Integrated Training Area Management EA and Final FNSI

The Anchorage Area and Fort RichardsonAnchorage is the largest city in Alaska with approximately 40% of the state’s population residing withinits municipality (Alaska Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development 2004).Total government employment in the Anchorage area is noticeably high at 26%. Uniformed military atFort Richardson and Elmendorf Air Force Base add about 8,500 employees to the area’s workforce andcomprise almost 23% of government employment. The pay differential between private and public sectorsruns opposite to the nationwide pattern with uniformed military earnings somewhat below thegovernment average.Including employment and income multipliers, Fort Richardson contributed approximately $588 millionand 9,900 jobs to the local economy in 2000 (Department of Defense, Directorate for InformationOperations and Reports 2004.)The Fairbanks North Star Borough and Fort WainwrightThe Fairbanks North Star Borough is the second largest population area after Anchorage. It includes theorganized municipalities of Fairbanks and North Pole within its boundaries. Eielson Air Force Base andFort Wainwright are also located within its boundaries and comprise the borough’s largest economicengine. Average monthly employment and earnings in the Fairbanks North Star Borough indicate theinfluence of public expenditures is remarkably high with total government employment comprisingapproximately 44% of the area’s workforce (Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development2004). Uniformed military at Fort Wainwright and Eielson Air Force Base contribute 7,000 employeesand comprise almost 40% of the total government workforce (Department of Defense, Directorate forInformation Operations and Reports 2004).Including employment and income multipliers, Fort Wainwright contributed approximately $655 millionand 14,400 jobs to the local economy in 2000 (Department of Defense, Directorate for InformationOperations and Reports 2004.)Southeast Fairbanks Census Region and Donnelly Training AreaDonnelly Training Area is located within the Southeast Fairbanks Census Area, an area that is mostlyunincorporated and not a well-defined region in terms of political, economic, or social boundaries. Forcensus purposes, the Southeast Fairbanks Area includes the region surrounding the Alaska Highwaybetween the Fairbanks North Star Borough and the Canadian border. At one time, Fort Greely was thelargest single employer in the region, stationing some 300 non-uniformed personnel (in addition touniformed personnel). As a result of Base Re-Alignment and Closure in the 1990s, Fort Greely wastransferred to the Space Missile Defense Command and the number of uniformed military personnel atDonnelly Training Area was dramatically reduced. In 2000, there were only 13 uniformed personnel and100 non-uniformed personnel in residence at Donnelly Training Area. Currently, approximately 40% oftotal jobs in the census area are governmental (Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development2004).Including employment and income multipliers, Donnelly Training Area contributed approximately $50million and 500 jobs to the local economy in 2000 (USARAK Public Affairs Office 1995-2002.)_____________________________________________________________________________________________Environmental AssessmentUnited States Army Alaska, Integrated Training Area Management ProgramManagement Plan 63