Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Land Exchange Between Fort Benning and the City of Columbus, Georgia

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army

Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement

(EIS) for the Land Exchange Between Fort Benning and the City of

Columbus, Georgia

AGENCY: U.S. Army Infantry Center and Fort Benning, Fort Benning,

Georgia; Department of the Army, DoD.

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: The United States Army will prepare an environmental impact

statement (EIS) to assess the potential environmental impacts of the

exchange of tracts of land between Fort Benning and the City of

Columbus (hereafter referred to as the City). Section 2829 of Public

Law 101-510, enacted November 5, 1990, authorized a land exchange

between the City and Fort Benning. Fort Benning would convey

approximately 3,000 acres of land to the City; and in exchange, the

City would convey to Fort Benning approximately 3,300 acres located on

the southern boundary of the military reservation. Those land tracts

were refined by survey to 3,106 and 3,228 acres, respectively. The City

intended to use the land for economic development, passive recreation

and a sanitary landfill. Fort Benning would use the land it receives

for dismounted light infantry training. A Notice of Intent (NOI) was

published in the Federal Register, June 27, 1994 (59 FR 32957), and a

scooping meeting was held in Columbus, GA, on July 20, 1994. Due to

changes in the proposed project and the length of time since prior

scoping, this NOI provides an opportunity for more current public

involvement based on newer information.

ALTERNATIVES: The proposed North-South tract land exchange will be

evaluated for the following alternatives:

No-Action Alternative: No land would be exchanged under this

alternative. Impacts associated with the Fort Benning mission and land

use will be evaluated for the North tract. Impacts associated with the

City's projected use of the South tract will also be analyzed.

Maximum Development: This alternative would provide approximately

2,110 acres of the North tract for economic/light industrial

development. Also, approximately 650 acres of the North tract would

become a Parks and Recreation Area near Bull Creek for the purpose of

wetland mitigation. The Army would use the South tract for dismounted

light infantry training.

Partial Development (preferred alternative): This alternative would

also include an approximately 650 acre and Parks and Recreation Area

near Bull Creek for wetlands mitigation on the North tract. A Habitat

Conservation Area would be established and managed for protected

species on approximately 710 acres. The remaining North tract property

(approximately 1,400 acres) would be developable. The Army would use

the South tract for dismounted light infantry training.

Minimum Development: This alternative would preserve all existing

protected species and habitat on approximately 1,375 acres on the North

tract. Also the approximately 650 acre Parks and Recreation Area would

be established for wetlands protection, leaving only approximately 735

acres of developable land. The Army would use the South tract for

dismounted light infantry training.

SCOPING: Comments received as a result of this notice will be used to

assist Fort Benning in identifying additional alternatives for study,

significant resources to be evaluated, as well as potential impacts to

the quality of the human and natural environments. Individuals or

organizations wishing to participate in the scoping process may forward

their written comments to: U.S. Army Infantry Center, Directorate of

Public Works, Environmental Management Division (ATTN: Mr. John Brent),

Fort Benning, Georgia 31905-

[[Page 31761]]

5122, or send e-mail to BrentJ%EMD%[email protected]

Comments and suggestions should be received no later than 30 days

following the publication of this notice to be considered in the

preparation of the Draft EIS.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Questions regarding this proposal may be directed to Mr. John Brent at

(706) 545-4766.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Since the 1994 scoping effort, the land

exchange was separated into two distinct exchanges: (1) A landfill land

exchange, and (2) a North-South tract land exchange. On June 26, 1996,

Fort Benning conveyed 346 acres from the 3,106 acres to the City for

landfill development in exchange for 380 acres of the City's 3,228

acres. An Environmental Assessment was prepared pursuant to the

National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, and a Finding of No

Significant Impact was published in the ``Columbus Ledger-Enquirer'' on

October 25, 1995, for the landfill land exchange.

This NOI pertains only to the proposed North-South tract land

exchange, involving the remaining 2,760 acres of Fort Benning land (the

North tract) and 2,848 acres of the City land (the South tract). An EIS

will be prepared and will include an analysis of the Cumulative

environmental impacts from both the North-South tract exchange and the

landfill land exchange.

The general study areas for environmental concerns will be the

North and South-tracts plus any additional surrounding areas necessary

to satisfy the requirements of NEPA, as well as any relevant

environmental laws and regulations to include (as a minimum but not

necessarily limited to) the following: Endangered Species Act,

Migratory Birds Treaty Act, National Historic Preservation Act, Clean

Air Act, Clean Water Act, Resource Conservation Recovery Act,

Environmental Justice Executive Order, etc. The information developed

will identify, evaluate, analyze and compare the potential individual

and cumulative impacts of the North-South tract land exchange

alternatives. The cumulative impact analysis will include an

environmental assessment of other recent or reasonably anticipated

similar actions in the area of concern, including the landfill land

exchange.

Dated: June 3, 1998.

Raymond J. Fatz,

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

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

[FR Doc. 98-15352 Filed 6-9-98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3710-08-M