[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 46 (Wednesday, March 9, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-5334]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: March 9, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Office of the Secretary

 

U.S. Pacific Command; Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact 
Statement for Proposed Actions at Bellows Air Force Station, Waimanalo, 
HI

    Pursuant to section 102(2)(c) of the National Environmental Policy 
Act (NEPA) of 1969, as implemented by the Council on Environmental 
Quality regulations (40 CFR parts 1500-1508), the U.S. Pacific Command, 
announces its intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) 
for proposed actions at Bellows Air Force Station (AFS), Waimanalo, 
Hawaii.
    The actions to be covered in the EIS form a land use plan and 
development of Bellows AFS that: (1) Provide contiguous land, beach, 
and water areas of sufficient size and configuration to meet Marine 
Corps and other military training requirements; (2) provide a site for 
military family housing; and (3) provide new construction and 
improvements to existing recreational assets within the present 
recreation area. The EIS will analyze reasonable alternatives to meet 
these objectives and assess their separate and cumulative environmental 
impacts.
    There are three major action components to the land use plan. The 
first is reconfiguration of training areas at Bellows AFS, which 
includes expansion into the site now occupied by communication 
facilities. Currently, training activities at Bellows AFS include 
amphibious landings, inland maneuver and tactics by foot and vehicle, 
engineer/motor transport training, use of pyrotechnics and blank 
ammunition, helicopter operations and support, and military operations 
in urban terrain. However, the existing acreage and figuration of the 
training area does not meet Marine Corps training standards. To achieve 
established standards for these and other types of training, additional 
land area at Bellow AFS is required. The reallocation of about 500 
acres from other areas at Bellows AFS to training use will help meet 
these requirements. Alternatives include use of other locations other 
than at Bellows AFS, other training configurations at Bellows AFS (for 
example, movement through different areas), use of other types of 
equipment, and no action.
    An alternative within the training component to the land use plan 
is the use of approximately 130 acres of the newly redesignated 
training area at Bellows AFS by the Hawaii Army National Guard. The 
National Guard has plans to relocate its existing Hawaii Military 
Academy training facilities from the existing site to 130 acres, 
thereby using the Air Force communication building as a replacement 
facility. The Hawaii Army National Guard also has a long-range proposal 
to establish a youth training center in the communication area. All of 
the 130 acres would be available for joint use by the military, and the 
beach front area would continue to be open to the public.
    The second component to be covered in the EIS is provision of a 
site sized for 250 military family housing units, with a potential for 
expansion up to a maximum of 500 units. Two alternative sites at 
Bellows AFS are being considered, as well as sites other than at 
Bellows AFS and no action.
    Improvement of recreational facilities and activities is the third 
component of the land use plan and developments. The acreage presently 
designated for recreational use, as well as existing public access to 
the beach at Bellows AFS, would be retained. Specific recreational 
facilities would be improved or newly constructed within the existing 
recreation areas of Bellows AFS. Alternatives include relocating or 
reducing recreational facilities proposed for construction, changing 
the locations designated for recreation to permit other uses such as 
training, and no action.
    Additional infrastructure and base facilities would be constructed 
to support the planned land use and development of Bellows AFS. This 
would include roads, parking, water and sewage systems, and warehouse 
or administrative buildings.
    Environmental issues to be addressed will include, but not be 
limited to, effects on cultural resources, terrestrial and aquatic 
habitats, threatened or endangered species, water quality, 
infrastructure, traffic, noise, and the socioeconomic environment. 
Direct, indirect, and cumulative impacts will be analyzed, and 
mitigation measures will be developed as required.
    The U.S. Pacific Command will initiate a scoping process to 
identify significant issues related to the proposed actions for study 
in EIS, and to identify and notify interested and affected parties of 
the EIS process. Two public scoping meetings will be held:

March 30, 1994, 7 p.m., Waimanalo Elementary & Intermediate School 
Cafeteria, 41-1330 Kalanianaole Highway, Waimanalo, Hawaii
March 31, 1994, 7 p.m., Washington Intermediate School Cafeteria, 1633 
S. King Street, Honolulu, Hawaii

    The meeting will open with a short presentation on the purpose of 
the actions and the alternatives to be evaluated, followed by a period 
for public comment. It is important that interested agencies, 
individuals, and organizations take this opportunity to identify 
environmental concerns that should be addressed. To allow time for all 
views to be shared, each speaker will be limited to five minutes for 
oral comments.
    Interested parties are also invited and encouraged to provide 
written comments in addition to, or in lieu of, oral comments at the 
public meetings. Scoping comments should clearly describe specific 
issues or topics that the EIS should address. Written statements and/or 
questions regarding the scoping process should be mailed no later than 
April 15, 1994, to Mr. Stanley Uehara (Code 232), Pacific Division, 
Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Pearl Harbor, HI 96860; telephone 
(808) 471-9338; fax (808) 474-4890.

    Dated: March 3, 1994.
Patricia L. Toppings,
Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison Officer, Department of Defense.
[FR Doc. 94-5334 Filed 3-8-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 5000-04-M