(MRAP) Vehicle Program - U.S. Army Environmental Center

Army MRAP Vehicle Program Programmatic Environmental Assessment December 2010
Soil resources include the soils and minerals that overlay bedrock and other parent
material. Soils can be defined in terms of their complex types and physical
characteristics. Each installation and facility associated with the MRAP Program has its
unique soil resources. Likewise, the installations have programs and spill prevention
and containment plans that reduce or eliminate impacts to the local soil resources.
Land use can be identified as the planned development of property to achieve the
highest and best use of the land. In addition, land use planning should occur to ensure
usage compatibility with the surrounding land. Installations that are involved with the
MRAP Program have land use plans to address the aforementioned land development
and usage.
Several Federal Regulations and Acts define cultural resources. The National Historic
Preservation Act identifies historic properties and the Native American Graves
Protection and Repatriation Act of 1990 lists cultural items as cultural resources. The
Archeological Resource Protection Act of 1979 defines archaeological resources as
cultural resources. Facilities and installations must comply with the previously listed
acts.
Air quality refers to the amount of air pollution within an area. Within the United
States, the Clean Air Act (CAA) has historically regulated air pollution sources. The CAA’s
objectives are to protect and enhance the quality of the nation’s air resources. The CAA
also establishes a required ambient air quality level set by the National Ambient Air
Quality Standards (NAAQS). The NAAQS consists of primary and secondary standards
for six criteria air pollutants: sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide, ozone,
lead and particulate matter. Individual states have the authority to establish emission
source requirements to achieve attainment of the NAAQS. The CAA also establishes the
requirements and standards to control other air pollution problems. This includes
standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (HAPs), an acid rain reduction program, and a
program to phase out the manufacture and use of Ozone Depleting Chemicals (ODCs).
The facilities and military installations involved with the MRAP Program are required to
comply with the CAA standards and requirements.
Similar to air quality, water quality refers to the amount of water pollution. For this
PEA, water can include surface water (lakes, rivers, streams), groundwater (subsurface
hydrologic areas such as aquifers), and storm water (water from impervious surfaces
such as roads, buildings, etc). The activities associated with the MRAP program must
comply with the Clean Water Act (CWA). The CWA regulates activities involving the
collection and discharge of water borne pollutants and construction activities near
waterways and wetlands.
Noise is generally defined as an unwanted sound. This could include a sound that occurs
at a level that causes human hearing damage, is annoying in nature, or interferes with
human communication. Military noise consists of noise from vehicle, equipment, and
tool operation, high‐amplitude noise from artillery and armor firing, and noise from
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