[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 145 (Wednesday, July 29, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Page 40515]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-20210]
[[Page 40515]]
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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Army
Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for Projects and
Activities Associated With Programs at White Sands Missile Range
(WSMR), New Mexico
AGENCY: Department of the Army, DoD; White Sands Missile Range.
COOPERATING AGENCIES: U.S. Air Force; Ballistic Missile Defense
Organization; Defense Special Weapons Agency; National Aeronautics and
Space Administration (NASA).
ACTION: Notice of availability.
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SUMMARY: This notice of availability is for the White Sands Missile
Range Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). The EIS addresses the
potential impacts of several categories of test projects at WSMR. The
testing categories include: missile testing (i.e., Multiple Launch
Rocket System, Special Launch Vehicle, and Standard Missile), high
altitude testing (i.e., High Altitude Balloon Experiment and Research
Rockets), environmental testing (Large Blasts, Temperature Testing),
and high energy testing (Lasers, Radio Detecting and Ranging (RADAR)).
In the past, WSMR incorporated the National Environmental Policy
Act (NEPA) requirements into project planning on a case-by-case basis.
To better evaluate the cumulative effects of unrelated actions being
planned at the same time, the EIS incorporates all known and future
programs. The analysis addresses potential impacts and cumulative
effects. Mitigation of these effects is incorporated into the proposed
action.
DATES: The public review period for this FEIS will end 30 days after
publication of the NOA in the Federal Register by the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency.
ADDRESSES: Anyone wishing to receive a copy of the EIS may send a
postcard with their name and address to Commander, WSMR, ATTN: STEWS-
NRES-C (Robert J. Andreoli), White Sands Missile Range, NM 88002-5048.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Mr. Robert J. Andreoli at (505) 678-7926.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The EIS's proposed action and alternatives
are described below:
Proposed Action
The proposed action of this EIS is the long-term operation of WSMR
with the proposed adoption of specific mitigation measures for the
continuation of existing programs and the future testing of scientific,
military, and commercial systems. This proposed action includes two
major components. The first component is the continuation of current
project activities and existing operations and services including
routine maintenance; modernization or removal of outdated facilities;
and improvements in infrastructure, utilities, and services as
necessary. The second component consists of changes in the number of
projects and programs planned for the next 10-year period, with
resulting changes in site usage and services. The proposed action
includes adoption of mitigation measures to reduce the effect of WSMR
activities on the environment.
Other Alternatives Considered
The no action alternative is the other primary alternative
considered. This alternative represents the status quo. Under this
alternative, WSMR would remain a viable national range which supports
missile development and test programs for the Army, Navy, Air Force,
NASA, and other government and private organizations. Chapter 1 of the
WSMR Environmental Assessment (1985) describes the current activities
at WSMR. The no action alternative is the continuation of existing
missions and operations at approximately their current scope and rates,
but without the adoption of specific mitigation measures.
The alternative of closing WSMR is considered to be out of the
scope of this analysis. There are no Congressional or U.S. Army
indications that this option is contemplated. A special NEPA process to
address the shutdown and conversion of military bases has been
established for such analyses.
The other preliminary alternative identified for consideration in
the Notice of Intent (NOI), but not further analyzed in the EIS,
focused on testing of future systems and expansion of the mission into
nuclear effects testing and launches into WSMR from off the range.
Ongoing simulated nuclear effects testing is included in current
operations and is analyzed accordingly in the EIS. (This research is
more accurately referred to as nuclear effects simulation. It does not
involve the testing of actual nuclear weapons.) A parallel NEPA process
has been implemented with respect to current off-range launches into
WSMR and is briefly discussed in Section 1.5.
Dated: July 23, 1998.
Raymond J. Fatz,
Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army (Environment, Safety and
Occupational Health) OASA (I,L&E).
[FR Doc. 98-20210 Filed 7-28-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3710-08-M
