SBCT Final EIS - Govsupport.us

Chapter 5 – Environmental Consequenceshowever, would have a low probability of affecting surface water, as the streams at FTC areintermittent. In addition, Fountain Creek is on the opposite side of a major highway (I-25), making itless likely for any spill to directly or indirectly affect this water body.Flood potential. Floodplains have not been mapped at the PCMS. However, personnel and equipmentcould be affected by floodwaters when training in flood-prone areas, especially during flash floods.The safety of troops and equipment is a priority during training, and training procedures direct thattroops relocate away from flood-prone areas when conditions are favorable for sudden storms andflash flooding.Measures described under Impacts from Cantonment Construction would also be followed formaneuver training. These measures will ensure impacts remain less than significant.5.4.4 Wildfire ManagementTable 5-39 lists the types of impacts associated with wildfire management that would occur underAlternative C. General descriptions of the impacts are also provided. Construction at FTC would notimpact wildfire risk. Live-fire training at FTC would increase both the number of Soldiers and thenumber of rounds fired. This would create a significant wildfire risk. Maneuver training at FTC andPCMS would approximately double (when comparing MIMs of the IBCT versus the SBCT) andsmall unit training at FTC would increase only slightly by less than 10 percent when looking at allunits training at FTC and PCMS. Since there is a risk that a wildfire could result in an irretrievableloss of individuals of sensitive species or known or unknown cultural resources, the Army has made aconservative determination that although the mitigation will considerably reduce wildfire risk, theimpacts may not be reduced to a less than significant level. Implementing fire management plans suchas the Prescribed Burn Plan and other fuel management projects will substantially reduce the impact,but not to less than significant.Table 5-39Summary of Potential Impacts to Wildfire Management fromAlternative CLocationActivity Group Fort Carson PCMSImpacts from Cantonment Construction N/AImpacts from Range Construction N/AImpacts from Live-Fire Training N/AImpacts from Maneuver Training = Significant + = Beneficial Impact = Significant but mitigable to less than significant N/A = Not Applicable☼ = Less than Significant = No ImpactThe FTC performance goal with regard to wildland fire management is to facilitate military personnelwith planned training opportunities while reducing the possibility of uncontrolled wildland fireescaping the boundaries of FTC and the PCMS (DECAM 2001a). Suppression actions are based onplanned analysis consistent with land management objectives including the threat to life and property.FTC personnel advise the on-site Incident Commander concerning suppression methods that may beused to minimize resource losses. No wildfire situation, with the possible exception of a threat tohuman life, requires unnecessary exposure of firefighters and equipment to dangerous situations.February 2008 5-143 2/25th SBCT Final EIS