Integrated Training Area Management EA and Final FNSI
Integrated Training Area Management EA and Final FNSI
Integrated Training Area Management EA and Final FNSI
You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles
YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.
Table 3.6 Summary of Impacts 1 to Fire <strong>Management</strong>.ITAM Activity Alternative 1 Alternative 2 Alternative 3TRI Beneficial Beneficial ModerateLRAM Beneficial Beneficial SevereSRA Beneficial Beneficial ModerateRTLA Beneficial Beneficial MinorGIS Beneficial Beneficial Minor1Short-term <strong>and</strong> long-term impacts are expected to be similar.Cumulative ImpactsPast activities have had adverse impacts to fire management through inadvertent fire starts, both on <strong>and</strong>off installation l<strong>and</strong>s, <strong>and</strong> aggressive fire suppression. However, military fires were usually quicklycontrolled. The importance of fire to Alaskan ecosystems is recognized <strong>and</strong> decisions to control a fire orlet it burn are made on a case-by-case basis (USARAK 2004). The establishment of cooperativeagreements between the Bureau of L<strong>and</strong> <strong>Management</strong>’s Alaska Fire Service has improved firemanagement on USARAK l<strong>and</strong>s.All current <strong>and</strong> planned training activities have the potential to adversely impact fire management throughincreased risk of fire. The ITAM program would help minimize this potential through ensuring firedanger is considered when training plans are created, reducing fire danger through reduction of fuel loads<strong>and</strong> construction of fuel breaks, preventing occurrence of accidental fire starts, <strong>and</strong> monitoring for fireproneareas. The overall cumulative impact to fire management resulting from ITAM activities under theproposed action would be beneficial.3.7 PUBLIC ACCESS AND RECR<strong>EA</strong>TION3.7.1 Affected EnvironmentU.S. Army Alaska’s primary mission is to maintain <strong>and</strong> enhance the combat readiness of its soldiers.USARAK also recognizes the responsibility to allow public access to military l<strong>and</strong>s in compliance withthe Sikes Act, which requires public access to military installations to the extent that such use isconsistent with the military mission <strong>and</strong> the protection of fish <strong>and</strong> wildlife resources. Public access issubject to requirements deemed necessary to ensure safety <strong>and</strong> military security.Military l<strong>and</strong>s in Alaska provide desirable areas for recreational activities. They contain many stockedlakes <strong>and</strong> significant game populations in relatively close proximity to the more highly populated areas inAlaska. These l<strong>and</strong>s include the immediate post l<strong>and</strong>s <strong>and</strong> adjoining l<strong>and</strong>s under military control fortraining. Recreational uses include hunting, fishing, trapping, off-road recreational vehicle use, hiking,boating, picnicking, berry picking, bird-watching, skiing, <strong>and</strong> dog sledding.The <strong>Integrated</strong> Natural Resource <strong>Management</strong> Plans (USARAK 2002d,e,f) discuss specific actions tomanage <strong>and</strong> improve public access <strong>and</strong> recreation on USARAK l<strong>and</strong>s. These include implementation ofan outdoor recreation management plan to maintain <strong>and</strong> enhance recreational opportunities, outdoorrecreation monitoring to determine impacts of recreation on ecosystems, <strong>and</strong> specific measures to manageoutdoor recreation in light of increased recreational use. Updating recreational vehicle use policies <strong>and</strong>implementing a <strong>Training</strong> <strong>Area</strong> Recovery Plan program to rest, rehabilitate, <strong>and</strong> control erosion areexamples of such measures._____________________________________________________________________________________________Environmental AssessmentUnited States Army Alaska, <strong>Integrated</strong> <strong>Training</strong> <strong>Area</strong> <strong>Management</strong> Program<strong>Management</strong> Plan 49