Influx of Fort Lewis troops is subject of Army hearings in Valley

Army officials have scheduled public meetings in Ellensburg and Yakima this month to gather comments about the effect of more soldiers being stationed at Fort Lewis, south of Tacoma.

The troops would use the Army's Yakima Training Center, but none of the units are expected to be permanently stationed there.

Fort Lewis expects to add up to 5,000 personnel by 2013. The current count is just under 30,000.

The additions are part of an Army-wide plan to grow the service in order to meet strategic demands and reduce stress on soldiers, among other factors.

Other units are also being shifted from overseas posts back to the United States.

If a combat aviation brigade now stationed in Korea were to be moved to Fort Lewis, that would add 2,800 soldiers and may require addition of a gunnery range at the Yakima center, officials said.

That decision has not been made yet.

Public comments are being gathered as the Army prepares an environmental impact statement on the planned growth. The statement is to be completed by December 2009.

* The Ellensburg meeting is scheduled for 6 to 8 p.m. Jan. 21 at the Hal Holmes Community Center, 209 N. Ruby St.

* The Yakima meeting is scheduled for 6 to 8 p.m. Jan. 22 at the Howard Johnson Plaza, 9 N. Ninth St.

Comments may also be sent to bill.vanhoesen@us.army.mil or faxed to 253-966-1785.