SBCT Final EIS - Govsupport.us

Chapter 5 – Environmental Consequenceszones to minimize dust emissions in populated areas. The plan would determine how training wouldoccur in order to minimize fugitive dust emissions below CAA standards for PM 10 and soil erosionand compaction. The Army would monitor the effects of training activities to ensure that emissionsstay within the acceptable ranges as predicted and environmental problems do not result fromexcessive soil erosion or compaction. The plan would also define contingency measures to mitigatethe effects of training activities that exceed the acceptable ranges for dust emissions or soilcompaction.Less Than Significant ImpactsImpacts from vehicles and construction. Nitrogen oxide emissions are of concern primarily as anozone precursor. Even though construction emissions would increase, annual emissions of ozoneprecursors from construction activities associated with Alternative A would be too small to have ameasurable effect on ozone levels.The Shadow 200 UAV would be used during many training exercises at PTA. However, currentpatterns of helicopter flight activity would continue to be the primary flight activity at PTA. Becausethe net increase in emissions resulting from added cargo aircraft and UAV flight activity would be toosmall to have much effect on ambient pollutant concentrations, emissions from increased aircraftoperations would be less than significant under Alternative A.5.2.11.3 Impacts from Live-Fire TrainingLess Than Significant ImpactsEmissions from ordnance. Ordnance use at SBMR under Alternative A would occur at new trainingrange facilities (BAX and upgrade airfield for C-130 Aircraft) as well as at other range facilities. Thetotal estimated ordnance use by the 2/25 th at all USAG-HI installations would increase by about 40percent. Approximately 96 percent of the annual ordnance use would consist of small armsammunition, each item of which emits only a very small propellant charge. Ordnance items withexplosive or pyrotechnic components (such as mortars, artillery, mines, demolition charges, smokedevices, flares, or blast simulators) would represent about 4 percent of the annual ordnance use.Live ordnance is not used at DMR, but blank ammunition and ground-based smoke devices are usedfor some training exercises. The total estimated ordnance use at all USAG-HI installations woulddecrease by about 25 percent under Alternative A. Smoke, flare, and simulator items would remainthe predominant munitions used at DMR. Based on the general nature of detonation processes and thevery low emission rates that have been published in studies of munitions firing and open detonations,emissions associated with ordnance use at DMR pose very little risk of creating adverse air qualityeffects. Consequently, air quality effects expected from munitions use under Alternative A areconsidered less than significant.Use of the CACTF at KTA would involve SRTA in addition to blank ammunition. Some pyrotechnicdevices also would be used at KTA. Only blank ammunition would be used at KLOA. Due to changesin the nature of training activities, the annual quantity of ammunition used at PTA, KTA and KLOAwould decrease. Based on the general nature of detonation processes and the very low emission ratesthat have been published in studies of munitions firing and open detonations, emissions associatedwith ordnance use at KTA and KLOA pose very little risk of creating adverse air quality effects.Consequently, air quality effects from munitions use under are considered less than significant.February 2008 5-56 2/25th SBCT Final EIS