Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for Test Range Management Practices at the U.S. Army Aberdeen Proving Ground's (APG) Aberdeen Test Center (ATC), MD

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army

Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement

(EIS) for Test Range Management Practices at the U.S. Army Aberdeen

Proving Ground's (APG) Aberdeen Test Center (ATC), MD

agency: Department of the Army, DoD.

action: Notice of Intent.

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summary: In accordance with Public Law 91-190, the National Policy Act

of 1969, an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is to be prepared to

assess the environmental impacts associated with the adoption of test

range management practices at APG's ATC. The ranges at both the

Aberdeen Area and Edgewood Area of APG are used to conduct research,

development, testing, and evaluation of military ordnance. The ranges

are forested and contain grassland and heavily vegetated areas. The new

range management practices being proposed for adoption consist of the

following techniques: (1) Controlled burns; (2) use of herbicides; (3)

disking; (4) firebreaks; and (5) a combination of techniques. A no

action alternative (status quo) of maintaining current range management

practices will also be considered. The new range management practices

are being proposed since there are no current on-going management

practices that sufficiently address techniques to minimize range fires,

the domination of native plant species by non-native plant species, and

impediments to recovery of unexploded ordnance (UXO). The new range

management practice techniques being proposed will help minimize the

accumulation of fallen vegetative debris that fuel wildfires,

regenerate native forests and plant species, improve the ability of APG

personnel to recovery UXO, and better manage range assets and

facilities. The agency invites written comments and suggestions on

issues and management opportunities for the area being analyzed.

dates: Written public comments and suggestions should be submitted by

October 18, 1999, to the address shown below. Comments received after

this date will be considered to the extent practicable.

addresses: Commander, U.S. Army Aberdeen Test Center, ATTN: STEAC-EV

(Mr. Joseph P. Ondek), Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland 21005-5001.

for further information contact: Mr. Joseph P. Ondek at (410) 278-5294.

supplementary information: The Army will conduct several scoping

workshops prior to preparing the EIS. The first step will be to

determine the appropriate scope of issues, activities, and alternatives

to be addressed. Among the anticipated areas to be evaluated are public

health risks and public safety, water quality, air quality, hazardous

materials, biological resources including threatened and endangered

species, socioeconomic effects, and historic and archaeological

resources. During the scoping process, the Army will ask the public and

agencies that have regulatory interest in Aberdeen Proving Ground to

participate in scoping. Comments received as a result of this notice

will be used to assist the Army in identifying potential impacts to the

quality of the natural and human environment. The public scoping

meetings will be held prior to preparing the draft EIS. The exact date,

time and location of the scoping meetings will be advertised in the

local news media, at least 15 days prior to the meeting.

Dated: August 31, 1999.

Richard E. Newsome,

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

Occupational Health), OASA (I&E).

[FR Doc. 99-23062 Filed 9-2-99; 8:45 am]

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