SBCT Final EIS - Govsupport.us

Chapter 5 – Environmental ConsequencesImpacts to Threatened and Endangered Species: Construction would temporarily increase humanpresence and activity at construction sites. However, no federal or state threatened, endangered,proposed, or candidate plant or animal species are found within or near lands used by U.S. ArmyAlaska (USARAK). Listing the Cook Inlet beluga whale population as endangered is proposed;however, cantonment construction projects would be located several miles from Cook Inlet, and noimpacts to beluga whales are expected.Several species of concern are found on USARAK lands. The types of effects to threatened orendangered species and species of concern would include increased habitat loss and disturbance;however, proposed projects would be in developed or disturbed areas. USARAK’s policies formanagement of endangered species are outlined in the Integrated Natural Resources ManagementPlan (USARAK 2007). Endangered species management goals and objectives include protection andconservation of endangered or threatened species found on USARAK posts, identification anddelineation of species and their habitats, and compliance with Section 7 of the Endangered SpeciesAct. USARAK would conduct planning for the endangered species program; implement an inventoryand monitoring program to identify the location and distribution of any rare, uncommon, or priorityspecies; and protect habitats of these species. There is no endangered species management plan unlessa federally listed endangered or threatened species is found on an installation. The USARAKecosystem management program also monitors species of concern.5.3.10.2 Impacts from Range ConstructionSignificant Impacts Mitigable To Less Than SignificantImpact 1: Impacts to wetlands. Wetlands are not expected to be lost during range construction atFRA. Modifications to the existing ranges could have indirect impacts on the surroundingenvironment resulting in wetland disturbance and loss. Soils at disturbed sites such as constructionsites tends to become more compacted, which can affect seedling establishment, water and nutrientuptake, and root penetration. Reestablishment of plant communities may be impeded by changes insoil properties. Soil erosion and transport may increase due to a loss in stability from the removal ofvegetative cover and the underlying supportive root system.Damage to wetlands in northern climates such as Alaska can affect the insulating layer that protectspermafrost (Section 5.3.2). This could create thermokarst conditions, possibly leading to subsidence,and could increase sediment delivery to nearby waterways. As a result, the water quality and aquatichabitats could be degraded.Wetland permitting, which is regulated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, would be required ifrange construction were to impact wetlands. Impacts to wetlands from range construction could besignificant, but mitigable to less than significant. No range construction would be necessary at DTA;therefore, impact analysis is Not Applicable.Regulatory and Administrative Mitigation 1: Some programs already propose measures that wouldmitigate many impacts to wetlands. These programs are only partially implemented and funded. Theproposed mitigation is therefore to implement plans fully and projects that have already beenidentified by USARAK’s INRMPs, the Training Area Recovery Plan, and other plans associated withwetlands. Additional mitigation measures are also listed below.• Implement additional wetlands mitigation on a case-by-case basis. This would ensure compliancewith wetland regulations and conservation of wetland resources.February 2008 5-105 2/25th SBCT Final EIS