[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 215 (Friday, November 6, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 59951-59952]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-29806]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Army
Record of Decision (ROD) for Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)
for Projects and Activities Associated With Programs at White Sands
Missile Range, New Mexico
AGENCY: Department of the Army, DoD.
ACTION: Notice of availability.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: This notice of availability announces the public release of a
ROD resulting from a recently completed EIS for White Sands Missile
Range, New Mexico. A summary of the ROD is provided in the
supplementary information paragraph below.
ADDRESSES: To receive a copy of the ROD contact the Commander, White
Sands Missile Range, ATTN: STEWS-NRES-C (Mr. Robert J. Andreoli), White
Sands Missile Range, NM 88002-5048.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Robert J. Andreoli at (505) 678-
7926.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: White Sands Missile Range is an extensive
and complex test range. It consists of launch sites, target areas,
instrumentation, buildings, equipment, and personnel used by DoD, the
National Aeronautics and Space Administration, and other Federal and
commercial testing concerns to conduct safe, large-scale experiments on
advanced weapons and space flight systems. In accordance with the
National Environmental Policy Act, White Sands prepared an EIS to
address environmental quality implications of implementing projects and
activities on the missile range. The decision resulting from the
findings of the EIS is to adopt specific mitigation measures for the
continuation of existing White Sands Missile Range programs and future
testing of scientific, military, and commercial systems.
Mitigation measures, in addition to those specifically identified
in the EIS, will be developed by use of the White Sands Missile Range
Decision Analysis System and Geographic Information System (DAS/GIS)
during the planning stage and will assist in planning projects so as to
minimize environmental impacts. White Sands has management practices
for the conservation of sensitive natural resources, including
wildlife, endangered species, and wetlands. Best management practices
and common erosion control techniques will be used in ground disturbed
activities.
These same mitigation measures will be integrated into the DAS/GIS
and will provide project proponents with environmental information,
site location decision support, and regulatory approval at significant
cost savings and with improved efficiency. As a result, White Sands
will be better able to protect, restore, and enhance the range
environment as it more effectively supports its operational mission.
The White Sands EIS lacks some baseline documentation and impacts
analysis information and is to be rectified by the preparation of
Technical Support Documents (TSDs). TSDs are to be prepared for: water
resources analysis; emissions analysis (including
[[Page 59952]]
analyses of noise, electromagnetic interference, lasers, light
emissions and light pollution, radio astronomy interference, and Global
Positioning System interference); an integrated natural resource
management plan; chaff analysis; and cumulative impacts analysis. TSDs
may be prioritized by immediate need, schedule, or availability of
funding.
The entire text of the White Sands Missile Range ROD and the
Executive Summary of the EIS can be found on the White Sands Missile
Range home page at http://www.wsmr.army.mil. To find these documents
access the Public Info part of the pager and then click on the
Environmental button and choose the desired document.
Dated: November 3, 1998.
Raymond J. Fatz,
Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army (Environment, Safety and
Occupational Health), OASA(I,L&E).
[FR Doc. 98-29806 Filed 11-5-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3710-08-M
