SBCT Final EIS - Govsupport.us

Appendix D ⎯ Responses to Comments on the Draft Environmental Impact StatementTraining at PCMS has little or no effect on rural communities. POL spills arecleaned up under existing standing regulations and disposed of per law. Mostdrainages have one or more erosion control dams that would contain largerspills before they could enter the Purgatory River. Data collected by the USGSshow that water draining off the PCMS is cleaner now than it was before theArmy acquired it. There should be no significant increase in congestion on I–25 because troop movements occur in smaller groups of vehicles spaced at intervalsof time for that very reason.208. On page 4–12, the DEIS’ methodology for assessing socioeconomic effects does not appearto take into account the opportunity costs of converting private land to military use (e.g.,SRAA and WPAA) or of continuing to use lands for military purposes that otherwise couldbe put to other uses. See DEIS at 5–34 to 5–36. Particularly in Hawaii, with its limited landmass and rich cultural and biological resources, military training is clearly not the highest andbest use of land from a socioeconomic perspective. The DEIS must evaluate the opportunitycosts of using land for military training in lieu of using that same land for recreation, agriculture,tourism, housing and/or other non-military uses.Response: The 2004 EIS, which this EIS supplements, looked at the existing uses of thetwo areas that were eventually acquired. The land was used for cattle ranchingand pineapple planting, among other things. The military also was licensedto use some of the land prior to its purchase. The EIS did not reallylook at any possible development or at the lands’ highest and best use. Thiswas not required under NEPA.209. The DEIS fails to address the impacts of the Soldiers’ Families for all locations. The DEISonly considers the effects of the Soldiers’ Families in Hawaii. The analysis needs to be conductedfor Alaska and Colorado as well.Response: Impacts to Soldiers’ Families were considered during the alternative screeningprocess. The permanent home station for the 2/25 th SBCT must be able to accommodateFamilies as well as Soldiers, and was a factor in determiningwhich installations were analyzed in detail. Impacts to all Families were consideredin the decision-making process. Relocating the 2/25 th SBCT to an installationother than Hawaii would require the relocation of Families in bothHawaii and the selected home station as they would essentially exchange locationswith one another.210. The training activities will severely restrict the availability of public hunting opportunities insoutheast Colorado. PCMS is the largest contiguous parcel of public land available for huntingin the area. Potential limitations on hunting will severely restrict hunting opportunities.Response: Increased training activities on the PCMS will likely have some impact on theavailability of the training areas for hunting, just as in the past, other changesto the PCMS training mission have affected hunting opportunities. However,throughout those previous changes, the PCMS staff have been able to makeappropriate management decisions, in conjunction with other regulatoryagencies, that have adapted past hunting policies to work with the new missionand still allow for effective access that continues to meet the Installation's biologicalobjectives, provided public access, retained hunting as a viable managementtool, and produced quality recreational opportunities for which indi-February 2008 D–72 2/25th SBCT Final EIS