ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, Md., March 13 /PRNewswire/ -- The Army intends to prepare a Supplemental Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (SPEIS) to analyze alternatives for implementing growth and realignment of its forces to support operations in the Pacific Theater. This action is intended to posture the Army to support its national defense and security missions well into the 21st century. The SPEIS will assess the capacity of Army installations and their ability to accommodate new units as part of Army growth and force structure realignment to support operations in the Pacific Theater. Alternatives in the SPEIS could include stationing of additional Combat Support (CS) or Combat Service Support (CSS) units or new support brigades.
The primary installations that will be evaluated are Schofield Barracks Military Reservation, Hawaii; Fort Shafter, Hawaii; Fort Richardson, Alaska; and Fort Wainwright, Alaska. Each of these locations could receive 1,000 or more additional Soldiers as part of alternatives being examined. In addition to these installations, impacts from stationing actions will be assessed at training sites in Alaska and Hawaii. Environmental analysis for installations within the continental United States was conducted previously in the Army's Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement for Army Growth and Realignment, which the SPEIS incorporates by reference.
Viable alternatives include those that are best able to meet Army unit requirements for training ranges and maneuver space, housing and office space, maintenance and vehicle parking, and Soldier and Family quality of life (e.g., schools, gyms, medical facilities). In addition, viable alternatives include those that meet the operational mission requirements of the U.S. Pacific Command. The proposed action will require the Army to balance strategic, sustainment, and environmental considerations with evolving world conditions and threats to national defense and security.
All interested members of the public, federally-recognized Indian Tribes, Native Alaskans, Native Hawaiian groups, federal, state and local agencies are invited to participate in the scoping process for the preparation of this SPEIS. The scoping process will help identify possible alternatives, potential environmental impacts, and key issues of concern to be analyzed in the SPEIS. Scoping comments will be accepted until April 16, 2008 .
Send all written comments and suggestions concerning this Supplemental Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (SPEIS) to: Public Affairs Office, U.S. Army Environmental Command, Building E4460, 5179 Hoadley Road, Attention: IMAE-PA, Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD 21010-5401. Telephone: 410-436-2556. Facsimile: (410) 436-1693. E-mail comments should be sent to: [email protected].
For further information, please contact the Public Affairs Office at (410) 436-2556 during normal business hours (0900-1700 Eastern time Monday through Friday).
"Sustaining the Environment for a Secure Future"
SOURCE U.S. Army Environmental Command
