Final Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact for the Fielding of the ``Generator, Mechanical Smoke: For Dual Purpose Unit, M56'' and the ``Generator Smoke Mechanical: Mechanized Smoke Obscurant System M58''

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army

Final Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant

Impact for the Fielding of the ``Generator, Mechanical Smoke: For Dual

Purpose Unit, M56'' and the ``Generator Smoke Mechanical: Mechanized

Smoke Obscurant System M58''

AGENCY: Department of the Army, DoD.

ACTION: Notice of Availability.

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SUMMARY: The Department of the Army announces the availability of the

final Programmatic Environmental Assessment (PEA) and Finding of No

Significant Impact (FNSI) for the Fielding of the ``Generator,

Mechanical Smoke: For Dual Purpose Unit, M56'' and the ``Generator

Smoke Mechanical: Mechanized Smoke Obscurant System M58.'' The Army

published a notice of availability in the Federal Register of the

drafts for both the PEA and FNSI on April 27, 1998 (63 FR 20615), which

initiated a 30-day period for public review and comment. The public

review and comment period ended on May 27, 1998.

The Army's proposed action is to field the M56 and M58 to Army

installations across the Nation for use in visual and infrared

training. The PEA discloses the general types of impacts and effects on

all relevant aspects of the human environment (e.g., flora, fauna, air,

soil, water and human health) that will likely result from use of the

graphite module in training. See PEA, pages 55-65. Receiving

installations will be required to prepare site-specific analyses in

which they consider the intensity of impacts associated with the

emission of graphite particles into the local environment, and, if

appropriate, develop mitigation measures.

ADDRESSES: A copy of the final PEA and FNSI may be obtained by writing

to Commander, U.S. Army Environmental Center, ATTN:SFIM-AEC-

(Mr. Hankus), Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland 21010-5401 or by

calling (410) 671-2556.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: No public comments were received following

the 30-day comment period on the draft PEA and finding. As a result,

the Army has finalized the FNSI and will proceed with implementation of

the proposed action without further review and comment. Preparation of

an Environmental Impact Statement will not be required.

Dated: July 2, 1998.

Raymond J. Fatz,

Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army (Environment, Safety and

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

[FR Doc. 98-18449 Filed 7-10-98; 8:45 am]

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