Integrated Training Area Management EA and Final FNSI

Due to the lack of adequate gravel sources in Yukon Training Area, gravel pit development in thistraining area would include blasting bedrock with explosives and subsequent crushing and mixing tocreate gravel. The proposed quarry area, pending drill core testing, would be the northern Bravo Batteryin the northwest area of Fort Wainwright. This location is remote (approximately ten miles east of EielsonAir Force Base) and not near any human occupation, so noise impacts due to blasting would be temporaryand localized. Impacts to wildlife are addressed in Section 3.5, Wildlife and Fisheries.SRASRA guidelines inform soldiers of military procedures regarding noise. These procedures includeprohibiting training activities that generate noise (firing blanks, pyrotechnics, simulators, etc.) in areasadjacent to populated areas between 10p.m. and 6 a.m., unless granted by Range Control. Additionally, allareas within one-half mile of the installation boundaries are closed to training activities to buffer adjacent,non-military lands from military activities. The SRA program would help reduce military noise impactsby encouraging a land stewardship ethic and minimizing unintended or unnecessary and negligent noisedue to military training.RTLAAerial monitoring under the RTLA program would result in minimal noise impacts. Much of the wildlifeaerial monitoring would be conducted at Fort Wainwright and Donnelly Training Area. Historically, a180 horsepower, single engine, 2-seat aircraft has been used, and 53 hours of flight time were logged atTanana Flats Training Area in 2004. In 2005, approximately 80 hours of flight time is projected for aerialmonitoring at both Tanana Flats and Donnelly Training Areas. At Fort Richardson, a 200 horsepower,single engine, 4-seat aircraft has been historically used for about 10 hours of flight time annually. Themost recent surveys were conducted in 2003 on the north post of Fort Richardson, which is remote andnot near any human occupation.Occasionally (once every 5-10 years) remote sites would be accessed by helicopter. These flights wouldgenerally be short in duration (15-30 minutes) and in remote areas. Overall, noise impacts from RTLAmonitoring activities would be infrequent, temporary, and localized.Alternative 2: Implement ITAM Program through a Management Plan (Proposed Action)Under this alternative, the ITAM program would be implemented through a management plan that wouldinclude standard operating procedures for LRAM and RTLA projects. Noise impacts due to TRI, LRAM,SRA, RTLA, and GIS activities would be similar to those described under the No Action Alternative.Alternative 3: Suspend ITAM ProgramUnder this alternative, all components of the ITAM program would discontinue operation. Training landrehabilitation, maintenance, and range improvements would cease despite continued use of USARAKlands for Army training. In the absence of LRAM and RTLA activities, temporary noise impacts due toconstruction and monitoring would discontinue. However, elimination of the SRA program could causeminor adverse noise impacts due to unintended or negligent military activity.The following table presents a summary of qualitative impacts to noise resulting from each alternative.Descriptions of the qualitative terms are provided in Chapter 2, Description of Proposed Action andAlternatives._____________________________________________________________________________________________Environmental AssessmentUnited States Army Alaska, Integrated Training Area Management ProgramManagement Plan 67