SBCT Final EIS - Govsupport.us

Chapter 5 – Environmental ConsequencesConstruction projects occurring in existing cantonment areas would cause little or no direct impacts tonatural vegetation. Construction of ranges would not result in alteration or loss of natural vegetationat FRA. Impacts to vegetation from range construction are expected to be less than significant.Increased live-fire training associated with the SBCT would cause direct impacts to vegetation whenmunitions explode and create craters, resulting in areas of bare ground. However, the cratersaccumulate organic matter, and vegetation usually recovers. Impacts to vegetation from live-firetraining would be less than significant. Impacts to vegetation from maneuver training would besignificant but mitigable to less than significant. The amount of impacts to vegetation from SBCTwould increase with the need for larger training areas; however, the intensity of the impacts woulddecrease through their more frequent use of existing roads.Increasing construction at FRA and DTA, increasing the number of people, and increasing thenumber of vehicles could increase the number and type of nonnative plants, including noxious weeds,potentially introduced to disturbed areas. However, because the invasive species problem is currentlyminimal, and USARAK is committed to proactive management, less than significant impacts fromnoxious weeds are expected to occur on FRA or DTA.There would be little or no direct impacts to special status species because no federal or statethreatened, endangered, or candidate plant or animal species are found within or near lands used byUSARAK. However, several species of concern are found on USARAK lands. Construction of rangesand cantonment upgrades would not result in habitat loss. No impacts to special status species fromrange construction are expected. Increased live-fire and maneuver training associated with the SBCTwould cause less than significant impacts to special status species. Impacts to the Cook Inlet belugawhale population, which is proposed for listing under the Endangered Species Act, will be analyzedin a separate EIS addressing year-round live-fire training at Eagle River Flats.General wildlife and habitats would be affected by construction and training activities. Impacts wouldprimarily be in previously disturbed areas. Construction and use of new ranges at FRA would notcause additional permanent habitat loss; however, given the limited size of the ranges compared to thesurrounding available habitat, impacts to general wildlife and habitats would be less than significant.Mitigation measures, planning considerations, and BMPs contained in the INRMP, application ofLand Condition Trend Analysis and Land Rehabilitation and Maintenance Program, and continuedmonitoring programs would avoid impacts to biological resources of concern. Where impacts cannotbe avoided, they would be reduced to a less than significant level.5.3.10.1 Impacts from Cantonment ConstructionLess Than Significant ImpactsImpacts to vegetation. Permanent stationing of the 2/25 th SBCT at FRA would require cantonmentconstruction to accommodate larger motorpool requirements. Impacts to vegetation from constructioncan include breaking and crushing of plants and direct mortality. This can directly or indirectly alterplant community composition and structure and vegetative cover. Fugitive dust from theseconstruction projects could occur and result in short-term impacts to vegetation. Impacts to rareecotypes or species of concern are not expected to occur. Construction projects would occur inexisting, disturbed cantonment areas, and there would be little or no direct impacts to native orsensitive vegetation. Impacts to vegetation from cantonment construction would be less thansignificant. No cantonment construction would be necessary at DTA; therefore, impact analysis is NotApplicable.February 2008 5-103 2/25th SBCT Final EIS