Integrated Training Area Management EA and Final FNSI

CHAPTER 2: DESCRIPTION OF PROPOSED ACTION ANDALTERNATIVESUSARAK proposes to institute a management plan for implementing the ITAM program. Thismanagement plan would provide a systematic approach to maintaining and improving its range andtraining land infrastructure in support of USARAK’s mission to provide ready combat forces forworldwide joint military operations, crisis response, and peacetime engagements. In order to prepare itscombat forces, USARAK must be able to provide the best possible training facilities. This requiresongoing maintenance and improvements to training land infrastructure, which is accomplished throughthe ITAM program.2.1 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ALTERNATIVES2.1.1 Alternative 1: Continue ITAM Program without a Management Plan (No Action)Under the No Action Alternative, the ITAM program would continue to operate without a managementplan and without standard operating procedures for project implementation. As a result, ITAM projectswould occur on an ad-hoc basis with reduced ability for consistency between projects, potential for lessaccurate assessment of impacts, and limited contractor oversight. Projected ITAM projects for the nextfive years include approximately 1,000 acres of vegetation management and 500 acres of trail upgradesand road and pad hardening (Appendix A). NEPA analysis and documentation is required under thisalternative but has not been consistently fulfilled for ITAM projects (see Appendix C for a sample Recordof Environmental Consideration). Alternative 1 represents how ITAM is currently implemented atUSARAK.2.1.2 Alternative 2: Implement ITAM Program through a Management Plan (ProposedAction)Under Alternative 2, the ITAM program would continue to operate but would follow a management plan.The USARAK ITAM Management Plan would outline goals, objectives, measures of effectiveness, policy,procedures, and projects for each of the five components of the ITAM program. By standardizing ITAM’soperations, the management plan would allow ITAM to better fulfill its objectives (Section 1.2.1).General project categories are provided for each component of the ITAM program (Table 2.1). ITAM’splanning (TRI), education (SRA), and spatial data (GIS) programs do not involve direct contact withnatural resources, as do the management (LRAM) and monitoring (RTLA) programs. Therefore, generalproject categories for LRAM and RTLA represent standard operating procedures and best managementpractices that would be developed and followed for these programs. Detailed descriptions of the generalproject categories and standard operating procedures are provided in the chapters of the management planidentified in the table. The management plan can be found on USARAK’s conservation website(www.usarak.army.mil/conservation/NEPA_home.htm). Best management practices are described inAppendix B.The implementation of standard operating procedures and best management practices for the LRAM andRTLA programs would provide consistency among management approaches, increase oversight, andstreamline processes and procedures to improve ITAM program efficiency. The management plan wouldprovide the standardization necessary to allow ITAM to more easily predict possible impacts of projectsand to determine efficacy of project procedures. As individual ITAM projects are identified, this EAwould be utilized as the foundation for NEPA analysis. A checklist (Appendix C) would be used to_____________________________________________________________________________________________Environmental AssessmentUnited States Army Alaska, Integrated Training Area Management ProgramManagement Plan 9