U.S. Army Fort Wingate Depot Activity announces public interest survey for participation in reactivating a Restoration Advisory Board

FORT WORTH, Texas - The New Mexico Environmental Department issued a permit to the Army in December 2005 defining the requirements necessary for the cleanup of environmental contamination, munitions and explosives at Fort Wingate Depot Activity before property can be transferred to the Department of the Interior. The permit requires extensive consultation with the Pueblo of Zuni and the Navajo Nations as the tribes will ultimately receive any land the Army transfers to DOI. However, federal law also requires the Army to involve other stakeholders from the surrounding communities in the cleanup process.

The Army is conducting a survey to determine if there is enough public interest to reactivate the FWDA Restoration Advisory Board. The RAB provides a public venue for citizens to provide input on the decisions that are made by the Army to cleanup the installation and meet the permit requirements.

If reactivated, the RAB will include community members who reflect the diverse interests of the local community. RAB members will be asked to review and comment on plans and activities relating to the ongoing environmental studies and restoration activities at FWDA. Members will be expected to serve as a voluntary liaison between the community and the RAB and be available to meet with community members and/or groups. RAB meetings will be open to the public.

Should this survey determine there is enough public interest to reactivate the FWDA RAB, the Army will ask that each of the government bodies involved in or affected by the cleanup and transfer for FWDA property, appoint a representative to the RAB. These individuals will then be responsible for selecting members from the general public based upon the interest surveys the Army receives.

Community Interest forms can be obtained by contacting:

Mark Patterson
BRAC Environmental Coordinator
PO Box 268
Fort Wingate, NM. 87316
Phone: 505-488-6108
Email: mark.c.patterson@us.army.mil

The deadline for submitting a community interest form for this survey is Sept. 10, 2012.

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