Integrated Training Area Management EA and Final FNSI

growth. Wind and sand fences would be used to reduce the off-site movement of fine sedimentstransported by wind. Brush barriers and silt fences would trap sediment and prevent off-site transportfrom storm water run-off. On larger sites, sediment basins and rock dams would be used to trap sedimentsand temporarily detain runoff. Sediment traps would be used to specifically collect sediment-laden runofffrom disturbed areas and construction sites.SRAThis component of the ITAM program would educate soldiers about the importance of preventing damageto terrain, which can decrease training realism and undermine the training mission. Damage from trainingmaneuvers could cause loss of acreage for training, safety hazards, decreased tactical maneuverability,increased maintenance costs, and loss of vegetation. The SRA program would ensure that soldiers areaware of specific environmental concerns, regulations, and restrictions intended to minimize impacts tonatural resources, including soils. These include encouraging training plans to include locations of knownsensitive areas to ensure these areas are avoided and plans for repairing maneuver damage. Whenmaneuver damage occurs, units are required to report the damage to Range Control; if found negligent,the unit may be charged for repair.Requirements instruct soldiers to observe all speed limits and stay away from the edges of roads toprevent damage to roadways and soils and vegetation adjacent to roadways. Driving on the edges causesthem to break and crumble. This can result in roads washing out when it rains, leading to further erosionproblems.Virtually all off-road traffic leads to some form of erosion, causing both operational hazards andenvironmental damage. Maneuver requirements direct vehicles to remain on marked trails and designatedroutes (except when directed otherwise) during tactical deployment and established roads duringadministrative time. Cross-country travel in vehicles with low ground pressure is not restricted duringwinter months when the ground is frozen and the vegetation mat and soil is protected by snowpack.During April and May, vehicles are confined to designated roads and trails during breakup. From Maythrough September, however, cross-country movement is not permitted in designated alpine areas above600 meters elevation, wetlands, and creek and river bottoms.Additionally, soldiers are directed to not drive directly up steep hills and to wash vehicles only atdesignated wash racks. Digging is allowed only in approved areas, and overlays are provided by rangecontrol. All foxholes, trench systems, tank traps, hull-down positions, and explosive excavations must bebackfilled and leveled before redeployment. Soldiers are directed to stockpile the topsoil separately whenexcavating, refill and smooth-over foxholes and trenches after exercises are completed, and disassembleand scatter all overhead cover. During snow removal, soldiers are directed to not allow the bulldozer’sblade to penetrate the vegetative mat and soil beneath the snowpack. The SRA program would have abeneficial impact by helping ensure that all military requirements aimed at protecting soils are known andfollowed.RTLABy maintaining a balance between the use of training lands to maximize military preparedness and theconservation of biologically diverse and functioning ecosystems, RTLA would monitor the capability oftraining lands to meet multiple use demands on a sustainable basis. It would seek to help avoid excessivemilitary use that would exhaust natural resources. The RTLA program would include Standard LandCondition Trend Analysis (LCTA), Alaska Land Condition Trend Analysis (AK LCTA), militaryexercises monitoring, and soil and water quality monitoring._____________________________________________________________________________________________Environmental AssessmentUnited States Army Alaska, Integrated Training Area Management ProgramManagement Plan 22