Unit likely to be stationed in Hawaii, not Fort Carson

The Army has identified a post in Hawaii, not Fort Carson, as the preferred site for stationing of the 2nd Brigade, 25th Infantry Division as a Stryker Brigade Combat Team, the service announced Friday.

The brigade was based at Schofield Barracks Military Reservation in Hawaii before being deployed to Iraq in November. The unit is due to return to a home station in November 2009.

The Army’s environmental impact analysis studied Schofield Barracks and Army Garrison in Hawaii, Fort Richardson and Donnelly Training area in Alaska and Fort Carson.

The final environmental impact statement, which evaluated potential environmental and socioeconomic effects of permanent stationing of the brigade, also was released Friday.

The 743-page document can be found at http://aec.army.mil/usaec/nepa/sbctfeis.pdf.

It appears unlikely the Army will choose Fort Carson, which stands to see a net gain of 663 soldiers by the brigade’s permanent stationing here. That’s because the Hawaii is best able to meet the Army’s strategic defense and national security needs in the Pacific theater, the EIS said.

The preferred site was chosen by Army Deputy Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Thurman. “In making the decision, he was fully informed as to the limitations in Hawaii in terms of training ranges, maneuver land, and impacts to sensitive environmental resources,” the EIS report said.

According to the report, residents of Hawaii cited lack of resources, contamination of air, soil and water, impacts to cultural sites, noise, increased wildfire risk among their concerns.

Colorado residents noted concerns about impacts to the Pinon Canyon Maneuver Site, soils and grassland, historic aspects of the Santa Fe Trail and natural and archaeological resources.