[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 197 (Friday, October 9, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 64133-64134]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-22368]
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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Army
Draft Environmental Impact Statement Addressing Heat and
Electrical Upgrades at Fort Wainwright, Alaska
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
Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) as part of the environmental
planning process to address heat and electrical upgrades at Fort
Wainwright, Alaska. The current condition of the heat and power plant,
one of the oldest coal-fired central heat and power plants (CHPP) in
the United States, and its aging heat distribution system requires an
upgrade to provide reliable heat and electrical infrastructure for the
installation that resolves safety, resiliency, fiscal, and regulatory
concerns. The Draft EIS evaluates reasonable alternatives, potential
environmental impacts, and key issues of concern. A preferred
alternative is not identified at this time. Comments received on the
Draft EIS will be fully considered prior to determining which
alternative would be the Army's preferred alternative, a preference
that will be identified when the Final EIS is published.
DATES: Comments must be received by December 8, 2020 to be considered
in the preparation of the Final EIS.
ADDRESSES: Please submit written comments to Laura Sample, NEPA Program
Manager at: Directorate of Public Works, ATTN: IMFW-PWE (L. Sample),
1046 Marks Road #4500, Fort Wainwright, AK 99703-4500, email:
usarmy.wainwright.id-pacific.mbx.heu-eis@mail.mil.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Please contact Grant Sattler, Public
Affairs Office, IMPC-FWA-PAO (Sattler), 1060 Gaffney Road #5900, Fort
Wainwright, AK 99703-5900; telephone (907) 353-6701; email:
alan.g.sattler.civ@mail.mil.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Fort Wainwright, Alaska is located in the
interior of Alaska in the Fairbanks North Star Borough, and is home to
the U.S. Army Garrison (USAG) Alaska and units of United States Army
Alaska (USARAK). The soldiers, families, and civilians that make up the
Fort Wainwright population are reliant upon a 65-year old coal-fired
CHPP and an antiquated heat distribution system to heat and power more
than 400 facilities. The CHPP is one of the oldest operational coal-
fired power plants in the United States and is operating beyond the
average design life of similar facilities. Constructing upgraded heat
and electrical infrastructure would reduce utility costs, minimize the
risk of a catastrophic failure, help safeguard mission readiness, meet
energy efficiency standards, be compliant with emissions standards, and
conform to Army-directed energy security criteria.
The Army identified three reasonable Action Alternatives that would
meet the purpose of and need for the Proposed Action. Alternatives
considered in the Draft EIS, including a No Action Alternative, are (1)
construction of a new coal-fired CHPP, (2) construction of a new dual-
fuel combustion turbine generator CHPP that would be primarily fueled
by natural gas, and (3) decentralization of heat and power in which
heat would be provided by distributed natural gas boilers installed at
facilities across the installation and electricity would be purchased
from a local utility provider.
The Draft EIS evaluates the potential direct, indirect, and
cumulative environmental and socioeconomic impacts of these
alternatives. Adverse impacts would be minimized to the extent possible
through implementation of the avoidance, minimization, and mitigation
measures.
Resource areas analyzed in the Draft EIS include: Air quality,
utilities, hazardous and toxic materials and wastes, socioeconomics,
environmental justice, noise, land use, transportation and traffic,
human health and safety, geology and soil resources, water resources,
cultural resources, and airspace.
Unavoidable environmental impacts would result from implementation
of the Proposed Action. Significant, adverse impacts would be
anticipated for socioeconomics (Alternatives 2 and 3, reduced coal
demand), environmental justice (Alternatives 2 and 3, reduced coal
demand), and cultural resources (Alternative 3, utilidor upgrades in
Ladd Field National Historic Landmark). Less than significant, adverse
impacts include increases in water turbidity; disturbance of sediments;
noise from construction; localized habitat degradation; soil
disturbance and erosion; stormwater runoff into surface water; and
increased traffic, air emissions, and noise associated with
construction vehicles and activities. Beneficial impacts would be
anticipated for utilities (increased heating efficiency and improved
system reliability). Under the No Action alternative, significant,
adverse impacts would be anticipated for utilities, environmental
justice, and human health and safety due to continued risk of plant
failure.
Federal, state, and local agencies; Alaska Natives; Native
Americans; Native American organizations and tribes; private
organizations; and the public are invited to be involved in this EIS
process by providing verbal or written comments. An online open house
is available at https://home.army.mil/alaska/index.php/fort-wainwright/NEPA/HEU-EIS and a virtual public meeting will be announced locally.
The date and time of the virtual public participation will be announced
via Fairbanks and Healy, Alaska local news media and on digital
platforms. Holding the public comment meeting virtually is required
because of COVID-19 safety concerns.
An electronic copy of the Draft EIS is available online at: https://home.army.mil/alaska/index.php/fort-wainwright/NEPA/HEU-EIS. Copies of
the Draft EIS will be available for review at the Noel Wien Library,
1215 Cowles Street, Fairbanks, AK 99701; the Post Library, Building
3700, Santiago Avenue, Fort Wainwright, AK 99703; and the Tri-Valley
Community Library, 400 Suntrana Road, Healy, AK 99743, if these
facilities are open. Copies of the Draft EIS are also available by
submitting a request to: See ADDRESSES. Written comments must be sent
within December 8, 2020. The Department of the Army will consider all
comments received on the Draft EIS when preparing the Final EIS. As
with the Draft EIS, the Department of the Army
[[Page 64134]]
will announce the availability of the Final EIS.
James W. Satterwhite Jr.,
Alternate Army Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 2020-22368 Filed 10-8-20; 8:45 am]
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