Notice2022-07615
Draft Environmental Impact Statement Regarding Army Training Land Retention at Pōhakuloa Training Area in Hawai'i
Primary source
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Published
April 8, 2022
Issuing agencies
Defense DepartmentArmy Department
Abstract
The Department of the Army (Army) announces the availability of a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (Draft EIS) regarding its Proposed Action--i.e., the Army's retention of up to approximately 23,000 acres of land the Army presently leases from the State of Hawai[revaps]i. This land is located at P[omacr]hakuloa Training Area (PTA) on the island of Hawai[revaps]i. In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and the Hawai[revaps]i Environmental Policy Act (HEPA), the Draft EIS analyzes the potential direct, indirect, and cumulative impacts of a range of reasonable alternatives that meet the purpose of and need for the Proposed Action. The Draft EIS also analyzes the potential impacts of the No-Action Alternative, under which Army use of the land would cease altogether when the lease runs out in 2029. Because the proposed retention involves state-owned land, the EIS is a joint NEPA-HEPA document. Therefore, the public review process runs concurrently and meets NEPA and HEPA requirements.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 87 Issue 68 (Friday, April 8, 2022)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 68 (Friday, April 8, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 20826-20827]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2022-07615]
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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Army
Draft Environmental Impact Statement Regarding Army Training Land
Retention at P[omacr]hakuloa Training Area in Hawai[revaps]i
AGENCY: Department of the Army, DoD.
ACTION: Notice of availability.
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SUMMARY: The Department of the Army (Army) announces the availability
of a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (Draft EIS) regarding its
Proposed Action--i.e., the Army's retention of up to approximately
23,000 acres of land the Army presently leases from the State of
Hawai[revaps]i. This land is located at P[omacr]hakuloa Training Area
(PTA) on the island of Hawai[revaps]i. In accordance with the National
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and the Hawai[revaps]i Environmental
Policy Act (HEPA), the Draft EIS analyzes the potential direct,
indirect, and cumulative impacts of a range of reasonable alternatives
that meet the purpose of and need for the Proposed Action. The Draft
EIS also analyzes the potential impacts of the No-Action Alternative,
under which Army use of the land would cease altogether when the lease
runs out in 2029. Because the proposed retention involves state-owned
land, the EIS is a joint NEPA-HEPA document. Therefore, the public
review process runs concurrently and meets NEPA and HEPA requirements.
DATES: The Army invites public comments on the Draft EIS during the 60-
day public comment period, which begins April 8, 2022, and ends June 7,
2022. To be considered in the Final EIS, all comments must be
postmarked or received by 11:59 p.m. Hawai[revaps]i Standard Time on
June 7, 2022. Public meetings will be held in April 2022 to provide
information on the Draft EIS and to enhance the opportunity for public
input. Public meetings will be held in accordance with current COVID-19
restrictions. Information regarding how to participate in Draft EIS
public meetings and how to submit comments is available on the EIS
website: <a href="https://home.army.mil/hawaii/index.php/PTAEIS">https://home.army.mil/hawaii/index.php/PTAEIS</a>.
ADDRESSES: Written comments should be submitted through the EIS website
(<a href="https://home.army.mil/hawaii/index.php/PTAEIS">https://home.army.mil/hawaii/index.php/PTAEIS</a>), emailed to <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#cbaabfa7b9e6bbbfaae6aea2b88bacfcfbe5afaeb8a2aca5"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="2e4f5a425c035e5a4f034b475d6e49191e004a4b5d474940">[email protected]</span></a>, mailed to ATLR PTA EIS Comments, P.O. Box 3444,
Honolulu, HI 96801-3444, or provided during public meetings. Comments
must be postmarked or received by June 7, 2022.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Michael Donnelly, Public Affairs
Officer, by telephone at (808) 656-3160 or by email at
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#b9d4d0dad1d8dcd597d697ddd6d7d7dcd5d5c097dad0cff9d8cbd4c097d4d0d5"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="ee83878d868f8b82c081c08a8180808b828297c08d8798ae8f9c8397c0838782">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: During World War II, the U.S. Marine Corps
trained on the land now known as PTA. A 1956 maneuver agreement between
the Territory of Hawai[revaps]i and the Army formally established PTA.
In 1964, the State of Hawai[revaps]i granted the Army a 65-year lease
of approximately 23,000 acres of land adjacent to PTA for military
purposes. Utilities, critical infrastructure, maneuver area, and key
training facilities now sit on this tract of leased land. Some of these
human-made features are not available elsewhere in Hawai[revaps]i. The
parcel also provides access between the PTA cantonment area and
approximately 84,000 acres of adjacent, federally owned land at PTA.
The Draft EIS evaluates the potential impacts of a range of
alternatives: (1) Full Retention (of approximately 23,000 acres); (2)
Modified Retention (of approximately 19,700 acres); (3) Minimum
Retention and Access (of approximately 10,100 acres and 11 miles of
roads and training trails); and (4) No-Action Alternative (under which
the lease lapses in 2029 and the Army loses access to the land).
The Draft EIS analyzes land use, biological resources, cultural
resources, hazardous and toxic materials/wastes, air quality,
greenhouse gases, noise, geology, topography, soils, water resources,
socioeconomics, environmental justice, transportation, traffic,
airspace, electromagnetic spectrum, utilities, human health, and
safety.
The Draft EIS indicates that under Alternatives 1, 2, and 3,
continued public access restrictions on land used for traditional and
customary practices will result in significant but mitigable adverse
impacts to cultural resources. These significant impacts can be
mitigated through appropriate consultation with Native Hawaiians and/or
other interested groups. Impacts can also be mitigated through
provision of public access to promote and protect cultural beliefs,
practices, and resources. Impacts to other resources are less than
significant for all action alternatives. The No-Action Alternative
would have significant adverse impacts on biological resources,
socioeconomics, and utilities.
The Army distributed the Draft EIS to Native Hawaiian
organizations, to federal, state, and local agencies/officials, and to
other key stakeholders. The Draft EIS and related information are
available on the EIS website at: <a href="https://home.army.mil/hawaii/index.php/PTAEIS">https://home.army.mil/hawaii/index.php/PTAEIS</a>. The public may also review the Draft EIS and select
materials at the following libraries:
1. Hawai[revaps]i State Library, Hawai[revaps]i Documents Center,
478 S King Street, Honolulu, HI 96813
2. Hilo Public Library, 300 Waianuenue Avenue, Hilo, HI 96720
3. Kailua-Kona Public Library, 75-138 Hualalai Road, Kailua-Kona, HI
96740
4. Thelma Parker Memorial Public and School Library, 67-1209
Mamalahoa Highway, Kamuela, HI 96743
Native Hawaiian organizations, federal, state, and local agencies/
[[Page 20827]]
officials, and other interested entities/individuals are encouraged to
comment on the Draft EIS during the 60-day public comment period. All
timely comments will be considered in the development of the Final EIS.
James W. Satterwhite,
Army Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 2022-07615 Filed 4-7–22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3711-02-P
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