SBCT Final EIS - Govsupport.us

Chapter 5 – Environmental Consequences• Enclosure fencing of sensitive plant species to eliminate impacts from human disturbance andungulates.• Development and implementation of a fire fuel reduction plan.• Development and implementation of an alien rat control plan to protect sensitive species.• Expand monitoring programs in potential areas of impact for sensitive species.• Establish signage to identify areas that are off limits due to the presence of federally listedspecies.• Provide education for each set of new Soldiers regarding the importance of avoiding listedspecies and disturbance to their habitats.• Collection of seeds and propagation material from plants in the BAX construction footprint to beused for planting in other areas.Significant Impacts Mitigable To Less Than SignificantImpact 2: Introduction and spread of invasive plants and noxious weeds. In general, invasive plantspecies pose a threat to Native Hawaiian ecosystems. Movement of equipment into Hawaii fromcontinental U.S. or foreign ports, as well as from other islands or subinstallations within Hawaii,would increase the likelihood of nonnative plant and animal introductions. Construction can alsointroduce invasive species and other weeds through the use of sand and gravel that contains nonnativeplant seeds. Impacts from noxious weeds from range and trail construction would be significant, butmitigable to less than significant.The use of roads and trails would also affect the introduction and spread of invasive species. The useof Helemano Trail would introduce more invasive species to the area. This would have a minorindirect impact on sensitive species because the area where the trail is proposed is largely made up ofagricultural lands and dirt roads. A long-term increase in the use of Helemano Trail is associated withAlternative A. This includes increasing Stryker and conventional truck traffic on the proposed road.There would be an increase in the number of conventional Army trucks (trucks and HMMWVs) andStrykers used on roads to and from SBMR, WAAF, and the Helemano Trail. Strykers would travel onthe roads and trail, 12 times per year, with most traffic concentrated on the new trail.The use of Dillingham Trail would likely introduce more invasive species to the area, which wouldhave both short-term and long-term impacts on sensitive plants and wildlife. Activities associatedwith Dillingham Trail and activities along this trail could facilitate the spread of invasive species intothe native wiliwili forest and the adjacent rare Lonomea forest. The Lonomea forest supports sensitivespecies Schiedea kealiae (a federally listed plant), ahakea, and kokio. Long-term elevated use ofDillingham Trail could lead to long-term increases in the spread of invasive species at DMR andhabitats along Dillingham Trail. There would be an increase of conventional trucks and Strykers onthe roads to DMR and Dillingham trail. This would increase the likelihood of a fire in the ROI.Invasive species often benefit from fires, due to their ability to colonize areas following a burn. Also,the presence of invasive species often provides fuel for wildfires, makes fires larger, and facilitatesthe spread of fire.The use of Drum Road would introduce more invasive species to the area, which would have both ashort-term and long-term impact on sensitive plants. A long-term increase in the use of Drum Road isassociated with this alternative. This includes increasing Stryker and conventional truck traffic (trucksand HMMWVs) on the proposed road. Strykers would travel on either trails or roads, from SBMR toFebruary 2008 5-47 2/25th SBCT Final EIS