Notice2021-15666
Environmental Impact Statement for Army Training Land Retention of State Lands at Kahuku Training Area, Poamoho Training Area, and Makua Military Reservation, Island of O`ahu, Hawai`i
Primary source
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Published
July 23, 2021
Issuing agencies
Defense DepartmentArmy Department
Abstract
In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) 1969 and the Hawai`i Environmental Policy Act (HEPA), the Department of the Army (Army) is issuing this Notice of Intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to address the Army's proposed retention of up to approximately 6,300 acres of land currently leased to the Army by the State of Hawai`i (``State-owned lands'') on the island of O`ahu. Lease agreements between the State of Hawai`i and the Army at each of these three training areas were initiated in 1964 and expire in 2029. State-owned lands includes approximately 1,170 acres at Kahuku Training Area (KTA), approximately 4,370 acres at Poamoho Training Area (Poamoho), and approximately 760 acres at Makua Military Reservation (MMR). Training areas are utilized by Army units and other users such as the Marine Corps and Hawaii Army National Guard. Because the Proposed Action involves State-owned lands, the EIS will be a joint NEPA-HEPA document; therefore, the public scoping processes will run concurrently and will jointly meet NEPA and HEPA requirements. The EIS will evaluate the environmental impacts from implementing the proposed land retention.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 86 Issue 139 (Friday, July 23, 2021)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 139 (Friday, July 23, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 39007-39008]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2021-15666]
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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Army
Environmental Impact Statement for Army Training Land Retention
of State Lands at Kahuku Training Area, Poamoho Training Area, and
Makua Military Reservation, Island of O`ahu, Hawai`i
AGENCY: Department of the Army; DoD.
ACTION: Notice of intent.
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SUMMARY: In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act
(NEPA) 1969 and the Hawai`i Environmental Policy Act (HEPA), the
Department of the Army (Army) is issuing this Notice of Intent to
prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to address the Army's
proposed retention of up to approximately 6,300 acres of land currently
leased to the Army by the State of Hawai`i (``State-owned lands'') on
the island of O`ahu. Lease agreements between the State of Hawai`i and
the Army at each of these three training areas were initiated in 1964
and expire in 2029. State-owned lands includes approximately 1,170
acres at Kahuku Training Area (KTA), approximately 4,370 acres at
Poamoho Training Area (Poamoho), and approximately 760 acres at Makua
Military Reservation (MMR). Training areas are utilized by Army units
and other users such as the Marine Corps and Hawaii Army National
Guard. Because the Proposed Action involves State-owned lands, the EIS
will be a joint NEPA-HEPA document; therefore, the public scoping
processes will run concurrently and will jointly meet NEPA and HEPA
requirements. The EIS will evaluate the environmental impacts from
implementing the proposed land retention.
DATES: The Army invites public comments on the scope of the EIS during
a 40-day public scoping period. Comments must be received by September
1, 2021.
ADDRESSES: Please send written comments to the EIS website at: <a href="https://home.army.mil/hawaii/index.php/OAHUEIS">https://home.army.mil/hawaii/index.php/OAHUEIS</a>. Alternatively, comments can be
emailed to <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#5e2b2d3f2c332770363f293f373770303b2e3f1e333f373270333732"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="4f3a3c2e3d223661272e382e262661212a3f2e0f222e262361222623">[email protected]</span></a>, or mailed to: O`ahu ATLR EIS
Comments, P.O. Box 3444, Honolulu, HI 96801-3444.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Please contact Amy Bugala, U.S. Army
Garrison-Hawai`i (USAG-HI) Public Affairs Officer, at: (808) 656-3160
or by email to: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#e2979183908f9bcc8a8395838b8bcc818d8f90878ea28f838b8ecc8f8b8e"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="fa8f899b889783d4929b8d9b9393d4999597889f96ba979b9396d4979396">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: USAG-HI is home to the 25th Infantry
Division (ID), and other commands, whose mission is to deploy to
conduct decisive actions in support of unified land operations; the
Division conducts continuous persistent engagement with regional
partners to shape the environment and prevent conflict across the
Pacific operational environment. On orders, these units may conduct
theater-wide deployment to perform combat operations in support of U.S.
Indo-Pacific Command (USINDOPACOM). The 25th ID is based out of
Schofield Barracks on the island of O`ahu and trains on a rotational
basis at various training areas, including KTA, Poamoho, and MMR.
Located in northeast O`ahu, KTA has been the site of military
training since the mid-1950s. Current training activities on State-
owned lands at KTA include high-density company-level helicopter
training in a tactical environment, large-scale ground maneuver
training, and air support training.
Located in the Ko`olau Mountains in north-central O`ahu, the
Poamoho Training Area has been the site of military training since 1964
and provides ideal airspace with ravines and deep vegetation vital to
realistic helicopter training.
Located in northwest O`ahu, MMR has been a site for military
training for nearly 100 years. Tactical training at MMR began in 1941
after the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor and military exercises
continue to this day. Current training activities on State-owned lands
at MMR include maneuver training, the establishment and use of
restricted airspace for unmanned aerial vehicle training, as well as
wildfire suppression and security activities.
The purpose of land retention is to secure the long-term military
use of
[[Page 39008]]
State-owned parcels, for which current leases expire in 2029. The need
to retain use of these training lands is to allow the military to
continue to meet current and future training and combat readiness
requirements on Army-managed lands in Hawai`i.
To understand the environmental consequences of the decisions to be
made, the EIS will evaluate the reasonably foreseeable impacts of a
range of potential alternatives that meet the purpose of and need for
the Proposed Action. Alternatives to be considered include the No
Action Alternative, (1) Full Retention, (2) Modified Retention, and (3)
Minimum Retention and Access. The Proposed Action does not involve new
training, construction, or resource management activities. Under Full
Retention, the Army would retain all State-owned lands within each
training area. Under Modified Retention, the Army would retain all
State-owned lands within each training area except lands on which
limited training occurs. Under Limited Retention and Access, the Army
would retain the minimum amount of State-owned lands within each
training area that is required for USARHAW to continue to meet its
current ongoing training requirements. This includes the State-owned
lands with the most vital training/support facilities, infrastructure,
maneuver land, all U.S. Government-owned utilities, and access to these
features. Other reasonable alternatives raised during the scoping
process that meet the Army mission, project purpose, and need will also
be considered for evaluation in the EIS.
An EIS-level analysis is being undertaken because the land
retention action could have potentially significant impacts on
environmental and social resource areas including biological resources,
cultural resources, hazardous and toxic materials and wastes,
socioeconomics, utilities, and human health and safety. The analysis in
the EIS will determine the projected level of impact on each resource
area.
The Army anticipates permits and authorizations may be required for
the Proposed Action, including a lease from the State of Hawai`i
Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR), National Historic
Preservation Act and Hawai`i Historic Preservation Review consultation
with the State Historic Preservation Officer, Endangered Species Act
Section 7 consultation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, a
Coastal Zone Management consistency determination from the Hawai`i
State Office of Planning, and a Conservation District Use Permit
applicability determination from the DLNR Office of Conservation and
Coastal Lands.
The Draft EIS will be available in the summer of 2022. The Final
EIS 2023, ROD spring 2024. The Final EIS and Record of Decision are
estimated to be available within three years of this notice.
Native Hawaiian organizations; Federal, State, and local agencies;
and the public are invited to be involved in the scoping process for
the preparation of this EIS by participating in a scoping meeting and/
or submitting written comments. The Army requests assistance with
identifying potential alternatives to the Proposed Action to be
considered and identification of information and analyses relevant to
the Proposed Action. Written comments must be sent within 40 days of
publication of the Notice of Intent in the Federal Register. In
response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic in the United States
and the Center for Disease Control's current recommendations for social
distancing and avoiding large public gatherings, the Army may not hold
in-person public scoping meetings for this action. In lieu of in-person
public scoping meetings, the Army may provide virtual scoping
opportunities that will include an online presentation and
collaboration tools, as appropriate, and reasonable accommodations for
the public to view information and provide oral or written comments
subject to COVID-19 limitations. An EIS Scoping Virtual Open House will
be held at Leilehua Golf Course (199 Leilehua Golf Course Rd., Wahiawa,
HI 96786) on August 9 and 10, 2021 from 6 to 9 p.m. During the EIS
Scoping Virtual Open House, video presentations describing the Proposed
Action can be viewed online at: <a href="https://home.army.mil/hawaii/index.php/OAHUEIS">https://home.army.mil/hawaii/index.php/OAHUEIS</a> and oral comments will be taken via an accompanying call-in
option. Written comments will be accepted during the EIS Scoping
Virtual Open House and throughout the duration of the 40-day scoping
process through an online comment platform or by mail or email.
Additional in-person public comment stations may be made available,
subject to procedural compliance with governmental guidance and
restrictions related to COVID-19. Notification of the EIS Scoping
Virtual Open House and in-person public comment stations will also be
published and announced in local news media outlets and on the EIS
website: <a href="https://home.army.mil/hawaii/index.php/OAHUEIS">https://home.army.mil/hawaii/index.php/OAHUEIS</a>. Hard copy
scoping materials are available by making a request to Amy Bugala,
USAG-HI Public Affairs Officer at (808) 656-3160 or by email to:
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#087d7b697a65712660697f696161266b67657a6d64486569616426656164"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="31444250435c481f5950465058581f525e5c43545d715c50585d1f5c585d">[email protected]</span></a>.
James W. Satterwhite Jr.,
Army Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 2021-15666 Filed 7-22-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 5061-AP-P
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