Integrated Training Area Management EA and Final FNSI

Cumulative ImpactsAll current and future programs and activities resulting in employment of personnel have both beneficialand adverse socioeconomic impacts. Beneficial impacts result from providing employment opportunitiesthat contribute to the local economy through payroll expenditures. Beneficial impacts also result fromactivities that stimulate economic activity, such as contracting work to local businesses. However,increased populations can also result in adverse impacts similar to those from past activities describedabove. The ITAM program currently employs two to three civilians per installation and the proposedaction would not result in additional employment. Projects contracted to local business would havepositive socioeconomic effects. Overall, cumulative impacts of the proposed action to socioeconomicswould be none to beneficial.3.11 NOISE3.11.1 Affected EnvironmentThe Federal Interagency Committee on Urban Noise (FICUN) has developed guidelines for consideringnoise in land use planning and control. Using the A-Weighted Day-Night Average Sound Level (ADNL),an average measure of noise events occurring over a 24-hour period with a 10-decibel penalty added tonoise events between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m., three noise zones were developed (FICUN 1980). Land usessuch as residential areas, schools, and hospitals (noise-sensitive land uses) are not compatible withincertain zones unless measures such as double-paned windows have been included in construction to lowerinterior noise levels. In other zones, noise-sensitive land uses are not at all compatible (FICUN 1980).USARAK provides a two-week notice to the public for noise generated during late firing trainingoperations (between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m.) through local newspapers and television. Notices are intended asan additional safety measure to keep the public informed regarding areas to avoid during training events.Noise from transportation sources, such as vehicles and aircraft, and from continuous sources, such asgenerators, are assessed using the ADNL and are measured in A-weighted decibels (dBA). Impulse noisesresulting from armor, artillery, and demolition activities are assessed using the C-Weighted Day-NightAverage Sound Level and are measured in C-weighted decibels (dBC). Impacts of noise on wildlife areaddressed in Section 3.5, Wildlife and Fisheries.In fulfillment of Army regulations (AR 200-1), which implement federal law concerning environmentalnoise generated by Army activities including aircraft operations, range firing, and weapons testing,USARAK developed an Environmental Noise Management Plan for each installation (in 2001) thatassessed the noise environments and associated impacts. Although Army vehicles tend to be louder thantypical passenger cars, noise impacts are localized.Additional information regarding noise on USARAK lands can be found in the Transformation of U.S.Army Alaska Final Environmental Impact Statement (USARAK 2004).Fort RichardsonThe existing noise environment at Fort Richardson is documented in its Installation Environmental NoiseManagement Plan (Montgomery et al. 2001a) and includes noise sources from traffic, aircraft, and smalland large caliber weapons. The plan concluded that no significant noise problems were associated withexisting operations._____________________________________________________________________________________________Environmental AssessmentUnited States Army Alaska, Integrated Training Area Management ProgramManagement Plan 65