Notice2024-12573
Draft Environmental Impact Statement for Army Training Land Retention at Kahuku Training Area, Kawailoa-Poamoho Training Area, and Makua Military Reservation, Island of O`ahu, Hawai`i
Primary source
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Published
June 7, 2024
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: to retain up to approximately 6,322 acres of land the Army currently leases from the State of Hawai`i. These lands are located on the island of O`ahu and comprise approximately 1,150 acres at Kahuku Training Area (KTA), approximately 4,390 acres at Kawailoa- Poamoho Training Area (Poamoho), and approximately 782 acres at Makua Military Reservation (MMR). The purpose of the proposed action is to retain these three areas for military training beyond the end of the current leases. The need for the proposed action is to maintain facilities for training by the Army and other Department of Defense organizations, as such training facilities are not available elsewhere in Hawai`i. In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and the Hawai`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 these lands would cease when the leases expire in 2029. Because the proposed retention involves state-owned lands, the EIS is a joint NEPA-HEPA document. The two public review processes run concurrently.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 89 Issue 111 (Friday, June 7, 2024)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 111 (Friday, June 7, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48600-48601]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2024-12573]
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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Army
Draft Environmental Impact Statement for Army Training Land
Retention at Kahuku Training Area, Kawailoa-Poamoho Training Area, and
Makua Military Reservation, Island of O`ahu, Hawai`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: to retain up to approximately 6,322 acres of land the
Army currently leases from the State of Hawai`i. These lands are
located on the island of O`ahu and comprise approximately 1,150 acres
at Kahuku Training Area (KTA), approximately 4,390 acres at Kawailoa-
Poamoho Training Area (Poamoho), and approximately 782 acres at Makua
Military Reservation (MMR). The purpose of the proposed action is to
retain these three areas for military training beyond the end of the
current leases. The need for the proposed action is to maintain
facilities for training by the Army and other Department of Defense
organizations, as such training facilities are not available elsewhere
in Hawai`i. In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act
(NEPA) and the Hawai`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 these lands would
cease when the leases expire in 2029. Because the proposed retention
involves state-owned lands, the EIS is a joint NEPA-HEPA document. The
two public review processes run concurrently.
DATES: The Army invites public comments on the Draft EIS during the 60-
day public comment period. To be considered in the Final EIS, all
comments must be postmarked or received by 11:59 p.m. Hawai'i Standard
Time on August 7, 2024. Public meetings will be held at Wai`anae
District Park Multi-Purpose Room on July 9, 2024, Kahuku High and
Intermediate School on July 10, 2024, and at Leilehua High School on
July 11, 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 on how to submit comments is
available on the EIS website: <a href="https://home.army.mil/hawaii/index.php/OahuEIS/project-home">https://home.army.mil/hawaii/index.php/OahuEIS/project-home</a>.
ADDRESSES: Written comments should be: submitted through the EIS
website (<a href="https://home.army.mil/hawaii/index.php/OahuEIS/project-home">https://home.army.mil/hawaii/index.php/OahuEIS/project-home</a>);
emailed to <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#d0b1a4bca2fdbfb1b8a5fdb5b9a390b7e7e0feb4b5a3b9b7be"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="6504110917480a040d1048000c16250252554b0100160c020b">[email protected]</span></a>; mailed to O`ahu ATLR EIS Comments,
P.O. Box 3444, Honolulu, HI 96801-3444; or provided during public
meetings. Comments must be postmarked or received by August 7, 2024.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Michael Donnelly, U.S. Army
Garrison-Hawai`i Public Affairs Office, by telephone at (808) 787-2140
or by email at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#90e5e3f1e2fde9bef8f1e7f1f9f9befef5e0f1d0f1e2fde9befdf9fc"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="bdc8cedccfd0c493d5dccadcd4d493d3d8cddcfddccfd0c493d0d4d1">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: U.S. Army Garrison-Hawai`i is home to the
25th Infantry Division (25th ID) and other commands, the mission of
which is to deploy and conduct decisive actions in support of unified
land operations. 25th ID is based at Schofield Barracks on the island
of O`ahu. 25th ID 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 land 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, Poamoho
has been
[[Page 48601]]
the site of military training since 1964. It provides airspace with
ravines and deep vegetation for realistic helicopter training.
Located in northwest O`ahu, MMR has been a military training site
for nearly 100 years. Tactical training at MMR began in 1941 after the
attack on Pearl Harbor and military training continues to this day.
Current activities on state-owned land at MMR include maneuver
training, the use of restricted airspace for unmanned aerial vehicle
training, as well as wildland fire suppression and security activities.
The Draft EIS evaluates the potential impacts of a range of
alternatives:
For KTA--(1) Full Retention (of approximately 1,150 acres); (2)
Modified Retention (of approximately 450 acres);
For Poamoho--(1) Full Retention (of approximately 4,390 acres); (2)
Modified Retention (of approximately 3,170 acres);
For MMR--(1) Full Retention (of approximately 782 acres); (2)
Modified Retention (of approximately 572 acres); (3) Minimum Retention
and Access (of approximately 162 acres and 2.4 miles of select range
and firebreak roads).
Under the No-Action Alternative for each of these training areas,
the leases would lapse in 2029 and the Army would lose access to these
training areas. The Army has identified the preferred alternative as
Alternative 2 at each of the training areas.
The Draft EIS analyzes the impacts of both a new lease of the areas
and full federal ownership (i.e., fee simple title). The Draft EIS
analyzes land use, biological resources, cultural resources/practices,
hazardous substances and hazardous wastes, air quality, greenhouse
gases, noise, geology, topography, soils, water resources,
socioeconomics, environmental justice, transportation, traffic, human
health, and safety. The Draft EIS indicates that significant adverse
impacts on land use (land tenure) and environmental justice would occur
with a lease or fee simple title at: KTA and Poamoho under Alternatives
1 and 2; and MMR under Alternatives 1, 2, and 3. Significant adverse
impacts on cultural practices would occur with a lease or fee simple
title at MMR under Alternatives 1, 2, and 3. Some of the significant
impacts for land use (land tenure) could be reduced to less than
significant. The modified or minimum retention alternatives would have
significant beneficial impacts on land use (land tenure) for land not
retained at KTA, Poamoho, and MMR. Impacts of the action alternatives
on other resources are less than significant. The No-Action Alternative
would have a significant beneficial impact on land use (land tenure)
and environmental justice at all sites, and on cultural practices at
MMR. The No-Action Alternative would have less than significant impacts
on all other resources at the three sites.
To mitigate adverse impacts on land use (land tenure), the Army
would consider adding non-barbed-wire fencing and signage to minimize
accidental or intentional trespass from adjacent non-U.S. Government-
controlled land. This applies to Alternative 2 for KTA and to
Alternatives 2 and 3 for MMR. As mitigation for impacts to cultural
practices and environmental justice at MMR, the Army would, for
alternatives 1, 2, and 3: review and update its public engagement
efforts; work with cultural practitioners and Native Hawaiian
Organizations to update and/or develop a mutually beneficial cultural
access plan; and promote long-term stewardship of the [amacr]ina (i.e.,
the land of Hawai`i) with regard to military use of state-owned land.
The Army distributed the Draft EIS to Native Hawaiian Organizations, to
federal, state, and local agencies/officials, and to other
stakeholders. The Draft EIS and related information are available on
the EIS website at: <a href="https://home.army.mil/hawaii/index.php/OahuEIS/project-home">https://home.army.mil/hawaii/index.php/OahuEIS/project-home</a>. The public may also review the Draft EIS and select
materials at the following libraries:
1. Hawai`i State Library, Hawai`i Documents Center, 478 S King Street,
Honolulu, HI 96813
2. Kahuku Public and School Library, 56-490 Kamehameha Highway, Kahuku,
HI 96731
3. Wahiaw[amacr] Public Library, 820 California Ave., Wahiaw[amacr], HI
96786
4. Wai'anae Public Library, 85-625 Farrington Highway, Wai'anae, HI
96792
Native Hawaiian Organizations, federal, state, and local agencies/
officials, and other interested entities/individuals are encouraged to
comment on the Draft EIS during the 60-day public comment period. All
comments postmarked or received by August 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. 2024-12573 Filed 6-6-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3711-02-P
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