Deployable Universal Combat Earthmover (DEUCE)

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army

Deployable Universal Combat Earthmover (DEUCE)

AGENCY: U.S. Army Tank-automotive and Armaments Command, Army.

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: The Product Manager, Construction Equipment/Material Handling

Equipment (PM CE/MHE) has prepared a Life-Cycle Environmental

Assessment (LCEA) which examines the potential impacts to the natural

and human environment from the life cycle activities of the Deployable

Universal Combat Earthmover (DEUCE). Based on the LCEA, PM CE/MHE has

determined that the proposed action is not a major Federal action

significantly affecting the quality of the human environment, within

the meaning of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969.

Therefore, the preparation of an environmental impact statement is not

required and the Army is issuing this Finding of No Significant Impact

(FONSI).

ADDRESSES: Written comments should be sent to, U.S. Army Tank-

automotive and Armaments Command (TACOM), ATTN: AMSTA-DSA-TA-CE

(DEUCE), Warren, MI 48397-5000

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

For further information, or to obtain a copy of the Deuce Life-Cycle

Environmental Assessment contact Mr. Jeff Klein, Assistant Product

Manager (810) 574-6217.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

a. Proposed Action: This LCEA examines the potential impacts to the

natural and human environment from the procurement of the DEUCE to

satisfy the Army's need for a high-speed earthmoving capability, which

can deploy with Light and Airborne units. The DEUCE will have

earthmoving capabilities comparable to the D5B dozer, the ability to

travel at 30 MPH, and be C-130 air transportable. The DEUCE is designed

to improve the Army's ability to deploy with supported units, and

provide mobility, countermobility, and survivability tasks as required.

A minimum quantity of 67 bulldozers is required to fill the Army's

Force Package One contingency requirements.

The DEUCE will replace existing D5B dozers in selected units. The

current earthmoving system does not meet the changing Army role to

become a Rapid Power Projection type force.

b. Environmental Impacts: The DEUCE life-cycle includes the

transport of vehicles to test sites, testing, vehicle production,

deployment and operation of production vehicles and their eventual

demilitarization. Potential environmental impacts of these life-cycle

stages may include Air Quality, Noise, Water, Soil and Groundwater,

Hazardous Materials and Hazardous Wastes, and Flora, Fauna and

Threatened or Endangered Species at each of these life-cycle phases.

c. Additional Findings: Impacts from the proposed action would be

minimal and not significant for the following reasons:

(1) The DEUCE will be used in its intended environment. This

intended environment includes vehicle production and some testing at

the Contractor's facility, and the remainder of life-cycle activities

at Army installations and facilities.

(2) The DEUCE is very similar to vehicles produced commercially and

vehicles already in the Army inventory. It is being produced in low to

moderate quantities and will not significantly increase the vehicle

population at Army installations and facilities.

(3) The overall environmental risk associated with the DEUCE is

low. It does not introduce any new technologies or processes. Vehicle

life cycle activities do not introduce any potential environmental

impacts that are not already currently mitigated by Army policy and

procedures.

(4) The DEUCE Product Manager has ensured that the Contractor

producing the vehicle is environmentally complaint, has no permit

violations, and has commercial practices for Hazardous Material

Management and Pollution Prevention in production of the DEUCE.

(5) The DEUCE Product Manager recognizes that Army installations

and facilities have environmental plans and measures in place to

address vehicle life cycle activities very similar to that of the DEUCE

to prevent, mitigate and remediate environmental damage caused by

vehicle operation. Vehicle operations at these Army installations and

facilities are in conjunction with normal activities that are already

addressed in their site specific environmental impact statements.

d. Determination: It is therefore concluded that this program:

(1) Is not a major federal action significantly affecting the

quality of human environment.

(2) Will not have a significant impact on the environment.

(3) Is not likely to be environmentally controversial.

(4) Will not likely result in litigation based on environmental

quality issues.

(5) Does not require an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).

Harry W. McClellan, Jr.,

Product Manager, Construction Equipment/Materials Handling Equipment.

[FR Doc. 97-22011 Filed 8-19-97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3710-08-M