SBCT Final EIS - Govsupport.us

Final Environmental Impact StatementLead Agency: Department of the Army, Office of the Secretary of the Army, Washington, D.C.Cooperating Agencies: None.Title to Proposed Action: The Permanent Home Stationing of the 2/25 th Stryker Brigade Combat Team(SBCT)Affected Jurisdictions: Hawaii and Honolulu Counties, Hawaii; Anchorage and Southeast FairbanksBoroughs, Alaska; El Paso, Pueblo, and Fremont Counties, ColoradoReview: Copies of the FEIS may be obtained from the Public Affairs Office, U.S. Army EnvironmentalCommand, Building E4460, 5179 Hoadley Road, Attention: IMAE-PA, Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD21010-5401, telephone: 410-436-2556, facsimile: 410-436-1693. The document is available on line at:www.sbct-seis.org.Document Designation: Final Environmental Impact StatementAbstract: The Army’s proposed action is to home station the 2/25 th SBCT permanently in a location thatmeets national security and defense policy guidance, provides for SBCT training and operational requirements,provides a high quality of life for the 2/25 th Soldiers and their Families, and facilitates therapid deployment of the SBCT to meet U.S. national security and defense requirements. This EIS examinesthree alternative Army installations capable of supporting the permanent stationing of the 2/25 thSBCT. These alternatives for implementing the proposed action were identified by the Army as reasonablealternatives capable of meeting the Army’s need criteria described in Chapter 1 and screening criteriadescribed in Chapter 2. The three alternatives include: (A) permanently stationing the 2/25 th SBCT atSchofield Barracks Military Reservation (SBMR) while conducting required training at military trainingsites in Hawaii; (B) permanently stationing the 2/25 th SBCT at Fort Richardson while conducting requiredtraining at military training sites in Alaska and replacing the SBCT in Hawaii with an IBCT from Alaska;and (C) permanently stationing the 2/25 th SBCT at Fort Carson while conducting required training at militarytraining sites in Colorado and replacing the SBCT in Hawaii with an IBCT from Colorado. In addition,the No Action Alternative was defined and evaluated in detail. The EIS includes analysis of all activities(equipment fielding, training, facilities construction, and Soldier and Family support) required topermanently station the 2/25 th . This EIS will assist the Army in arriving at a decision for the permanentstationing of the SBCT in a location that can accommodate the SBCT’s training and quality of life facilityrequirements while meeting the strategic needs of the United States, national security requirements, andenvironmental considerations.On December 12, 2007, the Deputy Chief of Staff of the Army, G–3/5/7 (Lt. Gen. Thurman) selectedHawaii as the Army’s Preferred Alternative. He considered information from the EIS, public commentson the DEIS, the relative strengths and weaknesses of each alternative to meet the Army’s need for theProposed Action, environmental and socio-economic affects, and public feedback received from each stationinglocation. He selected Hawaii as the Army’s Preferred Alternative primarily because it is best ableto meet the Army’s strategic defense and national security needs in the Pacific theater. In making the decision,he was fully informed as to the limitations in Hawaii in terms of training ranges, maneuver land,and impacts to sensitive environmental resources. He also considered the more favorable conditions oftraining ranges and maneuver land at the alternate stationing locations.