Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the Western Army National Guard Aviation Training Site (WAATS) Proposed Expansion

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army

Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the Western Army

National Guard Aviation Training Site (WAATS) Proposed Expansion

LEAD AGENCIES: National Guard Bureau, Department of the Army, and the

Department of the Air Force, Department of Defense.

COOPERATING AGENCY: Federal Bureau of Land Management, Department of

the Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Availability.

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SUMMARY: Expansions to existing training areas and facilities at the

WAATS are for the purpose of enhancing readiness and training of

National Guard aviation units, improving training safety, constructing

facilities to meet training demands, and complying with environmental

requirements.

This document addresses the environmental impacts of the proposed

actions, reasonable alternatives and the impact upon Guard readiness of

taking no action. The proposed action and each alternative action

consist of three essential components: (1) increase the size of the

original Tactical Flight Training Area (TFTA) to improve training,

enhance training safety through reduced training congestion, allowing

limited ground training support activities, and to reduce noise and

environmental impacts through closing some parts of the existing TFTA;

(2) increase the number of helicopter gunnery training operations

through construction of new ranges or modification to existing ranges

and; (3) construct new facilities for housing, training, maintenance

and to comply with changing environmental requirements.

The DEIS will be available for public review for 45 days from the

date the Notice of Availability is published in the Federal Register.

The Arizona National Guard WAATS will conduct public hearings to

discuss concerns and comments on the DEIS. Public hearings will be held

in several locations throughout the project area. Specific locations,

dates and times will be announced through letters to those on the

project mailing list and to others through Notices, Display

Advertisements and Legal Notices in general circulation newspapers.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the DEIS Executive Summary will be mailed to

individuals who participated in the public scoping process. Copies of

the entire DEIS may be requested from the Project Officer. Copies will

also be sent to Federal, state, regional, and local agencies;

interested organizations and agencies; and public libraries.

Individuals not currently on the mailing list may obtain a copy on

request.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

The DEIS Project Officer, Lieutenant Colonel Richard Murphy, Deputy

Commander, Western Army National Guard Aviation Training Site, Building

145-500, Pinal Air Park, Marana, Arizona 85653-9598, (520) 682--4590.

Dated: May 10, 1996.

Raymond J. Fatz,

Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army (Environment, Safety, and

Occupational Health) OASA (IL&E).

[FR Doc. 96-12229 Filed 5-15-96; 8:45 am]

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