Banner has completed a wide range of environmental services for the South Dakota Army National Guard (SDARNG), including an Environmental Assessment (EA) for one of the Golden Coyote annual training exercise in the Black Hills area, and biological surveys to update the Integrated Natural Resources Management Plan (INRMP). For the Golden Coyote EA, the SDARNG needed a National Environment Policy Act (NEPA) document completed. The Black Hills area provides a realistic training environment to prepare for combat operations. Banner’s team members have worked closely with the SDARNG’s environmental staff in preparing an EA for training conducted annually over a five-year schedule at 16 proposed sites located within or adjacent to the Black Hills National Forest, Custer State Park, and Belle Fourche Reservoir. For the biological surveys to update the INRMP, Banner’s biologists and environmental scientists completed surveys at Austin Training Area and West Camp Rapid Training Area. The biological surveys included reptiles, amphibians, mammals, and birds. The results were utilized to provide recommendations for management of the sites.

Project Goal # 1

Evaluate the potential environmental, socioeconomic, and cultural effects of the South Dakota Army National Guard’s (SDARNG’s) proposed annual training exercises in 41 proposed training areas. The training areas are located in the US Forest Service, Black Hills National Forest; within the Custer State Park (South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks property); and within the Belle Fourche Reservoir (Bureau of Reclamation (BOR) property).

Project Goal # 2

Complete the Environmental Documentation for the training exercises. Identify possible avoidance of impacts to resources. Identify minimization or mitigation of resources that would be affected by the training exercises.

Project Goal #3

Identify environmental resources present at the two training sites by completing biological surveys. Provide recommendations for management of the sites.