[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 108 (Monday, June 8, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 27122-27123]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-13125]


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

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army


Notice of Availability (NOA) of the Final Environmental Impact 
Statement (EIS) for Military Training Activities at M[atilde]kua 
Military Reservation (MMR), Hawaii

AGENCY: Department of the Army, DoD.

ACTION: Notice of Availability (NOA).

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

SUMMARY: The Army proposes to recommence conducting live-fire military 
training exercises at MMR, Oahu, Hawaii, for units assigned to the 25th 
Infantry Division (25th ID) and for other military components (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. Training at the company level is particularly important 
because it is one of the key building blocks upon which the Army's 
progressive training doctrine depends. The Army has prepared the Final 
EIS

[[Page 27123]]

pursuant to section 102(2)(c) of the National Environmental Policy Act 
of 1969 (NEPA), the Council on Environmental Quality regulations (40 
CFR parts 1500-1508) and Environmental Analysis of Army Actions (32 CFR 
part 651).

DATES: The waiting period for the Final EIS will end 30 days after 
publication of the NOA in the Federal Register by the U.S. 
Environmental Protection Agency.

ADDRESSES: To obtain a copy of the Final EIS contact: U.S. Army 
Garrison, Hawaii, Attention: Public Affairs Office, 742 Santos Dumont, 
WAAF, Schofield Barracks, HI 96857.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: U.S. Army Garrison, Hawaii, by phone 
at (808) 656-3152 or by facsimile at (808) 656-3162 during normal 
business hours Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. h.s.t.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The EIS analyzes four alternatives to 
accomplish the proposed training in the State of Hawaii: MMR 
Alternative 1 (Reduced Capacity Use with Some Weapons Restrictions), 
MMR Alternative 2 (Full Capacity Use with Some Weapons Restrictions), 
MMR Alternative 3 (Full Capacity Use with Fewer Weapons Restrictions), 
and Pohakuloa Training Area (PTA) Alternative 4 (Full Capacity Use with 
Fewer Weapons Restrictions). Alternative 3 is the Army's Preferred 
Alternative. A No Action Alternative, under which nonlive-fire military 
training would be conducted at MMR, was also evaluated.
    For all MMR alternatives (with the exception of No Action), MMRs 
range would be used for 242 training days per year. MMR Alternative 1 
(Reduced Capacity Use) involves conducting up to 19 company-level 
Combined-Arms Live-Fire Exercises (CALFEXs) per year and 100 convoy 
live-fire exercises per year. MMR Alternatives 2 and 3 (Full Capacity 
Use) involve conducting up to 50 company-level CALFEXs per year and 200 
convoy live-fire exercises per year. Weapon systems used for all live-
fire training alternatives would be similar to those used during past 
live-fire training events at MMR. In addition to the current weapons 
systems, MMR Alternative 2 incorporates the use of small arms tracer 
ammunition. MMR Alternative 3 (Preferred Alternative) adds the 
following items: Tracer ammunition; inert, tube-launched, optically-
tracked, wire-guided (TOW) 2 missiles; 2.75-inch rockets; and 
illumination munitions. Many of these munitions, however, will only be 
used when consistent with the Endangered Species Act Biological Opinion 
established for training at MMR. PTA Alternative 4 would encompass 
training similar to that in Alternative 3.
    Some of the major potential impacts discussed in the Final EIS are 
associated with soil; surface water and groundwater quality; 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.
    The Army has recommended several mitigation measures that would 
reduce the overall impacts associated with the Proposed Action. The 
final mitigation measures that the Army adopts will be published as 
part of the Record of Decision. In addition, for alternatives 
concerning MMR, the Army would phase in certain training activities and 
ammunition types as steps are taken to recover endangered species.
    Copies of the Final EIS are available at the following libraries on 
the islands of Oahu and Hawaii: Hawaii State Library, 478 South King 
Street, Honolulu; Wahiawa Public Library, 820 California Avenue, 
Wahiawa; Waianae Public Library, 85-625 Farrington Highway, Waianae; 
Pearl City Public Library, 138 Waimano Home Road, Pearl City; Hilo 
Public Library, 300 Waianuenue Avenue, Hilo; Kailua-Kona Public 
Library, 75-138 Hualalai Road, Kailua-Kona; and the Thelma Parker 
Memorial Public and School Library, 67-1209 Mamalahoa Hwy., Kamuela.
    An electronic version of the Final EIS is available for download at 
the following Web site: http://www.garrison.hawaii.army.mil/makuaeis.

    Dated: May 29, 2009.
Addison D. Davis IV,
Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army, Environment, Safety and 
Occupational Health.
[FR Doc. E9-13125 Filed 6-5-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3710-08-M