[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 141 (Friday, July 24, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 36681-36682]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-17372]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army


Record of Decision (ROD) for Military Training Activities at 
Makua Military Reservation (MMR), Hawaii

AGENCY: Department of the Army, DoD.

ACTION: Notice of Availability (NOA).

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SUMMARY: Senior Commander, US Army Hawaii, has reviewed the Final 
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for Military Training Activities 
at MMR and has made the decision to proceed with a variation of 
Alternative 2 to recommence live-fire training at MMR. Alternative 2 in 
the Final EIS analyzes up to 50 combined-arms live-fire exercises 
(CALFEX) and 200 convoy live-fire exercises (LFX). The variation of 
Alternative 2 allows up to 32 CALFEXs and 150 convoy LFXs, and allows 
squad- and platoon-level LFXs that lead up to the company-level CALFEX. 
This decision also reconfirms that the Army will not use MMR for live-
fire training at night until all relevant fire suppression measures are 
met and approved in accordance with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 
2007 and 2008 Biological Opinions. The Army has decided not to use the 
following weapon systems at MMR in order to further protect the 
environmental and cultural resources of the valley: Tracer ammunition; 
Javelin and inert, tube-launched, optically tracked, wire-guided (TOW) 
missiles; anti-tank (AT-4) and 2.75-inch rockets; the shoulder-launched 
multipurpose assault weapon (SMAW); and illumination munitions. This 
decision also eliminates the use of Ka'ena Point and C-Ridge for 
training, due to the risk of wildfire and the potential impacts to 
threatened and endangered species. This Alternative 2 variation 
represents a proper balance for meeting the training requirements of 
the units of the 25th Infantry Division (ID), U.S. Army Reserve, Hawaii 
Army National Guard, and other users of the range at MMR, while 
ensuring the Army meets its responsibilities to preserve the land and 
resources at MMR, and continues to be a good neighbor to the community 
along the Wai'anae coast.

ADDRESSES: Address requests for a copy of the ROD to the U.S. Army 
Garrison, Hawaii, Attention: Public Affairs Office, 742 Santos Dumont, 
WAAF, Schofield Barracks, HI 96857, or download a copy from the 
following Web site: http://www.garison.hawaii.army.mil/makuaeis.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: U.S. Army Garrison, Hawaii Public 
Affairs Office at (808) 656-3152; facsimile at (808) 656-3162 during 
normal business hours Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. HST.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Final EIS assessed four alternatives to 
accomplish combined-arms live-fire training on 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). A No Action Alternative, under which non 
live-fire military training would continue to be conducted at MMR, was 
also evaluated.
    Implementation of the Alternative 2 variation may result in several 
major impacts to: Recreational resources, noise from training, soils, 
natural resources (including threatened and endangered species), 
cultural resources, surface water quality from erosion, wildfires, and 
to public safety from the transport of munitions through the Wai'anae 
community.

[[Page 36682]]

    The Army has adopted all practicable mitigation measures to avoid 
or minimize environmental harm. Mitigation measures are summarized in 
the ROD and are described in greater detail in Chapter 4 of the Final 
EIS.
    Recommencing live-fire military training activities at MMR was 
selected because it best meets the military's collective training 
requirements. The decision to proceed with a variation of Alternative 2 
incorporates analyses in the Final EIS, involvement from the public, 
consideration of the cumulative impacts associated with all the 
alternatives evaluated, and the training requirements of the 25th ID.
    The EIS considered construction of facilities at Pohakuloa Training 
Area on the island of Hawaii (Alternative 4). This alternative did not 
meet the purpose and need of the proposed action as well as the 
selected action. A fuller rationale for the decision can be found in 
the ROD.

    Dated: July 16, 2009.
Addison D. Davis, IV,
Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army, (Environment, Safety and 
Occupational Health).
[FR Doc. E9-17372 Filed 7-23-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3710-08-M