[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 148 (Wednesday, August 3, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 44580-44581]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-15277]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army


Notice of Availability (NOA) of the Draft Environmental Impact 
Statement (DEIS) for Military Training Activities at Makua Military 
Reservation (MMR), HI

AGENCY: Department of the Army, DoD.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: The Army proposes to conduct military training exercises at 
MMR, Oahu, Hawaii, for units assigned to the 25th Infantry Division 
(Light) (25th ID(L)) and for other military components. Other military 
components that have used MMR in the past include the Marine Corps, 
Army Reserves, and the Hawaii Army National Guard. Conducting live-fire 
exercises at the company level and below is critical to maintaining the 
readiness of all military units assigned or stationed in Hawaii in 
particular because training at the company level is one of the key 
building blocks in the Army's progressive training doctrine. Under this 
doctrine, Soldiers first train as smaller units and then train 
collectively as part of a large unit. In addition, the training 
received by a company commander during a company-level combined-arms 
live-fire exercise (CALFEX) is invaluable in teaching Soldiers the 
skills required to coordinate and integrate the combined arms support 
provided by aviation, artillery, mortar, and combat engineer support 
teams. These communication and coordination skills are essential when 
several companies combine as a battalion under the control of a 
battalion commander. The DEIS addresses, among other things, the 
potential direct, indirect, and cumulative environmental impacts 
associated with the proposal to conduct military training activities at 
MMR. The DEIS development process was conducted in accordance with the 
Settlement Agreement and Stipulated Order between Malama Makua and the 
Department of Defense (filed October 4, 2001).

DATES: Submit comments on or before September 21, 2005.

ADDRESSES: Direct questions and/or written comments to, or request a 
copy of the DEIS from Mr. Gary Shirakata, Programs and Project 
Management Division, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Honolulu District, 
ATTN: CEPOH-PP-E (Shirakata), Building 230, Fort Shafter, HI 96858-
5440.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Gary Shirakata at (808) 438-0772; 
by e-mail at [email protected]; or by facsimile at (808) 
438-7801.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The DEIS analyzes three alternatives to 
accomplish the proposed training on Oahu: Alternative 1 (Reduced 
Capacity Use with Some Weapons Restrictions), Alternative 2 (Full 
Capacity Use with Some Weapons Restrictions), Alternative 3 (Full 
Capacity Use with Fewer Restrictions). Alternative 3 is the Army's 
Preferred Alternative. A No Action Alternative, under which no military 
training would be conducted, also was evaluated.
    For all alternatives (with the exception of No Action), MMR would 
be used for 242 training days per year. Alternative 1 (Reduced Capacity 
Use) involves conducting up to 19 to 28 company-level CALFEXs per year. 
Alternatives 2 and 3 (Full Capacity Use) involve conducting up to 50 
company-level CALFEXs per year. Weapon systems used for all three 
training alternatives would be similar to those used during current 
training. In addition to the current weapons systems, Alternative 2 
incorporates the use of tracer ammunition. Alternative 3 (Preferred 
Alternative) adds tracer ammunition; inert, tube-launched, opticallly-
tracked, wire-guided (TOW) missiles; 2.75-caliber rockets; and 
illumination munitions. Alternative 3 also would include use of an 
expanded training area that would utilize the ridge between the north 
and south lobes of the training area.
    Some of the major potential impacts discussed in the DEIS are 
associated with contamination of soil, surface water, and groundwater, 
air quality; cultural sites; natural resources; endangered and 
threatened species; noise; recreational resources; wildfires; and the 
safety and transport of munitions through the Waianae community.
    Comments on the DEIS will be considered in preparing the Final EIS. 
Public meetings to receive comments on the DEIS will be held along the 
Waianae Coast, Oahu. Notification of the times and locations for the 
public meetings will be published in local newspapers and the Hawaii 
Office of Environmental Quality Control Bulletin.
    Copies of the DEIS are available for review at the following 
libraries: Hawaii State Library, 478 South King Street,

[[Page 44581]]

Honolulu; Wahiawa Public Library, 820 California Avenue, Wahiawa; 
Waianae Public Library, 85-625 Farrington Highway, Waianae; and the 
Pearl City Public Library, 1138 Waimano Home Road, Pearl City.
    The DEIS may also be reviewed at the following Web site: http://www.makuaeis.com.

    Dated: July 27, 2005.
Daphne Kennedy,
Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army (Environment, Safety and 
Occupational Health) OASA(I&E).
[FR Doc. 05-15277 Filed 8-2-05; 8:45 am]
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