Table 5-6Summary of Potential Cultural Resources Impacts from Alternative ALocationActivity Group SBMR DMR KTA/KLOA PTAImpacts from Cantonment Construction N/A N/A N/A N/AImpacts from Range Construction N/A 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 ImpactFebruary 2008 5-26 2/25th SBCT Final EIS