RESTRUCTURING ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT
The United States Army announced today that proposed changes to its active
duty force structure will have no significant impact on the environment. In
December, the Army announced its plan to inactivate and realign units at
several installations around the country to meet its downsizing endstrength
goal of 495,000 soldiers as outlined in the 1993 Bottom Up Review.
These findings were based on the results of the Programmatic Environmental
Assessment (PEA) which examined the environmental effects of the force
restructuring plan that reduces the active component of the Army from 12 to 10
divisions. Principal features of the plan include inactivation of two division
headquarters, two combat maneuver brigades, and a separate armored brigade. It
also includes plans to relocate three air defense artillery brigades and one
armored cavalry regiment. Major specific components of the plan are:
At Fort Bliss, Texas: relocate the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment to Fort
Carson, Colo.; transfer to Fort Bliss the 31st Air Defense Brigade from Fort
Hood, Texas, and the 108th Air Defense Brigade from Fort Polk, La.
At Fort Carson, Colorado: inactivate the 4th Infantry Division Headquarters,
one combat maneuver brigade, and supporting units; receive the 3rd Armored
Cavalry Regiment from Fort Bliss.
At Fort Hood, Texas: relocate the 31st Air Defense Brigade to Fort Bliss.
At Fort Knox, Kentucky.: inactivate the 194th Separate Armored Brigade.
At Fort Lewis, Washington: realign the 1st Brigade of the 7th Infantry
Division (Light) to become the 1st Brigade of the 25th Infantry Division
(light), headquartered at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii; relocate the 35th Air
Defense Brigade to Fort Bliss.
At Fort Polk, Louisiana: relocate the 108th Air Defense Brigade.
At Fort Richardson, Alaska: realign the 1st Brigade, 6th Infantry Division
with the 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry).
At Fort Riley, Kansas: inactivate the headquarters of the 1st Infantry
Division (Mechanized) and associated support units.
At Schofield Barracks, Hawaii: inactivate the 1st Brigade of the 25th
Infantry Division (Light) and associated support units.
Based on the PEA, it was determined the effects of the restructuring and
realignments will not adversely affect the quality of the physical, natural,
and cultural environment. Accordingly, an environmental impact statement will
not be prepared. The PEA will be available for public review for 30 days prior
to implementing any of the inactivation or realignment actions.
For more information or a copy of the PEA concerning a particular
installation, contact the local public affairs office. For information about
the Armywide program, contact Maj. Ray Whitehead at Army Public Affairs,
703-697-7589.
