SBCT Final EIS - Govsupport.us

Chapter 5 – Environmental Consequencestraining would occur, and the resulting impacts from increased risk of wildfire are presented inSection 5.3.4.5.3.5.4 Impacts from Maneuver TrainingSignificant ImpactsImpact 2: Impacts to cultural resources. Potential significant impacts from maneuver training wouldbe the most widespread impacts associated with the SBCT. The SBCT would perform qualitativelydifferent maneuver training over larger areas than current IBCT maneuver training. However, theimpacts would be similar to those of an exiting SBCT at Fort Wainwright. Current maneuver trainingareas would be used. The SBCT would use existing trails more than the IBCT, but maneuvers wouldextend over larger training areas. The SBCT has more and heavier vehicles, but is less likely to gocross-country. The SBCT is also more mobile and creates less ground disturbance for bivouacs andfighting positions. The potential for significant impacts to cultural resources from maneuver trainingis greater with the SBCT compared to an IBCT because of the more expansive training exercises.To date, only six archaeological sites have been reported on FRA. None of these sites isrecommended as eligible for the NRHP, and there is a low potential for minor impact to known sites.Most of the archaeological surveys that have been completed on DTA have been in DTA East.Archaeological surveys conducted in 2002 identified a large number of sites near the kettle lakes tothe east and west of the Richardson Highway on DTA East. Collectively, these sites formarchaeological districts that are potentially eligible for the NHRP. Including the results of surveyscompleted in 2004 and 2005, there are now 380 reported sites on DTA and near the Fort Greelycantonment. Most of these sites (274) are recommended eligible for the NRHP or need to beevaluated. The same kettle lake topography that is present on portions of DTA East is also present onDTA West, and initial surveys of this area indicate the potential for a large concentration of sites.Systematic cultural resource surveys of DTA are ongoing. The potential is high for undiscoveredresources in areas that have not been surveyed. Increased traffic and increased training activitiescould impact many of these sites. Maneuver training could result in the destruction or damage topreviously unknown properties of traditional importance, an impact that cannot be mitigated to lessthan significant.Regulatory and Administrative Mitigation 2: Mitigation measures presented for impacts from rangeconstruction would reduce the potential to impact cultural resources. However, impacts to unknownresources could occur, resulting in a significant impact.5.3.6 Land Use and RecreationTable 5-24 summarizes the potential impacts to land use, including recreation and subsistenceactivities, under implementation of Alternative B. No land acquisition would be required and theproposed project activities would be located on land within the existing Army installations. Noagricultural land would be converted to training land under this alternative. Impacts to land use andrecreation would be less than significant. Measures would be implemented to minimize impacts assummarized in the following sections.February 2008 5-88 2/25th SBCT Final EIS