SBCT Final EIS - Govsupport.us

Chapter 5 – Environmental Consequencesranges are presented above. Once constructed, operation of the new ranges is not expected to createimmitigable impacts. Impacts from increased wildfire risk from live-fire training are presented inSection 5.2.4. At KTA, non live-fire and live-fire training using SRTA, which has the potential toignite wildfires, would occur, but fire risk and impacts to special status species would be mitigated toless than significant. An increased in noise, car fumes, and activity form live-fire training couldimpact special status species.Regulatory and Administrative Mitigation 5: All species management in regards to impacts would befollowed as described the Oahu and Hawaii Biological Opinions (USFWS 2003c and USFWS2003d). Additional mitigation measures that would be implemented by the Army are discussed inRange Construction above.Less Than Significant ImpactsImpacts to vegetation:. Vegetation communities within the proposed range areas on SBMR, PTA, andKTA would be disturbed by live-fire training. The BAX at PTA would be located in a previouslydisturbed site and oriented towards pre-existing ordnance impact areas. SBCT training would increasethe number of Soldiers training at all ranges. The majority of the training areas are nonnativevegetation and common native plants, primarily grasses and shrubs, which typically colonize denudedareas quickly and thoroughly. The use of certain types of ammunition increases the chances ofstarting fires in the impact area and within the surface danger zones. The potential introduction of fireresulting from the operation of the proposed ranges is discussed under Wildfire Management. Impactsto vegetation from live-fire training would be less than significant.Measures to reduce impacts to vegetation further from range construction are the same as thosedescribed previously under Impacts from Range Construction.Impacts to general wildlife and habitats. Operation of ranges has the potential to displace variouswildlife species. Displacement would be caused by increased human presence in the area, as well asby elevated noise levels. Wildlife within the impact area and associated surface danger zones could bedirectly affected by ordnance or other munitions. SBCT use of new ranges at SBMR and PTA wouldnot significantly impact wildlife or their habitats because the new ranges would be constructed indisturbed areas or in the footprints of existing ranges. Wildlife species in or around these ranges aremore tolerant of human activity, and it is assumed that more sensitive species have previously left thearea. Higher training levels at existing ranges would increase incidental mortality to wildlife couldoccur. However, such mortality would not cause measurable impacts to wildlife populations. SBCTtraining on the new and existing ranges would have a less than significant impact to wildlife andhabitats. Measures to reduce impacts from range construction further are the same as those describedpreviously.No ImpactImpacts to wetlands. No regulated wetlands have been identified at PTA or KLOA. One largewetland area on SBMR near Mount Kaala is located in the Schofield Barracks Forest Reserve, whereno SBCT activities would occur, therefore, no impacts to this wetland area are expected from rangeconstruction. On KTA, use of the CACTF would take place more than two miles away from OnionPond, which is a regulated wetland. Therefore no impacts to this wetland are expected to occurfrom training at the CACTF. No live-fire training would occur at DMR. No mitigation is necessaryfor wetland impacts from live-fire training. SOPs and BMPs designed to minimize impacts towetlands through stormwater and erosion control would be followed (see Section 5.2.2 Soil Erosionand 5.2.3 Water Resources).February 2008 5-51 2/25th SBCT Final EIS