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Published: 1992

Total Pages: 548

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On January 29, 1990, the Secretary of Defense announced the closure of Eaker AFB, Arkansas, pursuant to the Base Closure and Realignment Act. Previous environmental documentation culminated in the filing of a Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Closure of Eaker AFB in July 1990. The base is scheduled for closure in December 1992. This EIS has been prepared in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act to analyze the potential environmental consequences of the disposal and reasonable alternatives for reuse of the base. The document includes analyses of community setting, land use and aesthetics, transportation, utilities, hazardous materials/wastes, soils and geology, water resources, air quality, noise, biological resources, and cultural resources. Potential environmental impacts are increased noise levels, traffic, and emissions of air pollutants over closure baseline conditions. Redevelopment could result in wind and water erosion, and would require enactment of preventive measures. Wetland acreage could be lost due to implementation of the reuse alternatives. If avoidance of impacts is not viable, mitigation in the form of replacement, restoration or enhancement is possible. Cultural resources could be impacted by conveyance of the property to a non-federal entity as well as by ground disturbance. Preservation covenants within disposal documents could eliminate or reduce these effects to a non-adverse level. Because the Air Force is disposing of the property, some of the mitigation measures are beyond the control of the Air Force. Remediation of Installation Restoration Program sites is and will continue to be the responsibility of the Air Force.