SBCT Final EIS - Govsupport.us

Chapter 5 – Environmental Consequencesspecies. FRA is located in federal subsistence management Unit 14C. Under the special provisions ofthe Subsistence Management Regulations, Unit 14 on FRA is “closed” to subsistence taking ofwildlife (USFWS 2002b). Hunting and fishing is permitted on FRA under the ADFG regulations, andit is recognized as an important area for the subsistence lifestyle of Native people. Therefore, impactsto subsistence from military activities and management on FRA were assessed even though federalsubsistence limits and seasons do not apply.Impacts to Access. The additional 567 personnel that would be stationed at FRA may result in a smallincrease in the number of local sport fisher and hunter populations. Personnel would be restricted tohunting during the seasons and permit requirements defined in the State of Alaska regulations. Anincrease in sport hunting interest would compete with existing recreational hunters for fixed-quantitypermits and for harvest take where unlimited open entry permits are available. The change in numbersof sport fishers and hunters would have No Impacts on hunting and fishing. Overall impacts to accessfor subsistence activities are expected to be less than significant.Increased military training would require an increase in access closures. However, alternate areas onFRA would still be available for access and subsistence activities. Therefore, this alternative isexpected to have a less than significant impact on access for subsistence activities.Impacts to the Availability of Subsistence Resources. The additional personnel stationed at FRAmight participate in recreational hunting and fishing activities. However, the additional personnelwould represent an increase of less than 1 percent compared to existing number of personnel at FRAand would thus result in a small change in the number of sport fishers and hunters. Alternative Bwould be expected to result in a less than significant increase in competition hunting and fishing;therefore the availability of subsistence resources is unlikely to be affected.Impacts to subsistence as a result of cantonment construction are expected to have less thansignificant impacts on both access closures and on subsistence resources.5.3.16.2 Impacts from Range ConstructionNo ImpactsRange projects would occur in existing range footprints. Construction of new ranges at FRA is notexpected to result impacts to either access closures or subsistence resources.5.3.16.3 Impacts from Live-Fire TrainingUnder this alternative, the 567 additional Soldiers stationed at FRA would result in a minor increasein the use of the existing and new live-fire ranges. The minor increase in live-fire training is expectedto result in have less than significant impacts on both access closures and on subsistence resources.5.3.16.4 Impacts from Maneuver TrainingLess Than Significant ImpactsImpacts to Access. Maneuver training intensity at FRA would increase and a larger area would berequired for training at DTA. Local subsistence resources could be affected by increased frequencyand intensity of training, as well as more extensive land use. Implementation of this alternative wouldresult in an increase in the frequency of training area closures at FRA. In addition, maneuver spacerequirements would increase slightly on DTA. Impacts associated with public access closures areFebruary 2008 5-121 2/25th SBCT Final EIS