SBCT Final EIS - Govsupport.us

Chapter 5 – Environmental ConsequencesThe following measures are currently in place to respond to new or increasing impacts to vegetation,and are continually reviewed and revised.• Continue to conduct forest resource inventories to aid ecosystem management program.• Continue use of environmental limitations overlays, indicating areas where maneuver training isand is not allowed.• Continue implementation of INRMPs, with specific actions for management of vegetation.• Continue Range and Training Land Assessment and Land Rehabilitation and MaintenanceProgram programs to minimize and rehabilitate vegetation damage.• Continue to implement recreational vehicle use policy at USARAK.Additionally, a detailed study is planned to assess impacts of recreational vehicles to vegetation. Thiswould provide information for natural resources managers to help develop policies to ensureconservation and sustainability of vegetation resources.Impacts to general wildlife and habitats. SBCT construction projects would be located in existing,disturbed cantonment areas thereby limiting impacts to vegetation. Habitats within the footprints ofcantonment projects would likely be either developed, disturbed, or otherwise managed. Wildlifewould be temporarily disturbed during construction; however, species likely to be present in areas ofcantonment construction are those habituated to human presence, and would not be adverselyaffected. An influx of personnel to FRA could result in increased recreational impacts to wildlife andfisheries. Impacts to general wildlife and habitats from cantonment construction would be less thansignificant. No cantonment construction would be necessary at DTA; therefore, impact analysis is NotApplicable.Introduction and spread of invasive plants and noxious weeds. Management of invasive plant speciesis an issue of concern on USARAK lands. The Range and Training Land Assessment programmonitors vegetation and documents invasive plant species. These species are managed usingintegrated pest management techniques, whereby chemical control is minimized.Increasing construction at FRA, increasing the number of people, and increasing the number ofvehicles could increase the number and type of nonnative plants, including noxious weeds. However,because the invasive species problem is currently minimal, and USARAK is committed to proactivemanagement, less than significant impacts from noxious weeds would occur.No ImpactsImpacts to wetlands Use and management of wetlands on USARAK lands are regulated by the Riversand Harbors Act of 1899; Section 404 of the Clean Water Act; Executive Order 11990, Protection ofWetlands; the Sikes Act, which requires the development and implementation of INRMPs; and theMilitary Land Withdrawal Act PL 106-65. Wetlands comprise 8 percent of FRA.SBCT construction projects would be located in cantonment areas where few or no direct impacts towetlands would occur. However, erosion from construction could occur and result in short-termincreases of sedimentation to wetlands. Wetland permitting, which is regulated by the U.S. ArmyCorps of Engineers, would be required if construction were to impact wetlands. No significantimpacts to wetlands from cantonment construction are anticipated. No cantonment constructionwould be necessary at DTA; therefore, impact analysis is Not Applicable.February 2008 5-104 2/25th SBCT Final EIS