SBCT Final EIS - Govsupport.us

Chapter 5 – Environmental Consequences5.3.12.2 Impacts from Range ConstructionLess Than Significant ImpactsNoise from construction activities. Construction of the new ranges would occur away frominstallation boundaries, within existing range footprints, and would not result in long-term negativeimpacts on the surrounding communities. Construction of facilities would contribute to temporary,localized increases in noise levels. However, these increases in noise would be less than significant.5.3.12.3 Impacts from Live-Fire TrainingLess Than Significant ImpactsNoise from ordnance use. A larger number of Soldiers would use existing and newly constructedranges for live fire training. There would be a corresponding increase in the total number of roundsfired as well as increased vehicular traffic. During live-fire training the acreage of Zone II and IIInoise levels would increase at FRA. Thus, the total acreage under moderate or severe noise levels(Zones II and III) would increase. A large proportion of the increase would result from the use of thenew range in the northeast portion of the post. This increase would be on training lands and would notaffect the cantonment area or areas off-post. Zones II and III noise levels would nearly double offpost;however, the areas would not affect sensitive land use areas such as residential or commercialzones. The off-post contours are over the Knik Arm or Elmendorf Air Force Base. The increasednoise levels in the cantonment would mostly be on lands adjoining the Otter Lake Recreation Area.The artillery firing points are more than 2 miles from any residential areas, which would reduce theprobability of noise complaints. Overall, residential areas would not be affected by the expansion ofZone II and III noise levels.While training at DTA, the 2/25 th SBCT would use weapons similar to those currently used by theSBCT stationed at Fort Wainwright. However, stationing of the 2/25 th SBCT would increase the useof some weapons. Training would continue with the 81mm and 60mm mortars, but use of the 120mmmortar and the 155mm howitzer would be increased. The 120mm mortar has a range of 23,622 feet,so there may occasionally be mortar firing farther from the Eagle River Effect Area, meaning closerto the boundary. The SBCT would also add 27 mobile gun systems.The contours in the Eagle River Flats area do not change appreciably. Development of the multipurposetraining range would result in increased Zones II and III noise levels in the northeasternportion of FRA. If the firing points are moved from near the edge northeast portion of the post (i.e.,from Firing Points 23 and 33), then the noise contours would not extend beyond the boundaries ofFRA.The adverse effects of noise resulting from military training would increase. However, the overalleffects of noise levels would be less than significant.5.3.12.4 Impacts from Maneuver TrainingLess Than Significant ImpactsNoise from military vehicles. Brigade-, battalion-, and company-level training would occur at DTA,and the frequency of large-maneuver training is not expected to increase above existing levels.Platoon-level and smaller training would occur at FRA, and would increase in frequency. Munitionsuse is not part of maneuver training, so noise impacts from ordnance are eliminated. The types ofimpacts of SBCT maneuver training is expected to be similar to the existing IBCT maneuver training.February 2008 5-114 2/25th SBCT Final EIS