Notice of Availability for Colo. National Guard Montrose Training Area

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CENTENNIAL, CO, UNITED STATES

11.20.2017

Courtesy Story

Colorado National Guard

FOR RELEASE: Monday, Nov. 20, 2017

CONTACT: Air National Guard Maj. Darin Overstreet, 720-250-1053, [e-mail]

CENTENNIAL, Colo. – The Colorado Army National Guard has prepared an environmental assessment and draft finding of “no significant impact” regarding the proposed action to use a military training area called the COARNG Montrose Close-in Training Area in Montrose, Colorado.

The Colorado Department of Military and Veterans Affairs proposes to enter into a long-term lease agreement with the Montrose Regional Airport and to establish a separate internal agreement with the COARNG for development and operation of the 34-acre leased property.

The Proposed Action will fulfill military readiness training requirements of COARNG combat and combat service support units based in western Colorado. Primary users will include the 947th Engineer Company and Company C, 1st Battalion, 157th Infantry (Mountain).

Once the long-term lease agreement is finalized, the COARNG units will us the training area simultaneously to meet either individual or collective training objectives. Up to 200 personnel will use the training area at any given time. Training may occur during any day of the week and may have a maximum duration of up to 15 consecutive days, per unit, during annual training. Temporary construction activities during training exercises would not result in permanent structures being built.

The 947th Engineer Company has the mission of horizontal construction. These Soldiers’ skills have been employed both on the battlefield and in support of Colorado communities through the Innovative Readiness Training program and during state emergencies.

The 947th would use the site for approximately three days per month on training weekends, with a training time of eight hours per day. The 947th would transport tracked vehicles to and from the site using the unit’s haul assets. Hauled equipment will include bulldozers, hydraulic excavators, high-speed compactors, and vibration rollers. Soldiers would drive organic wheeled vehicles, such as loaders, scrapers, backhoe loaders, dump trucks, and graders, onto the training area.

The 1-157th Infantry trains to out maneuver and defeat the enemy in support of the warfight. These Soldiers have also used their battle-tested skills during disaster response missions to help civilian responders save lives, reduce suffering, and protect property and infrastructure.

The 157th would use the Montrose training area one or two days every other month. Unit training would occur during daylight and hours of limited visibility. Unit vehicles such as variants of high mobility multipurpose wheeled vehicles, 5-ton and 2.5-ton cargo vehicles, and all-terrain vehicles would transport personnel participating in training scenarios. Training aides will be removed from the site at the end of each exercise.

A 15-day public comment period began Nov. 19 and will end Dec. 4, 2017, in accordance with 32 CFR Part 651.4, Environmental Analysis of Army Actions.

Copies of the documents may be accessed at: http://co.ng.mil/PUBLIC/Pages/Environmental.aspx.

Copies are available at the Montrose Public Library, 320 S. 2nd St., Montrose, CO.

Comments or questions on the EA and the draft FNSI should be addressed to the Colorado National Guard Public Affairs Office, 6848 S. Revere Parkway, Centennial, CO 80112, [phone], or via email at [e-mail] referencing “COARNG Montrose Training Area EA” in the subject line.

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• Date Taken: 11.20.2017
• Date Posted: 11.20.2017 12:58
• Story ID: 255984
• Location: CENTENNIAL, CO, US