[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 72 (Monday, April 15, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18180-18182]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-9082]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Navy


Record of Decision for Ford Island Development, Pearl Harbor, HI

AGENCY: Department of the Navy, DOD.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Department of the Navy (DON) announces its decision to 
consolidate selected operations on and to pursue limited private 
development of Ford Island. The decision includes construction of new 
facilities and the adaptive reuse of existing facilities on Ford Island 
as well as the sale or lease of selected DON properties on Oahu, 
Hawaii, with the proceeds of such sale or lease to be used to develop 
DON facilities at Ford Island.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Stanley Uehara (PLN231), Pacific 
Division, Naval Facilities Engineering Command, 258 Makalapa Drive, 
Suite 100, Pearl Harbor, HI 96860-3134, telephone (808) 471-9338, 
facsimile (808) 474-5909.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Record of Decision (ROD) in its entirety 
is provided as follows:
    Pursuant to Section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental Policy 
Act (NEPA) of 1969, 42 U.S.C. Section 4332(2)(C), and regulations of 
the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) that implement NEPA, 40 CFR 
Parts 1500-1508, the Department of the Navy (DON) announces its 
decision to consolidate selected operations at Pearl Harbor onto Ford 
Island by constructing new facilities and adaptively reusing existing 
structures. This decision will include the sale or lease of selected 
DON properties on Oahu, Hawaii with the use of proceeds to develop DON 
facilities at Ford Island. This action will improve the efficiency and 
effectiveness of its operations, make greater use of its properties, 
and improve the quality of life of sailors and their families. This 
will be accomplished as set out in Alternative B (Medium Intensity), 
described in the Final Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement 
(PEIS) as the preferred alternative.
    DON development on Ford Island may include new construction for up 
to 420 housing units, Bachelor Enlisted Quarters (BEQ) for up to 1,000 
personnel, and infrastructure improvements such as roads and utilities. 
The development may also include a combination of new construction and 
adaptive reuse of existing structures for administrative space to 
accommodate 1,500 additional employees, and a consolidated training 
complex. Additionally, the action includes private development of up to 
75 acres on Ford Island, which could include a historic visitor 
attraction, and allows for the lease of Halawa Landing and Iroquois 
Point/Pu`uloa Housing, and sale of Waikele Branch, Naval Magazine 
(NAVMAG) Pearl Harbor and property at the former Naval Air Station 
(NAS) Barbers Point.
    The action will be implemented through the Ford Island legislation 
(10 U.S.C. Section 2814), and other legislative authorities such as the 
annual Military Construction (MILCON) program, use of Non-Appropriated 
Funds (NAF), and the Military Housing Privatization Initiative (10 
U.S.C. Sections 2871-2885).
    Alternatives Considered: The PEIS evaluated four alternatives, 
including ``no action,'' that represent varying intensities of 
development on Ford Island. With the exception of ``no action'' 
(Alternative D), the alternatives provide for the conveyance and 
reuse--by either sale or lease--of selected DON properties on Oahu to 
support the Ford Island development.
    Alternative A provides for both DON and private development on Ford 
Island. DON development would consist of new construction for up to 420 
family housing units, Bachelor Enlisted Quarters (BEQ) for up to 1,000 
personnel, and infrastructure improvements such as roads and utilities. 
Development would also include a combination of new construction and 
adaptive reuse of existing structures for administrative space to 
accommodate 1,500 additional employees, and a consolidated training 
complex. Private development envisioned includes an historic visitor 
attraction, commercial, and light industrial uses that could employ up 
to 5,600 workers and attract up to 15,000 daily visitors. The outlying 
properties will be conveyed or reused in the following ways in this 
alternative: The Halawa Landing property will be available for lease in 
support of an historic visitor attraction on Ford Island. The Iroquois 
Point/Pu`uloa Housing will be available for lease for residential and 
directly related uses (e.g. playgrounds). Waikele Branch NAVMAG Pearl 
Harbor and the property at the former NAS Barbers Point will be offered 
for sale. Based on DON's marketing analysis, it is anticipated that 
these properties will be reused for residential and related land uses.
    Alternative B, Medium Intensity, is similar to Alternative A and 
provides for both DON and private development on Ford Island. DON 
development would be the same as that in Alternative

[[Page 18181]]

A. Private development includes an historic visitor attraction but 
assumes a lower intensity development for commercial and light 
industrial uses. Private development could have a population of 2,800 
employees and 6,700 daily visitors. Halawa Landing will be leased in 
support of an historic visitor attraction on Ford Island. Other 
selected properties identified under Alternative A will be either 
leased or sold as noted to support the Ford Island Development Program.
    Alternative C does not provide for private development on Ford 
Island. DON population could total 3,000 employees and 3,000 residents. 
In this alternative, the Halawa Landing property will not be leased. 
Selected properties identified under Alternative A will be either sold 
or leased as noted to support the Ford Island Development Program. 
Alternative C is the environmentally preferred action alternative due 
to limited private development.
    Alternative D is the no action alternative.
    Environmental Impacts: DON analyzed the direct, indirect, and 
cumulative impacts of each alternative on the environment. Potential 
significant impacts that could result from Alternative B are discussed 
below: There is potential for significant impacts on the wastewater 
collection system at Pearl Harbor. The main side sewage lift station, 
SY-001, which is currently at capacity, will be unable to accommodate 
additional sewage discharge flows. DON will initiate a utility study to 
determine what wastewater collection system improvements are necessary, 
including the additional capacity needed at lift station SY-001. DON 
will upgrade the SY-001 lift station to meet the additional capacity 
requirements.
    There is potential for significant impacts on traffic. Projected 
traffic volumes at Kamehameha Highway and Ford Island Boulevard would 
exceed the intersection capacity during morning and afternoon peak 
hours. A combination of intersection improvements and travel demand 
management measures, such as mass transit and staggered work hours 
could mitigate the intersection impacts. For all areas leased by 
private developers, DON will require the developer to submit a Traffic 
Impact Analysis Report (TIAR) to identify what mitigation would be 
required so that traffic volumes would not exceed intersection 
capacities. DON will prepare follow-on NEPA documentation for future 
development projects on leased property that have adverse impacts on 
traffic in order to identify mitigation requirements.
    There is a potential for impacts to marine species listed as 
endangered or threatened under the Endangered Species Act from project 
specific construction activities. The National Marine Fisheries Service 
(NMFS) chose to reserve comment until individual project specific 
actions are available for review. DON will review known data concerning 
marine species as specific projects are proposed and will consult with 
the NMFS as appropriate.
    There is potential for significant impacts on cultural resources. 
The Section 106 process of the National Historic Preservation Act has 
been concluded with the execution of a Programmatic Agreement (PA) 
between DON, the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, and the 
State Historic Preservation Officer. Other consulting parties, 
including the National Trust for Historic Preservation (NTHP), 
participated in development of the PA and signed the PA as interested 
parties. DON will carry out the Ford Island Development Program in 
accordance with the stipulations of the PA. The PA provides for the 
review of individual projects at Ford Island and contains provisions 
addressing potential effects of the lease and sale of lands with 
historic properties.
    Response to Comments Received Regarding the PEIS: DON received 
comments from ten organizations and individuals on the Final PEIS. Most 
comments had been responded to in the Final PEIS. The following are new 
and substantive comments.
    EPA commented that DON is responsible for oversight of 
environmental protection efforts on leased properties, especially 
related to the protection of water quality and implementation of 
pollution prevention measures. DON acknowledges that it will fulfill 
its responsibility as owner of leased properties pursuant to the 
specific environmental compliance requirements.
    National Trust for Historic Preservation (NTHP) notified DoN that 
NTHP's written comments prepared for submittal at the August 2, 2001 
public hearing on the Draft PEIS were not included in the Final PEIS. 
This omission was unintentional. However, DON has carefully considered 
Mr. David Scott's summary of NTHP's written comments, presented at the 
August 2, 2001 public hearing. NTHP also commented about the lack of an 
Integrated Cultural Resources Management Plan (ICRMP) for the Pearl 
Harbor Naval Complex. DON has resolved this issue by releasing the 
Final ICRMP for Pearl Harbor Naval Complex dated March 2002. Issues 
addressing impacts to historic properties were resolved with the 
signing of the PA.
    The Commander Navy Region Hawaii determined that the discussion of 
jurisdiction for provision of police and security functions contained 
in the PEIS was incorrect. Jurisdiction is concurrent rather than 
exclusively federal as discussed in the PEIS. The issue of jurisdiction 
has no effect on the environmental analysis.
    Conclusion: In determining whether or not to develop Ford Island 
and if so, to what level of intensity, I considered the following: DON 
operational and readiness requirements; anti-terrorism/force protection 
requirements; benefits to DoN; appropriate uses of historic resources; 
environmental impacts; costs associated with construction, operation, 
and maintenance; and comments received from the public on the Draft and 
Final PEIS. After carefully weighing all of these factors and analyzing 
the information presented in the Final PEIS, I have determined that the 
preferred alternative, Alternative B, best meets DON's needs. 
Alternative B meets DON's operational and readiness requirements with 
implementation of mitigation to minimize significant impacts on the 
environment. Alternative A was rejected because the additional private 
development intensity provided is not needed to satisfy DoN's Ford 
Island Development Program. Alternative C was rejected because there is 
limited economic return, which is needed to attract prospective 
developers to meet DoN's development needs on Ford Island. Alternative 
D was rejected as it would not enable DoN to improve the efficiency and 
effectiveness of its operations, make greater use of its properties, 
and improve the quality of life of sailors and their families.
    As specific projects are proposed during the development of Ford 
Island, additional project-specific environmental analyses will be 
prepared where necessary and, if appropriate, may be tiered from the 
Programmatic EIS. DoN will continue to coordinate with other Federal, 
State, and local entities as necessary to determine if any additional 
mitigation measures are appropriate.


[[Page 18182]]


    Dated: April 9, 2002.
Duncan Holaday,
Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Installations and Facilities).

    Dated: April 10, 2002.
T.J. Welsh,
Lieutenant Commander, Judge Advocate General's Corp, U.S. Navy, Federal 
Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 02-9082 Filed 4-12-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3810-FF-P