Welcome

Welcome to the U.S. Army Garrison Fort Wainwright Alaska National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) home page.

These pages will provide you with:

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Policy Overview

NEPA Policy Overview

The National Environmental Policy Act of 1969

The purposes of this Act are to declare a national policy which will encourage productive and enjoyable harmony between man and his environment; to promote efforts which will prevent or eliminate damage to the environment and biosphere and stimulate the health and welfare of man; to enrich the understanding of the ecological systems and natural resources important to the Nation; and to establish a Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ). It is the continuing responsibility of the Federal government to carry out the policy set forth in this Act. To read the entire legislation, click here.

Regulations for Implementing the Procedural Provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act (40 CFR Parts 1500-1508)

The CEQ prepared procedures that implement Section 102(2) of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). Their purpose is to tell Federal agencies what they must do to comply with the procedures and achieve the goals of the Act. NEPA procedures must insure that environmental information is available to public officials and citizens before decisions are made and before actions are taken. Accurate scientific analysis, expert agency comments and public scrutiny are essential to implementing NEPA. NEPA documents must concentrate on the issues that are truly significant to the action in question. The NEPA process is intended to help public officials make decisions that are based on understanding of environmental consequences, and to take actions that protect, restore, and enhance the environment. The CEQ Regulations provide the direction to achieve this purpose. To read the regulations, click here.

Environmental Analysis of Army Actions (Army Regulation 200-2) (32 CFR Part 651)

Agencies are required to adopt procedures to supplement those regulations listed in 40 CFR Parts 1500-1508. This regulation sets forth the Army's policies and responsibilities for the early integration of environmental considerations into planning and decision-making. These regulations require the Army to conduct environmental analysis of actions affecting human health and the environment. The regulations also provide criteria and guidance on actions normally requiring Environmental Assessments (EAs) or Environmental Impact Statements (EISs) and list Army actions that are categorically excluded from such requirements provided specific criteria are met. These regulations must be read in conjunction with CEQ’s regulations. To read the Army’s regulations, click here.

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Day-to-day Operations

How Fort Wainwright uses NEPA in day-to-day operations

The Department of the Army’s National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) implementing regulations (32 CFR Part 651,) lists five broad categories into which an Army proposed action may fall for environmental review: (1) exemption by law, (2) emergencies, (3) categorical exclusions (CX), (4) environmental assessments (EA), and (5) environmental impact statements (EIS).

A majority of the day-to-day actions occurring on USAG FWA lands qualify for a CX, which are actions that normally do not require an EA or an EIS, and do not individually or cumulatively have a substantial effect on the human environment. When an action qualifies for a CX, the action can proceed, in some cases without further documentation; however, most Army actions will require the preparation of a Record of Environmental Consideration (REC). A REC can also be prepared for actions previously analyzed in an EA or EIS, using a process known as “tiering.” A REC briefly documents that an Army action has received environmental review. It also briefly describes the proposed action and timeframe, and identifies the proponent and approving official in typically less than five pages. The REC must also state how the proposed action qualifies for a CX or is already covered in an existing EA or EIS. The specific CX or EA/EIS title must be included in the REC. Also, when using a CX, the consideration of screening criteria to ensure that no extraordinary circumstances or situations exist must be addressed.

32 CFR Part 651 Appendix B, classfies CXs into activity types using the letters b-j. The activity types are subdivided further into a numbering scheme, i.e. (c)(1), (c)(2), etc.... For simplification, CX usage is presented by activity type.

  • b = Administration/Operation Activities
  • c = Construction and Demolition
  • d = Cultural and Natural Resource Management
  • e = Procurement and Contract
  • f = Real Estate
  • g = Repair and Maintenance
  • h = Hazardous Materials/Hazardous Waste Management and Operations
  • i = Training and Testing
  • j = Aircraft and Airfield Operations

The following graphs and table were created to provide information on the frequency of use for CXs used by USAG FWA. The first graph compares how many CXs were used by activity type and location for the years 2007-Present. Location refers to Fort Wainwright main cantonment and associated training areas; Tanana Flats Training Area (TFTA), Donnelly Training Area (DTA), etc.... The next graph points out how many RECs were completed for all CXs used during the years 2007-Present. The next table shows a recent listing of RECs completed and their associated titles, CX determination and whether or not they were tiered from an exisiting EA or EIS. The last table show recent NEPA documents that have been completed by USAG FWA staff for the associated time period.

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Links & Contact

NEPA Related Links

Fort Wainwright NEPA contact information

For additional information or questions, please call the Fort Wainwright Environmental Division Office at 907-361-9688.

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