[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 188 (Monday, September 29, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 55946-55947]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-24482]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army


Notice of Availability (NOA) for the Draft Environmental Impact 
Statement (DEIS) for the Transformation of the 2nd Brigade, 25th 
Infantry Division (Light) to a Striker Brigade Combat Team (SBCT) in 
Hawaii

AGENCY: Department of the Army, DoD.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: The Proposed Action includes training to be conducted at 
Schofield Barracks Military Reservation (SBMR), Dillingham Military 
Reservation, Kahuku Training Area and Kaiwaloa Training Area on Oahu 
and the Pohakuloa Training Area on the island of Hawaii. Twenty-eight 
projects are proposed that would improve the existing support structure 
and facilities to provide the necessary field training required for an 
SBCT. These projects include construction of ranges, airfield upgrades, 
land acquisition, and new equipment such as new and modernized vehicles 
(namely the Stryker, an eight-wheeled, 20-ton combat vehicle) and 
weapons systems (105mm cannon and 120mm mortar). The number of soldiers 
and vehicles stationed at SBMR also would increase. The Army would 
acquire land on Oahu (approximately 1,400 acres) and on the island of 
Hawaii (approximately 23,000 acres) for training areas and road 
construction.

DATES: The comment period for the DEIS will end 45 days after 
publication of the NOA in the Federal Register by the U.S. 
Environmental Protection Agency.

ADDRESSES: To obtain a copy of the DEIS, ask questions or submit 
written comments, contact Ms. Cindy Barger, U.S. Army Corps of 
Engineers, Honolulu Engineer District, Program and Project Management, 
Attention: CEPOH-PP-E (Barger), Building 230, Fort Shafter, Hawaii 
96858-5440.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Cindy Barger by telephone at (808) 
438-4812; by facsimile at (808) 438-7801; or by e-mail at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The SBCT DEIS analyzes three alternative 
courses of action with respect to the transformation of the 2nd 
Brigade, 25th Infantry Division in Hawaii: (1) The transformation of 
the 2nd Brigade, 25th Infantry Division (Light) to an SBCT with a range 
of supporting activities including new, additional, or modified ranges, 
facilities and infrastructure and acquisition of approximately 1,400 
acres of additional training lands on Oahu and 23,000 acres on the 
island of Hawaii (preferred alternative); (2) the transformation of the 
2nd Brigade, 25th Infantry Division (Light) to an SBCT with a range of 
supporting activities including new, additional, or modified ranges, 
facilities and infrastructure, and acquisition of approximately 100 
acres of additional training lands on Oahu and 23,000 acres on the 
island of Hawaii; and (3) the no action alternative, under which no 
transformation would occur in the near term and training would continue 
as currently exists.
    Comments on the Draft EIS, received during the 45-day public 
comment period, will be considered in preparing the Final EIS. Public 
meetings to comment on the SBCT DEIS will be held at various locations 
on the islands of Oahu and Hawaii. Notification of the times and 
locations for the public meetings will be published in local newspapers 
and in the Hawaii Office of Environmental Quality Control bulletin.
    Copies of the SBCT DEIS are available for review at the following 
libraries: Hilo Public Library, 300 Waianuenue Avenue, Hilo, Hawaii 
96720-2477; Kailua-Kona Public Library, 75-138 Hualalai Road, Kailua-
Kona, Hawaii 96740-1704; Thelma Parker Memorial Public and School 
Library, 96767-1209 Mamalahoa Hwy. Kamuela, Hawaii 96743-8429; Kahuku 
Public and School Library, 56-490 Kamehameha Hwy., Kahuku, Hawaii 
96731-2200; Mililani Public Library, 95-450 Makaimoimo Street, 
Mililani, Hawaii 96789-3018; Hawaii State Library, 478 South King St., 
Honolulu, Hawaii 96813-2901; Wahiawa Public Library, 820 California 
Avenue, Wahiawa, Hawaii 96786-2034;

[[Page 55947]]

Waianae Public Library, 85-625 Farrington Hwy., Waianae, Hawaii 96792-
2406; Waialua Public Library, 67-068 Kealohanui Street, Waialua, Hawaii 
96791; and UH Environmental Center, 317 Crawford Hall, 2550 Campus Rd., 
Honolulu, Hawaii 96822-2217.
    The Draft EIS may also be reviewed at the following SBCT Web site: 
http://www.SBCTEIS.com.

    Dated: September 22, 2003.
Raymond J. Fatz,
Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army, (Environment, Safety and 
Occupational Health), OASA(I&E).
[FR Doc. 03-24482 Filed 9-26-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3710-08-M