Juniper was contracted to conduct a desktop analysis of biological resources including vegetation, wildlife, and special status species known to occur or with potential to occur within the Proposed Action Area. ‘Special status species’ are defined as: any species which are federally listed, or proposed for listing, as threatened or endangered by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) under the provisions of the Endangered Species Act (ESA); any species designated by the USFWS as a "candidate" or "under review for listing" species or "sensitive" species; any species covered by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA); bald (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) and golden eagles (Aquila chrysaetos) protected under the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act (BGEPA); and state listed threatened and endangered species as designated by the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation (OKDWC) and/or Oklahoma Natural Heritage Inventory (ONHI). Results of the desktop analysis will be used to prepare the biological resources sections of an Environmental Assessment (EA) for fielding a M-SHORAD Battalion (Bn) at Fort Sill, Oklahoma.

The area of Fort Sill to be analyzed will include any facility construction sites located in the Cantonment Area and areas of the Training Areas (TAs) and ranges that will be utilized by the Maneuver -Short Range Air Defense M-SHORAD Battalion (Bn) at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. All documents will be prepared pursuant to the requirements of Section 102(2) (c) of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969 (PL 91-190, 42 USC 4321 et. seq.) as outlined in 40 CFR 1500-1508. The format and subject matter included within the EA will conform to the requirements and standards set forth by the Army as outlined in Title 32 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 651, Environmental Analysis of Army Actions, Final Rule. Where 32 CFR 651 procedures are inconsistent with the July 16, 2020 CEQ regulations, the CEQ regulations apply.