Integrated Training Area Management EA and Final FNSI

Donnelly Training AreaDonnelly Training Area encompasses approximately 624,000 acres and is located within the TananaRiver Valley approximately 100 miles southeast of Fairbanks, near Delta Junction (Figure 1). Thesouthern portion of the post is within the foothills of the Alaska Range, and the northern part is bound bythe Tanana River. The Main Post consists of 6,700 acres that USARAK transferred to the Space andMissile Defense Command. USARAK will continue to implement the ITAM program on Space andMissile Defense Command lands on an as-needed basis. Donnelly Training Area West is 531,000 acresand Donnelly Training Area East is 93,000 acres (USARAK 2002e). The Little Delta River borders thewestern boundary of Donnelly Training Area West, and the Delta River and portions of its floodplainsform the eastern border. The southern border follows a straight diagonal line from MacArthur Mountainto the Delta River, approximately 26 miles from the intersection of the Alaska and Richardson highways.To the north, the boundary follows a diagonal line from the Little Delta River to the Main Post.The Delta River and its floodplain form the west side of Donnelly Training Area East, and Granite Creekforms the eastern border. The northern boundary roughly parallels the Alaska Highway, and the southernboundary lies at the base of the Alaska Range’s foothills.Two outlying land parcels are located near Donnelly Training Area. The Gerstle River Training Area isapproximately 19,000 acres and is located about three miles south of the Alaska Highway and 30 milessoutheast of Delta Junction. Gerstle River Training Area is a rectangular area, oriented northwest tosoutheast, and measures about five miles, north to south, and nine miles, east to west. Black RapidsTraining Area and Whistler Creek Rock Climbing Area are 2,780 acres and are located 35 miles south ofDelta Junction along the east side of the Richardson Highway.1.3 SCOPE OF THIS EA AND DECISION TO BE MADEThe National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), CFR 1500-1508 and the EnvironmentalAnalysis of Army Actions; Final Rule [32 CFR Part 651 Fed. Reg. 29 March 02 (67FR15289-15332)]require the Army to assess the environmental impacts of the proposed action.This EA will provide the decision-maker with the information necessary to evaluate the environmental,cultural, and socioeconomic impacts associated with the alternatives as directed by NEPA. The selectionof an alternative will take into account technical, economic, and political feasibility; environmental andsocial issues; and the ability to meet objectives of the USARAK mission. The following alternatives havebeen evaluated for presentation to the decision-maker:• Alternative 1: Continue ITAM Program without a Management Plan (No Action)• Alternative 2: Implement ITAM Program through a Management Plan (Proposed Action)• Alternative 3: Suspend ITAM Program1.3.1 Issues AnalyzedThe ITAM program’s standard practices identified in the USARAK ITAM Management Plan at FortRichardson, Fort Wainwright, and Donnelly Training Area are the focus of this EA. The scope of thisdocument includes potential environmental, cultural, and socioeconomic impacts of the proposed action.Resource categories analyzed for the proposed action and alternatives include:• Soil Resources• Vegetation_____________________________________________________________________________________________Environmental AssessmentUnited States Army Alaska, Integrated Training Area Management ProgramManagement Plan 6