SBCT Final EIS - Govsupport.us

Chapter 5 – Environmental ConsequencesFuture construction activities in the FTC cantonment areas associated with the Army transformationat FTC could also result in temporary ground disturbance and permanent loss of small areas of nativevegetation. Areas disturbed during construction would be reclaimed and revegetated with native orother suitable vegetation, as appropriate. Although future construction and operation of facilities inthe FTC cantonment area would result in physical disturbance of habitat, the cantonment area iscurrently disturbed, and most of the area is already developed. In the cantonment areas, the loss ofnative habitat, if any, would be minor.To protect long-term land sustainability on FTC, Alternative C would continue to use the Army’sland and environmental management programs on FTC to provide for sustainable land management.The following measures would be implemented to protect vegetation resources further:• Areas disturbed during construction would be reclaimed and revegetated with native or othersuitable vegetation, as appropriate.• Continue to use the Army’s land and environmental management programs on FTC to provide forsustainable land management. Continue to coordinate training activities among G-3, DPTM-Range Division, and DECAM staff. Continue to follow environmental plans and regulations, anduse ITAM to repair vegetation damage.• Existing species management plans would continue to be implemented.Impacts to vegetation from activities within the cantonment area at FTC would be less thansignificant. No cantonment construction would be necessary at PCMS; therefore, impact analysis isNot Applicable.Introduction and spread of invasive plants and noxious weeds. In general, temporary parking ofStryker vehicles within the cantonment area has the potential to increase direct and indirect impactsrelated to the introduction and spread of noxious weeds. Impacts to vegetation increase the potentialfor the introduction and spread of noxious weeds. Invasive plants have an advantage in becomingestablished in an environment that is stressed and can often out-compete native species that are notadapted to the novel environment created through human activity.FTC has targeted noxious weeds for priority control by preventing them from populating disturbedareas, controlling infestations to levels compatible with other land management objectives oreliminating the weed species from the area (DECAM 2002a). As such, impacts from noxious weedsrelated to activities within the cantonment area under Alternative C are expected to be less thansignificant. No cantonment construction would be necessary at PCMS; therefore, impact analysis isNot Applicable.Impacts to Threatened and Endangered Species. The temporary parking of Stryker vehicles withinthe cantonment area would result in temporary ground disturbance, loss of small areas of nativevegetation, and minimal loss of native wildlife habitat. Loss of native plant communities,fragmentation of wildlife habitat, and disturbance and displacement of special status species withinthe cantonment area could occur, but is highly unlikely. No cantonment construction would benecessary at PCMS; therefore, impact analysis is Not Applicable. Impacts from cantonmentconstruction is expected to be less than significantImpacts to general wildlife and habitats. Temporary parking of Stryker vehicles would be located inexisting, disturbed cantonment areas to the extent possible, thereby creating little or no direct impactsto vegetation. Habitats within these areas would likely be either developed, disturbed, or otherwisemanaged. Wildlife would be temporarily disturbed; however, species likely to be present in areas ofFebruary 2008 5-166 2/25th SBCT Final EIS