SBCT Final EIS - Govsupport.us

Chapter 5 – Environmental Consequences5.4.12.3 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.Currently estimated noise contours for large-caliber weapons were generated based on the proposedchanges in activity at the weapon ranges. The exchange of an IBCT for an SBCT at FTC mayincrease the area of these contours, but the effect is expected to be less than significant. Noisecontours for large-caliber weapon noise would extend farther into adjacent noise-sensitive areas, andslightly increased noise levels in those areas could be expected. The only sensitive on-post receptorsare within the cantonment area are located on the north end of the installation and are outside of theareas where noise impacts could increase.5.4.12.4 Impacts from Maneuver TrainingLess Than Significant ImpactsNoise from military vehicles. Increased vehicles in convoy movements would result in increasedtraffic noise levels between FTC and PCMS. Daily traffic volumes along I-25 would be expected toincrease slightly during convoy movements. Convoys would be timed to avoid peak traffic periodsalong I-25 through Pueblo, and they would not contribute to the peak hour noise levels in that area.Daily traffic volumes along U.S. Highway 160 (U.S. 160) and U.S. 350 would temporarily increase.The increases in daily traffic volumes would be expected to occur intermittently for approximately 30days per year under maximum training conditions. Based on the expected traffic increases, hourlyaverage traffic noise levels at locations along area roadways where convoy movements would occurare estimated to have less than a perceptible change to area residents.Training activities at Butts Army Airfield would not change at FTC under Alternative C. In someinstances, training activity could decrease based on stationing of some types of aircraft elsewhere(e.g., Blackhawk helicopters). Noise levels resulting from aircraft activity are expected to be less thansignificant.Based on current analyses, noise effects from SBCT training should not extend beyond theinstallation boundary of the PCMS. If grazing occurs near the western installation boundary when thehand-grenade range is in use, cattle could be disturbed by the intermittent noise from grenadeexplosions. No known noise-sensitive receptors are located in the areas outside the installationboundaries where noise increases are anticipated. Therefore, less than significant impacts to sensitivereceptors under current land uses would be expected.The noise increases in areas outside the installation boundaries might discourage residentialdevelopment or settling of other sensitive receptors in these areas in the future. The followingmeasures are proposed to decrease noise impacts further:• Modification of construction activities, such as limiting nighttime construction or use of backupalarms, could be implemented to reduce noise around construction areas.• To limit adverse noise effects in the future, the PCMS would follow AR 200-1 and theInstallation Environmental Noise Management Plan to monitor noise.February 2008 5-179 2/25th SBCT Final EIS