Federal Register: December 4, 2000 (Volume 65, Number 233)
DOCID: FR Doc 00-30702
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Army Department
NOTICE: NOTICES
ACTION: Environmental statements; notice of intent:
DOCUMENT ACTION: Notice of Intent.
SUBJECT CATEGORY:
Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Incorporation of the Overhills Property Into the Northern Training Area (NTA) of Fort Bragg, North Carolina
DOCUMENT SUMMARY:
The EIS will evaluate the Army's proposal to incorporate the Overhills property into Fort Bragg's NTA, and create a contiguous 22,000acre area for training. Implementation of the proposed action would govern both military training and recreational land uses under a multiple land use concept.
SUMMARY:
Fort Bragg, NC; Overhills property incorporation into Northern Training Area,
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
The Army would conduct the same full-scale training on Overhills that it is now conducting on the NTA. This training includes ground and air maneuvers involving both mechanized and light infantry with attached combat support and combat service support. These units would operate tracked and wheeled vehicles, as well as rotary and fixedwing aircraft. Soldiers would train with live, frangible ammunition (with a maximum range of 200 meters) in and around existing nonhistoric structures. All units would train according to the Installation Range Regulation and the Army's RedCockaded Woodpecker guidelines. Additionally, the Army would allow hunting and fishing on selected areas of the property and use the family estate area, known as ``The Hill,'' for youth oriented recreational activities such as golfing, horseback riding, hiking, swimming, and boating to the extent that these activities do not conflict with training.
Fort Bragg is the Headquarters of the XVIII Airborne Corps, the command element for America's contingency
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corps, and the U.S. Army Special Operations Command. The military units
stationed at Fort Bragg and Pope Air Force Base (AFB) comprise
approximately 44,000 soldiers and airmen. Major elements based at Fort
Bragg include XVIII Airborne Corps, 82d Airborne Division, and Special
Operations Forces. In addition to these units, Fort Bragg supports the
training of soldiers from the Reserve Components of the U.S. Army. The
1995 Land Use Requirements Study identified a shortage of 125,512 acres
needed to support training. The Army purchased the approximately
11,000acre Overhills property in 1997 to help alleviate that training
land deficit and protect the military missions of Fort Bragg and Pope
AFB from encroachment by incompatible civilian development. The Army is
in the process of acquiring the remaining private properties within
Overhills, which are eight small parcels totaling 148.7 acres.
Overhills is located in Cumberland and Harnett Counties in southeastern
North Carolina and adjoins the northern boundaries of Fort Bragg and Pope AFB.
The EIS will consider several alternatives: (1) Incorporate Overhills into the NTA and use it only for military training. The Army would fence off and maintain at their current conditions the historical structures on ``The Hill'' and train on the golf course; (2) train on Overhills; Army would manage Overhills' facilities and resources solely as a caretaker; (3) no action alternative, which is to continue the status quo of permitting only lowimpact military training at company level and not incorporating Overhills into the NTA while continuing caretaker operations for the rest of the property and facilities. Currently, units are conducting only light infantry training and driving only wheeled vehicles on roads and established trails.
During the scoping process, the Army will use any comments it
receives as a result of this notice to identify potential impacts to
the quality of the human environment. Individuals or organizations may
participate in the scoping process by written comment or by attending a
public scoping meeting. The date, time, and location of the public
scoping meeting will be announced in the ``Fayetteville Observer
Times,'' ``Charlotte Observer,'' ``Raleigh NewsObserver,'' and the
``Paraglide'' newspapers. The EIS will only consider comments received no later than 15 days following the public meeting.
Dated: November 28, 2000.
Raymond J. Fatz,
Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army (Environment, Safety and Occupational Health), OASA(I&E).
[FR Doc. 0030702 Filed 12100; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 371008M
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT
Mr. Seyle at (912) 652-6017.