Integrated Training Area Management EA and Final FNSI

Fort Richardson receives few complaints each year from the surrounding community regardingenvironmental noise. Most calls are from people with questions or requests for information. The fewcomplaints recently logged are due to noise from rotary-wing flights and fixed-wing aircraft, typicallyfrom other installations in or approaching Fort Richardson airspace. To lessen noise-related problems,Fort Richardson has adopted newer, quieter equipment and changed timing and location of trainingactivities to reduce noise impact on the public (Montgomery et al. 2001a).Fort WainwrightThe existing noise environment for Fort Wainwright Main Post, Yukon Training Area, and Tanana FlatsTraining Area is documented in its Installation Environmental Noise Management Plan (Montgomery etal. 2001b). Noise sources include traffic, aircraft, and large and small caliber weapons. Fort Wainwrightreceives relatively few noise complaints each year from the surrounding community. Most documentedcomplaints are inquiries about noise sources and when noise is expected to cease. Fort Wainwright staffhas found that advanced public notice of training schedules decreases the number of calls to the PublicAffairs Office, the department responsible for managing noise complaints.Donnelly Training AreaThe current noise environment at Donnelly Training Area is documented in the Environmental NoiseManagement Plan that was prepared for Fort Greely (Montgomery and Watson 2001). Routine noisegenerating operations at Donnelly Training Area involve small arms training, artillery training and rotarywingand fixed-wing aircraft. Minor sources of noise include construction, traffic, and recreation. Aircraftactivity takes place throughout the airspace above Donnelly Training Area, with the highest concentrationof aircraft operations in the immediate vicinity of Allen Army Airfield. Other existing aircraft noise isattributed to Air Force operations over Donnelly Training Area airspace.Donnelly Training Area receives relatively few environmental noise complaints each year from thesurrounding community. Most calls are from people with questions or requests for information. The fewrecently-logged complaints stem from noise of large-scale training activities such as Northern Edge andCope Thunder.3.11.2 Environmental ConsequencesAlternative 1: Continue ITAM Program without a Management Plan (No Action)Under the No Action Alternative, the ITAM program would continue without a management plan. TheTRI component of the ITAM program would have no noise impacts. GIS would provide for spatial datacollection, analysis, presentation, and storage. For example, noise contours created by GIS staff wouldassist analysis of USARAK noise impacts to wildlife and neighboring communities. Noise impacts of theLRAM, SRA, and RTLA programs are discussed below.LRAMTemporary and local noise impacts from vehicle traffic and construction activities would be expectedduring most LRAM projects. Gravel pits would typically be located within three miles of proposedconstruction activity. Historically, LRAM construction projects are completed in ten days on average. Thelongest projects (such as expansion of a drop zone) could take up to two summers to complete, but thiswould be infrequent._____________________________________________________________________________________________Environmental AssessmentUnited States Army Alaska, Integrated Training Area Management ProgramManagement Plan 66