Integrated Training Area Management EA and Final FNSI

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Maneuver training generally occurs outside of cantonment areas. There are several current and futurerange construction and improvement projects planned on USARAK lands. These include new ranges,forward operations bases, battle courses, demolition areas, and maneuver corridors.USARAK is currently undergoing force transformation to a Stryker Brigade Combat Team. This entailsincreased training activity, stationing of new personnel, and utilization of additional support vehicles andequipment. Environmental impacts of this action on USARAK training lands are presented in theTransformation of U.S. Army Alaska Final Environmental Impact Statement (USARAK 2004). TheITAM program was specifically developed to provide sustained use of military training lands while alsoachieving long-term environmental sustainability. Many of the ITAM activities described in this EA weredesigned as mitigation for training impacts outlined in the aforementioned EIS.Non-military activities can also contribute to cumulative impacts on USARAK lands. These includepublic recreation (including air-boating and off-road recreational vehicles) and other activities affectingUSARAK lands such as the Trans-Alaska Pipeline and Alaska Railroad activities._____________________________________________________________________________________________Environmental AssessmentUnited States Army Alaska, Integrated Training Area Management ProgramManagement Plan 13
CHAPTER 3: DESCRIPTION OF THE AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT ANDENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCESThis chapter describes the affected environment (existing conditions) and the environmentalconsequences for the proposed action and alternatives. The table below describes thresholds to whichenvironmental impacts are compared. Exceeding a threshold would represent a significant impact underNEPA.Table 3.a Impact Thresholds 1 in Relation to Issue and Region of Influence.Resource/Issue ofRegion of Influence Threshold 2ConcernSoilsVegetationWetlands andWater ResourcesWildlifeFisheriesFire ManagementPublic Access andRecreationCultural ResourcesHuman Health andSafetySocioeconomicsNoiseInstallationwatershedsInstallationlandscapeWatershedsLandscape scaleWatershedsLandscape scaleInstallation andimmediatesurrounding areaInstallation andimmediatesurrounding areaInstallation andimmediatesurrounding areaRegional scaleInstallation andsurrounding areaErosion resulting in soil loss or compaction that precludesestablishment of native vegetation or sediment delivery;unpermitted construction during summer months; or unpermittedmechanical digging or drilling.Fragmentation, loss, or degradation of high quality natural areas orsensitive sites; local extirpation of rare or sensitive plant species; orthe introduction or extreme increased prevalence of undesirablenon-native species.Unpermitted deposition of dredged or fill materials into wetlandsand other “Waters of the U.S.”; a violation of federal or statedischarge permits; significant sedimentation of waterways; and/orpotential degradation of an aquifer.Population-level impacts (e.g., potential to reduce local populationsbelow self-sustaining levels, or long-term loss or impairment ofsubstantial portions of local habitat [species specific]); or directimpacts/disturbance to birds protected by the Migratory BirdTreaty Act.Impeded movement or access to habitat; removal of cover andforaging area; or unpermitted work conducted in anadromousstreams, especially during critical anadromous fish life cycles(mid-May to mid-July).Significantly increased risk of fire or reduced access for fireprotection crews.Significant impact on levels of recreational use or significantnumbers of users displaced to alternative locations for recreationalopportunities; non-compliance with the Sikes Act.Irreversible damage to a prehistoric or historic site that is listed oris eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places, oris listed as a National Historic Landmark.Significant increased risks to human health resulting fromhandling, storage, and disposal of hazardous materials; orconditions leading to a Notice of Violation of laws pertaining tothe generation, use, or disposal of hazardous and/or toxic materialsor wastes.Significant impacts on levels of employment or family income,disproportionate impacts to minorities or low-income individuals,or causes health and safety risks for children.Any increase in Zone II or Zone III noise contours that wouldextend off installation boundaries into populated areas._____________________________________________________________________________________________Environmental AssessmentUnited States Army Alaska, Integrated Training Area Management ProgramManagement Plan 14
Page 1: DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMYUNITED STATES
Page 5 and 6: TABLE OF CONTENTSCHAPTER 1: PURPOSE
Page 7 and 8: Table 3.9 Summary of Impacts to Hum
Page 9 and 10: and Training Land Program, the rang
Page 11 and 12: • Establish a defined land condit
Page 13: Donnelly Training AreaDonnelly Trai
Page 17 and 18: determine whether additional NEPA a
Page 19: Table 2.2 Summary of Environmental
Page 23 and 24: Maneuver Trail Maintenance and Upgr
Page 25 and 26: Mungoven 2001). Engineering soil ty
Page 27 and 28: projects and would result in wide,
Page 29 and 30: growth. Wind and sand fences would
Page 31 and 32: iological impacts of military train
Page 33 and 34: willow scrub communities are common
Page 35 and 36: disturbed. Further, hardening low w
Page 37 and 38: disturbance or removal, best manage
Page 39 and 40: SRAThrough the SRA program, soldier
Page 41 and 42: Ship Creek (from the Glenn Highway
Page 43 and 44: effective site drainage. Required p
Page 45 and 46: Game 1998). More information on wil
Page 47 and 48: Fort Wainwright and associated land
Page 49 and 50: Long-term beneficial impacts to wil
Page 51 and 52: 1998).The Alaska Interagency Wildla
Page 53 and 54: Prescribed burns, mechanical thinni
Page 55 and 56: unplanned fires, soldiers are direc
Page 57 and 58: USARAK also implemented the USARTRA
Page 59 and 60: LRAM projects beneficial to public
Page 61 and 62: Cumulative ImpactsPast military act
Page 63 and 64: Two surveys conducted on Yukon Trai
Page 65 and 66: LRAM activities under Alternative 1
Page 67 and 68: 3.9.1 Affected EnvironmentFort Rich
Page 69 and 70: SRA program, which educates soldier
Page 71 and 72:
3.10.2 Environmental ConsequencesAl
Page 73 and 74:
Fort Richardson receives few compla
Page 75 and 76:
Table 3.11 Summary of Impacts 1 to
Page 77 and 78:
oads and hauling fill and rock mate
Page 79 and 80:
CHAPTER 4: PREPARERS AND CONTRIBUTO
Page 81 and 82:
Benson, A.M. 1999. Distribution of
Page 83 and 84:
Neely, R. J. 2001. Early Mining His
Page 85 and 86:
CHAPTER 6: AGENCIES AND INDIVIDUALS
Page 87 and 88:
Project NameBulldog TrailWidening P
Page 89 and 90:
Project NameYukon TrainingArea Demo
Page 91 and 92:
Project NameYukon TrainingArea Firi
Page 93 and 94:
Project NameEddy Drop ZoneVegetatio
Page 95 and 96:
Project Name33 Mile LoopRoad Shortc
Page 97 and 98:
APPENDIX B: BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTIC
Page 99 and 100:
Sediment Trap(Permanent) SeedingSil
Page 101 and 102:
APPENDIX C: SAMPLE RECORD OF ENVIRO
Page 103 and 104:
APPENDIX D: ITAM PROJECT ASSESSMENT
Page 105 and 106:
Fire ManagementYes No□ □ Could
Page 107 and 108:
APPENDIX E: AGENCY COMMENTSThe foll
Page 109 and 110:
___________________________________
Page 111 and 112:
___________________________________
Page 113 and 114:
Sent: Monday, June 13, 2005 5:00 PM
Page 115 and 116:
Second paragraph - I do not underst
Page 117 and 118:
sentence could read, "The trees are
Page 119 and 120:
The third paragraph seems too speci
Page 121:
USARAK does not have a current five
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