SBCT Final EIS - Govsupport.us

Appendix D ⎯ Responses to Comments on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement167. Noise pollution generated by the SBCT’s heavy machinery and equipment, firing exercisesand other activities remain a concern as they have a negative and detrimental effect on thequality of the visitor experience and ongoing Native Hawaiian cultural practices that takeplace regularly at the park.Response: The Army is coordinating with the NPS on a number of issues and will consultwith the NPS to understand better the concerns related to detrimental effects tovisitor experience and Native Hawaiian cultural practices resulting from implementationof the Proposed Action in Hawaii. Given the low noise levels andvibration created by Stryker vehicles in transit (see response to comment 135)the Army does project any significant noise impacts on the Park from Armytransportation of the SBCT to PTA. Nor does the Army anticipate significantnoise impacts from training exercises at PTA given the distance of the sitefrom the Park.D.3.7 WILDFIRE168. The Army needs to ensure the community that it will actively monitor uninhabited areas of itsinstallations on Oahu and Hawaii Island for wildfires and conduct activities to reduce the potentialfor wildfire, such as cutting brush during the dry seasons to prevent the rapid spread offlames.Response: The Army Wildland Fire Program has a 10-member Wildland Fire Crew. Twowildland crewmembers are assigned to SBMR, two to the KTA, five to MMR,and one supervisor. Periodic site visits to the remaining areas (such as DMR)are conducted twice a month. As discussed in Section 5.2.4.3, the Army is implementingthe IWFMP, which decreases the likelihood of wildfires and increasesthe Army’s ability to respond to wildfires in all areas including uninhabitedportions of installations. Brush cutting and fuels reduction is conductedprimarily during the fall, winter, and spring seasons in preparation forthe fire season. During the dry season, fire management personnel are positionedon site at the ranges to provide a quick response to wildland fire incidentsand to keep the fires small and manageable. Nevertheless, the Army recognizesthat wildfires can have a significant impact.169. The Army needs to disclose information about its prescribed burns and its wildfire managementplan. The Army should issue public health alerts when it does a prescribed burn. TheArmy needs to disclose the toxins that are present in the smoke from prescribed burns thatdrifts over downwind communities.Response: The Army has disclosed information about its prescribed burns in its IWFMP.The Army assessed its prescribed burn program and IWFMP in EnvironmentalAssessments that were made available for public review and comment. Prescribedfires are conducted annually at SBMR and as needed at Makua in accordancewith the procedures contained in the IWFMP. Public announcementsare issued via media release prior to conducting the prescribed burns. If theArmy were ever to detect toxins resulting from prescribed burns that could impacthuman health and safety it would disclose this to the public.All prescribed burns conducted on Fort Carson and PCMS comply with all ofthe applicable sections in Air Quality Control Commission Regulation 9 –February 2008 D–56 2/25th SBCT Final EIS