SBCT Final EIS - Govsupport.us
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SBCT Final EIS - Govsupport.us

SBCT Final EIS - Govsupport.us SBCT Final EIS - Govsupport.us

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Chapter 5 – Environmental Consequencesactivity at construction sites. This increase is not expected to impact the risk of accidental wildfireignition because fires at FRA are quickly identified and extinguished. No cantonment constructionwould be necessary at DTA; therefore, impact analysis is Not Applicable. No mitigation is necessaryfor impacts from cantonment construction.5.3.4.2 Impacts from Range ConstructionNo ImpactsConstructing and upgrading ranges at FRA would temporarily increase human presence and activityat construction sites. This increase is not expected to impact the risk of accidental wildfire ignitionbecause fires at FRA are quickly identified and extinguished. No range construction would benecessary at DTA; therefore, impact analysis is Not Applicable. No mitigation is necessary forimpacts from range construction.5.3.4.3 Impacts from Live-Fire TrainingSignificant ImpactsImpact 1: Increased Wildfire Risk. A larger number of Soldiers would use existing and newlyconstructed ranges for live fire training. There would be a corresponding increase in the total numberof rounds fired as well as increased vehicular traffic. An increased risk of accidental wildfire ignitionwould come from ordinance, vehicles, flammable materials, and cigarettes. Reclassification of firemanagement options may occur as needed to ensure fire management meets anticipated changes inwildfire risk. Prescribed burning resulting from any management prescriptions would create shorttermadverse impacts to air quality and would require a permit. With implementation of the mitigationmeasures below, fire risk would be reduced, but the impacts of a wildfire would remain significant.Regulatory and Administrative Mitigation 1: Areas most likely to be affected by wildland fire areadjacent to those areas that are used for live-fire training. Mitigation measures are designed to preparethe landscape for impending wildfires. Patches of thinned trees and controlled burns in high-risk areasmay slow wildfire intensity and speed.The following mitigation measures currently in place are continually revised and reviewed to respondto new or increasing impacts.• Use the fire index in cooperation with BLM.• Coordinate live-fire training exercises when fire weather and indices are low to help prevent thespread of wildfire.• Avoid ordnance use during periods when weather and fuels conditions are conducive to quick firestarts and spreading.• Continue to update and implement fire management plans written by USARAK and the BLMAlaska Fire Service for each installation. The plans assess current fire hazards and listrecommendations to reduce them.• Maintain existing firebreaks on USARAK lands, including on the southern end of Main Post,from the Richardson Highway to Jarvis Creek on DTA.• Comply with existing range regulations and restrictions (USARAK Regulation 350-2).• Follow existing range guidelines to prevent wildfires.February 2008 5-84 2/25th SBCT Final EIS

Chapter 5 – Environmental ConsequencesAdditional Mitigation 1: Some USARAK projects and programs already propose measures that wouldmitigate many impacts to fire management. These programs are only partially implemented andfunded. The proposed mitigation is, therefore, to fully implement plans and projects that have alreadybeen identified by USARAK’s INRMPs. Additional possible mitigation measures are listed below.• Review access to firing ranges to enable quick and effective response by initial attack forces inthe event of a wildfire.• Conduct prescribed burning. This would be considered as an option where grass is the primaryfuel type. Burning may be done every 1 to 3 years depending on fuel load and conditions. Thiswould increase user days for the Army with a lower risk of wildfire.• Locate operational areas within hardwood forests (i.e., not in black spruce) to minimize the riskof wildfire.• Create defensible space around existing and new structures. This would be done by clearing fuelsaround new structures and facilities to reduce the threat to structures.• Station an additional USARAK wildland fire crew at Fort Wainwright. The crew wouldaccompany troops that train DTA during high fire danger and would provide immediate wildfiresuppression. During times of low fire risk, the fire crew would conduct needed hazard fuelreduction projects near military structures and on ranges.• Fire mitigation measures detailed in the MOA between the City of Delta Junction and USARAKwould be implemented. These include creation and/or maintenance of fuel breaks and clearings,restricting BAX/CACTF use during fire season unless additional fire crew are on hand,firefighting equipment upgrades, and restricted use of certain munitions under elevated fire risks.5.3.4.4 Impacts from Maneuver TrainingSignificant ImpactsImpact 2: Increased Wildfire Risk. Maneuver training would occur at both FRA and DTA, and wouldhave similar impacts at each location. Brigade-, battalion-, and some company-level training wouldoccur at DTA, and the frequency of maneuver training at DTA would increase slightly above existinglevels. Some company-level, platoon-level, and smaller training would occur at FRA, and wouldincrease in frequency. Munitions use is not part of maneuver training, so the risk of wildfire ignitionis from vehicle use and human activity. The inherent minor risk of accidental ignition of SBCTmaneuver training is expected to be similar to the existing IBCT maneuver training. However, SBCTmaneuver training typically covers a larger area, potentially extending training into areas that havenot been used as frequently. These areas may not have been managed to reduce wildfire risk or havebeen incorporated into fire management strategies.Mitigation 2: Implementation of mitigation measures described above under Live-Fire Trainingwould reduce the risk of wildfire from maneuver training, but the impacts of a wildfire would remainsignificant.5.3.5 Cultural ResourcesImpacts to cultural resources would result from demolition or renovation of existing facilities,construction of new facilities, operation and maintenance of facilities, road use, and trainingactivities. The stationing of the SBCT in Alaska would result in an overall increase in the extent andintensity of these activities, and increased potential for impacts to archaeological sites, historicFebruary 2008 5-85 2/25th SBCT Final EIS

Chapter 5 – Environmental Consequencesactivity at construction sites. This increase is not expected to impact the risk of accidental wildfireignition beca<strong>us</strong>e fires at FRA are quickly identified and extinguished. No cantonment constructionwould be necessary at DTA; therefore, impact analysis is Not Applicable. No mitigation is necessaryfor impacts from cantonment construction.5.3.4.2 Impacts from Range ConstructionNo ImpactsConstructing and upgrading ranges at FRA would temporarily increase human presence and activityat construction sites. This increase is not expected to impact the risk of accidental wildfire ignitionbeca<strong>us</strong>e fires at FRA are quickly identified and extinguished. No range construction would benecessary at DTA; therefore, impact analysis is Not Applicable. No mitigation is necessary forimpacts from range construction.5.3.4.3 Impacts from Live-Fire TrainingSignificant ImpactsImpact 1: Increased Wildfire Risk. A larger number of Soldiers would <strong>us</strong>e existing and newlyconstructed ranges for live fire training. There would be a corresponding increase in the total numberof rounds fired as well as increased vehicular traffic. An increased risk of accidental wildfire ignitionwould come from ordinance, vehicles, flammable materials, and cigarettes. Reclassification of firemanagement options may occur as needed to ensure fire management meets anticipated changes inwildfire risk. Prescribed burning resulting from any management prescriptions would create shorttermadverse impacts to air quality and would require a permit. With implementation of the mitigationmeasures below, fire risk would be reduced, but the impacts of a wildfire would remain significant.Regulatory and Administrative Mitigation 1: Areas most likely to be affected by wildland fire areadjacent to those areas that are <strong>us</strong>ed for live-fire training. Mitigation measures are designed to preparethe landscape for impending wildfires. Patches of thinned trees and controlled burns in high-risk areasmay slow wildfire intensity and speed.The following mitigation measures currently in place are continually revised and reviewed to respondto new or increasing impacts.• Use the fire index in cooperation with BLM.• Coordinate live-fire training exercises when fire weather and indices are low to help prevent thespread of wildfire.• Avoid ordnance <strong>us</strong>e during periods when weather and fuels conditions are conducive to quick firestarts and spreading.• Continue to update and implement fire management plans written by USARAK and the BLMAlaska Fire Service for each installation. The plans assess current fire hazards and listrecommendations to reduce them.• Maintain existing firebreaks on USARAK lands, including on the southern end of Main Post,from the Richardson Highway to Jarvis Creek on DTA.• Comply with existing range regulations and restrictions (USARAK Regulation 350-2).• Follow existing range guidelines to prevent wildfires.February 2008 5-84 2/25th <strong>SBCT</strong> <strong>Final</strong> <strong>EIS</strong>

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