Notice2024-08403
Second Draft Environmental Impact Statement for Army Training Land Retention at Pōhakuloa Training Area in Hawai'i
Primary source
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Published
April 19, 2024
Issuing agencies
Defense DepartmentArmy Department
Abstract
The Department of the Army (Army) announces the availability of a Second Draft Environmental Impact Statement (Draft EIS) regarding its proposed action to retain up to approximately 22,750 acres of the 23,000 acres of land the Army currently leases from the State of Hawai[revaps]i ("State-owned land") at P[omacr]hakuloa Training Area (PTA) on the island of Hawai[revaps]i. The Army is publishing the Draft EIS for public review during a 45-day comment period. 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. Because the proposed action involves State-owned land, the EIS is a joint NEPA-HEPA document; therefore, the public review process runs concurrently and meets both NEPA and HEPA requirements.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 89 Issue 77 (Friday, April 19, 2024)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 77 (Friday, April 19, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 28753-28754]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2024-08403]
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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Army
Second Draft Environmental Impact Statement for 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 Second Draft Environmental Impact Statement (Draft EIS) regarding
its proposed action to retain up to approximately 22,750 acres of the
23,000 acres of land the Army currently leases from the State of
Hawai[revaps]i (``State-owned land'') at P[omacr]hakuloa Training Area
(PTA) on the island of Hawai[revaps]i. The Army is publishing the Draft
EIS for public review during a 45-day comment period. 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. Because the proposed action involves State-owned land,
the EIS is a joint NEPA-HEPA document; therefore, the public review
process runs concurrently and meets both NEPA and HEPA requirements.
DATES: The Army invites public comments on the Draft EIS during the 45-
day public comment period. 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, 2024. Public meetings will be held in Waimea
District Park on May 6, 2024, and at the [revaps]Imiloa Astronomy
Center on May 7, 2024 to provide information on the Draft EIS and to
enhance the opportunity for public comment. Information on how to
participate in the Draft EIS public meetings and how to submit comments
is 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>.
ADDRESSES: Written comments should be submitted through the EIS website
at <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#19786d756b34696d78347c706a597e2e29377d7c6a707e77"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="04657068762974706529616d77446333342a6061776d636a">[email protected]</span></a>, mailed to ATLR PTA EIS Comments, P.O. Box 3444,
Honolulu, HI 96801-3444, or provided during the public meetings.
Comments must be postmarked or received by June 7, 2024.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: U.S. Army Garrison-Hawaii, Mr. Michael
Donnelly, Public Affairs Office, by telephone at (808) 787-2140 or by
email at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#cebbbdafbca3b7e0a6afb9afa7a7e0a0abbeaf8eafbca3b7e0a3a7a2"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="d7a2a4b6a5baaef9bfb6a0b6bebef9b9b2a7b697b6a5baaef9babebb">[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. The State-owned land now contains utilities, critical
infrastructure, maneuver area, and key training facilities, some of
which are not available elsewhere in Hawai[revaps]i. The parcel also
provides access among the PTA cantonment area and Bradshaw Army
Airfield and two other federally owned parcels at PTA.
The Army made a Draft EIS available for comment on this action on
April 8, 2022. In response to comments received from agencies and the
public on that Draft EIS, the Army is no longer considering the
retention of approximately 250 acres of State-owned land administered
by the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands. In addition to analyzing
impacts of a fee simple retention method, the new Draft EIS also
assesses impacts of a lease retention method. Due to these changes, the
Army determined that another draft EIS should be made available for
public comment.
The Draft EIS evaluates the potential impacts of a range of
reasonable alternatives: (1) Maximum Retention (of approximately 22,750
acres); (2) Modified Retention (of approximately 19,700 acres); and (3)
Minimum Retention and Access (of approximately 10,100 acres and 11
miles of roads and training trails). 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 expires in 2029. The
Army has identified Alternative 2, Modified Retention, as the Preferred
Alternative. The Army based its preference on: public comments;
environmental, social, technical, and economic considerations; and the
ability of the alternative to meet the mission of the Army.
The Draft EIS analyzes: land use; biological resources; historic
and cultural resources and cultural
[[Page 28754]]
practices; hazardous substances and hazardous wastes; air quality and
greenhouse gases; noise; geology, topography, and soils; water
resources; socioeconomics; environmental justice; transportation and
traffic; airspace; electromagnetic spectrum; utilities; and human
health and safety.
The Draft EIS indicates that under Alternatives 1, 2, and 3,
significant adverse impacts on land use (land tenure), cultural
practices, and environmental justice could occur. Under the No Action
Alternative, significant adverse impacts on biological resources,
socioeconomics, and utilities could occur. The No Action Alternative
could have significant beneficial impacts on land use, cultural
practices, and environmental justice. To mitigate adverse impacts to
land use, the Army would consider adding non-barbed wire fencing and
signage to minimize encroachment and accidental or intentional trespass
from adjacent non-U.S. Government-owned land. In consideration of
adverse impacts to cultural practices and environmental justice, the
Army, in consultation with Native Hawaiians and cultural practitioners,
proposes to: (1) formalize a cultural access request process to enable
Native Hawaiians and cultural practitioners to promote and preserve
cultural practices, beliefs, and resources; and (2) explore options to
provide unlimited access to specific locations. To mitigate adverse
impacts on human health and safety, the Army would consider: (1)
negotiating an agreement with the State to allow the Army to monitor
for wildfires on the State-owned land that is not retained by the Army;
and (2) continuing or renegotiating its Memorandum of Agreement with
the Hawai[revaps]i County Fire Department to assist wildfire responders
with wildfire suppression outside of PTA boundaries.
The No Action Alternative could have: significant adverse impacts
on biological resources, socioeconomics, and utilities; significant
beneficial impacts for land use, cultural practices, and environmental
justice; and less than significant impacts on all other resources.
The Army distributed the Draft EIS to: Native Hawaiian
Organizations; Federal, State, and local agencies and officials; and
other stakeholders. The Draft EIS and informational materials are also
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/
officials, and other interested entities/individuals are encouraged to
comment on the Draft EIS during the 45-day public comment period. All
comments postmarked or received June 7, 2024 will be considered in the
development of the Final EIS.
James W. Satterwhite, Jr.,
U.S. Army Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 2024-08403 Filed 4-18-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3711-02-P
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