SBCT Final EIS - Govsupport.us

Chapter 5 – Environmental ConsequencesClimate change is largely a global phenomenon that includes actions that are outside of the Armycontrol. Nevertheless, Army actions in Colorado contribute incrementally to this global situation.Stationing the SBCT in Colorado would produce greater emissions of carbon dioxide and othergreenhouse gasses from both the use of explosives and the running of vehicle engines. Theseemissions can combine with carbon emissions throughout the world to contribute to one of the causesof global warming. As discussed in Sections 5.2.14, 5.3.14, 5.4.14, and 5.5.14, however, the Army isproactively working to reduce its overall consumption of energy and fossil fuels at all of itsinstallations. It can be argued that by reducing its consumption of energy and fossil fuels, the Army isreducing its contribution to "global warming."Therefore, cumulative impacts to air quality from Alternative C could be significant but mitigable toless than significant.5.6.3.11 NoiseCumulative noise impacts could result from implementation of this alternative when combined withthe other projects identified in the area. Current and future construction projects generate noise duringsite clearing and grading. As these are temporary activities, the cumulative effects form constructionprojects are expected to be less than significant.The largest continuous source of noise in the FTC area is road and highway traffic and trainingactivities. Current and future highway projects will be required to comply with local and FederalHighway Administration (FHWA) noise regulations. Therefore, cumulative noise effects from vehicletraffic are expected to be less than significant.The area surrounding the PCMS is and has been primarily agricultural including ranching and largegrazing operations. U.S. 350 runs along the western edge of the PCMS. There are no other permittedor anticipated projects in the vicinity of the PCMS. The PCMS is a military training facility and hasbeen used for training exercises, on average, approximately 4 months per year. Use of the PCMS inrecent years, however, has been less frequent because of overseas deployments of military personnel.Future use of the PCMS is projected to increase.The cumulative noise impacts associated with Alternative C would be less than significant.5.6.3.12 Airspace ResourcesNo cumulative effects would occur to airspace resources under this alternative. None of thereasonably foreseeable future actions identified for Colorado would directly or indirectly affectairspace resources. Therefore, Alternative C’s direct and indirect impacts to airspace resources wouldnot overlap those of the reasonably foreseeable future actions in time or space. Without any overlapof impacts, cumulative effects would not occur.5.6.3.13 EnergyIndividually, Alternative C would result in a less than significant impact to energy demand and costs.However, small cumulative impacts to energy use and costs would result from the planned new firingranges, expansion of existing or development of new maneuver areas, and population growth nearFTC. Training of the 2/25th SBCT at FTC would increase the future use of several planned rangeimprovement projects and those foreseeable activities that involve maneuver training exercises.Cumulative impacts to energy would be expected to be less than significant.February 2008 5-273 2/25th SBCT Final EIS