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

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army

Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) for the Western Army

National Guard Aviation Training Site (WAATS) Proposed Expansion

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

Department of the Air Force, DoD.

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. A 45-day public

review and comment period was provided for the Draft Environmental

Impact Statement (DEIS). The Arizona National Guard WAATS conducted six

public hearings to discuss concerns and comments on the DEIS. Public

hearings were held in locations throughout the project area. Specific

locations, dates and times were announced through letters to those on

the project mailing list and to others through notices, display

advertisements and Legal Notices in general circulation newspapers.

After the comments were compiled and reviewed, responses were prepared

to all relevant environmental issues that were raised. These responses

to comments and/or any new pertinent information were incorporated into

the Draft EIS to constitute the FEIS. After a 30-day waiting period on

the FEIS, a Record of Decision will be published.

COPIES: Copies of the FEIS Executive Summary will be mailed to

individuals who participated in the public scoping process. Copies of

the entire FEIS may be requested from the Project Officer listed below.

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 FEIS 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 28, 1997.

Richard E. Newsome,

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

Occupational Health), OASA (I, L&E).

[FR Doc. 97-14462 Filed 6-2-97; 8:45 am]

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