# Deployable Universal Combat Earthmover (DEUCE) > Briefs, arguments, decisions, and more. URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/documents/fr%3A97-22011 ## Record - **Collection:** Federal Register - **Document type:** Notice - **Published:** August 20, 1997 - **Citation:** 62 FR 44261 ## Text 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. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 --- Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/documents/fr%3A97-22011. Public record. Not legal advice.