SBCT Final EIS - Govsupport.us

Chapter 5 – Environmental Consequences5.3.3.2 Impacts from Range ConstructionLess Than Significant ImpactsNonpoint source contamination of surface water. Construction activities could affect surface waterby localized increases in erosion and runoff. Potential impacts would include increased overland flowand runoff and decreased percolation to groundwater. These impacts are expected to be less thansignificant. Engineering controls and BMPs, including the SWPP Plan, would be used to minimizethese potential impacts during construction.Potential Impacts of Spills of Hazardous Materials. Construction and operation of new facilitieswould increase the use of fuels, solvents, and other hazardous and toxic substances, which couldresult in indirect impacts to surface and/or groundwater if accidentally released into the environment.The Army has implemented BMPs, an SPCC, and an SWPPP to address leaks or spills of hazardousmaterials. With these established measures, impacts are expected to be less than significant.5.3.3.3 Impacts from Live-Fire TrainingLess Than Significant ImpactsNonpoint source contamination of surface and groundwater. The projected increase in munitions usecould lead to increased localized sediment loads and concentrations of ordnance constituents inimpact area waterways. Introduction of chemical constituents used in live fire training could alsoimpact groundwater through leaching and percolation, as the depth to groundwater ranges from nearsurface in some areas to 200 feet below ground surface at FRA. However, the munitions constituentswould be identical to those currently in use. Studies have shown that these constituents degraderapidly over time and distance from point of impact, so environmental effects on groundwater wouldbe limited (Houston 2002; Ferrick et al. 2001). Consequently, impacts are expected to be less thansignificant.Increased training levels would increase the use of fuels, solvents, and other hazardous and toxicsubstances, which might result in indirect impacts to surface and/or ground water if accidentallyreleased into the environment. USARAK would implement BMPs and SPCC to address leaks orspills of hazardous materials. Impacts are expected to be less than significant.The following measures already implemented, and would continue to protect water resources frompotential nonpoint source impacts resulting from live fire training:• Continue to implement the latest Integrated Natural Resources Management Plans, includinginstitutional controls and training programs for troops, to reduce or eliminate the risk ofinadvertent petrochemical releases that could affect groundwater (USARAK 2007). Thesedescribe specific actions to preserve healthy surface and groundwater resources.• Monitor USARAK water resources within the monitoring program. This would provide abaseline for surface water conditions and updated baseline for groundwater changes or impacts.• Modify current practices to reduce firing high-explosive munitions into active river channels.Firing only into abandoned channels and banks would reduce the direct impact of munitions onwaterways including munitions constituents and sedimentation.• Place new targets farther away from open waterways. Providing distance between waterways andtargets would reduce the direct impact of munitions on waterways including munitionsconstituents and sedimentation.February 2008 5-81 2/25th SBCT Final EIS