SBCT Final EIS - Govsupport.us

Chapter 1 ⎯ Purpose and Needpermits the decision maker to take a “hard look” at environmental impacts among alternatives prior tomaking a final decision selecting a home-stationing site for the 2/25 th .If Army decision makers choose a site other than Hawaii for the permanent home stationing of the2/25 th SBCT, additional site-specific NEPA analysis will be prepared for those additional constructionprojects needed to support the SBCT. If an IBCT moves to Hawaii under this action and additionalfacilities are required in Hawaii, additional NEPA documentation may be required. If the Army decidesto keep the SBCT in Hawaii, no additional NEPA documentation is anticipated because the2004 Transformation FEIS and this EIS provide sufficient analysis.This EIS supplements the 2004 FEIS, and that FEIS is incorporated by reference. This EIS updatesthe 2004 FEIS by adding new information about the affected environment. It also includes new informationabout impacts. The Proposed Action has also changed to some degree because the standarddesign for the SBCT has been modified. This results in changes to equipment, number of Soldiers,and munitions usage. For these reasons, there is updated analysis in this EIS. The special focus of thisEIS is to examine the impacts of Stryker-specific projects because it is these projects that would notbe carried forward if somewhere other than Hawaii were selected at the permanent home station ofthe 2/25 th SBCT.This analysis examines installations in accordance with their current land holdings. It does not considerthe possible expansion of land holdings at installations. The process of land acquisition for federalagencies is a long one, requiring availability of land compatible with training use, multiple fundingapprovals, a series of environmental and real estate planning studies including NEPA, congressionalfunding appropriation, and preparation of the land before it can be used for training. Because ofthese uncertainties, land acquisition and expansion actions are not included in the scope of this analysis.This EIS does not analyze the use of Makua Military Reservation (MMR). The SBCT can be stationedand fully trained without the use of MMR. Thus, use of MMR is not required to implement theProposed Action. If MMR were available, Soldiers of the SBCT might use it for some purposes. Theuse of MMR for resumption of military live-fire exercises is being analyzed in a separate EIS. Thelevel of use of MMR for live-fire exercises will be determined with preparation, signature, and releaseof a separate ROD. If the ROD permits use of MMR for live-fire exercises, the unit stationed atUSAG-HI under the Proposed Action and alternatives to it could use MMR for live-fire training exercisesat a unit level and type considered in the MMR EIS and permitted by the ROD.1.6 DECISION(S) TO BE MADEThe Army Deputy Chief of Staff, in concert with other Army decision makers will review the analysesand conclusions drawn in this EIS and decide on the permanent home station of the 2/25 th SBCT.The decision will be based on the results of this EIS and on consideration of all relevant factors includingmission, cost, technical factors, and environmental considerations. This EIS identifies andpresents the full range of reasonable alternatives capable of meeting the purpose and need for permanentlyhome-stationing and training of the 2/25 th SBCT. Decisions regarding transformation, BRAC2005, national security strategy, and other decisions made in the NSS, NDS, and QDR are not revisitedin this document.1.7 COOPERATING AGENCIESNo federal agencies were entitled to act as a cooperating agency, the Army did not formally requestany agency to serve in the capacity, and no federal or state agency has requested this status.February 2008 1-14 2/25th SBCT Final EIS