[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 139 (Friday, July 23, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 39007-39008]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-15666]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army


Environmental Impact Statement for Army Training Land Retention 
of State Lands at Kahuku Training Area, Poamoho Training Area, and 
Makua Military Reservation, Island of O`ahu, Hawai`i

AGENCY: Department of the Army; DoD.

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act 
(NEPA) 1969 and the Hawai`i Environmental Policy Act (HEPA), the 
Department of the Army (Army) is issuing this Notice of Intent to 
prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to address the Army's 
proposed retention of up to approximately 6,300 acres of land currently 
leased to the Army by the State of Hawai`i (``State-owned lands'') on 
the island of O`ahu. Lease agreements between the State of Hawai`i and 
the Army at each of these three training areas were initiated in 1964 
and expire in 2029. State-owned lands includes approximately 1,170 
acres at Kahuku Training Area (KTA), approximately 4,370 acres at 
Poamoho Training Area (Poamoho), and approximately 760 acres at Makua 
Military Reservation (MMR). Training areas are utilized by Army units 
and other users such as the Marine Corps and Hawaii Army National 
Guard. Because the Proposed Action involves State-owned lands, the EIS 
will be a joint NEPA-HEPA document; therefore, the public scoping 
processes will run concurrently and will jointly meet NEPA and HEPA 
requirements. The EIS will evaluate the environmental impacts from 
implementing the proposed land retention.

DATES: The Army invites public comments on the scope of the EIS during 
a 40-day public scoping period. Comments must be received by September 
1, 2021.

ADDRESSES: Please send written comments to the EIS website at: https://home.army.mil/hawaii/index.php/OAHUEIS. Alternatively, comments can be 
emailed to [email protected], or mailed to: O`ahu ATLR EIS 
Comments, P.O. Box 3444, Honolulu, HI 96801-3444.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Please contact Amy Bugala, U.S. Army 
Garrison-Hawai`i (USAG-HI) Public Affairs Officer, at: (808) 656-3160 
or by email to: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: USAG-HI is home to the 25th Infantry 
Division (ID), and other commands, whose mission is to deploy to 
conduct decisive actions in support of unified land operations; the 
Division conducts continuous persistent engagement with regional 
partners to shape the environment and prevent conflict across the 
Pacific operational environment. On orders, these units may conduct 
theater-wide deployment to perform combat operations in support of U.S. 
Indo-Pacific Command (USINDOPACOM). The 25th ID is based out of 
Schofield Barracks on the island of O`ahu and trains on a rotational 
basis at various training areas, including KTA, Poamoho, and MMR.
    Located in northeast O`ahu, KTA has been the site of military 
training since the mid-1950s. Current training activities on State-
owned lands at KTA include high-density company-level helicopter 
training in a tactical environment, large-scale ground maneuver 
training, and air support training.
    Located in the Ko`olau Mountains in north-central O`ahu, the 
Poamoho Training Area has been the site of military training since 1964 
and provides ideal airspace with ravines and deep vegetation vital to 
realistic helicopter training.
    Located in northwest O`ahu, MMR has been a site for military 
training for nearly 100 years. Tactical training at MMR began in 1941 
after the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor and military exercises 
continue to this day. Current training activities on State-owned lands 
at MMR include maneuver training, the establishment and use of 
restricted airspace for unmanned aerial vehicle training, as well as 
wildfire suppression and security activities.
    The purpose of land retention is to secure the long-term military 
use of

[[Page 39008]]

State-owned parcels, for which current leases expire in 2029. The need 
to retain use of these training lands is to allow the military to 
continue to meet current and future training and combat readiness 
requirements on Army-managed lands in Hawai`i.
    To understand the environmental consequences of the decisions to be 
made, the EIS will evaluate the reasonably foreseeable impacts of a 
range of potential alternatives that meet the purpose of and need for 
the Proposed Action. Alternatives to be considered include the No 
Action Alternative, (1) Full Retention, (2) Modified Retention, and (3) 
Minimum Retention and Access. The Proposed Action does not involve new 
training, construction, or resource management activities. Under Full 
Retention, the Army would retain all State-owned lands within each 
training area. Under Modified Retention, the Army would retain all 
State-owned lands within each training area except lands on which 
limited training occurs. Under Limited Retention and Access, the Army 
would retain the minimum amount of State-owned lands within each 
training area that is required for USARHAW to continue to meet its 
current ongoing training requirements. This includes the State-owned 
lands with the most vital training/support facilities, infrastructure, 
maneuver land, all U.S. Government-owned utilities, and access to these 
features. Other reasonable alternatives raised during the scoping 
process that meet the Army mission, project purpose, and need will also 
be considered for evaluation in the EIS.
    An EIS-level analysis is being undertaken because the land 
retention action could have potentially significant impacts on 
environmental and social resource areas including biological resources, 
cultural resources, hazardous and toxic materials and wastes, 
socioeconomics, utilities, and human health and safety. The analysis in 
the EIS will determine the projected level of impact on each resource 
area.
    The Army anticipates permits and authorizations may be required for 
the Proposed Action, including a lease from the State of Hawai`i 
Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR), National Historic 
Preservation Act and Hawai`i Historic Preservation Review consultation 
with the State Historic Preservation Officer, Endangered Species Act 
Section 7 consultation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, a 
Coastal Zone Management consistency determination from the Hawai`i 
State Office of Planning, and a Conservation District Use Permit 
applicability determination from the DLNR Office of Conservation and 
Coastal Lands.
    The Draft EIS will be available in the summer of 2022. The Final 
EIS 2023, ROD spring 2024. The Final EIS and Record of Decision are 
estimated to be available within three years of this notice.
    Native Hawaiian organizations; Federal, State, and local agencies; 
and the public are invited to be involved in the scoping process for 
the preparation of this EIS by participating in a scoping meeting and/
or submitting written comments. The Army requests assistance with 
identifying potential alternatives to the Proposed Action to be 
considered and identification of information and analyses relevant to 
the Proposed Action. Written comments must be sent within 40 days of 
publication of the Notice of Intent in the Federal Register. In 
response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic in the United States 
and the Center for Disease Control's current recommendations for social 
distancing and avoiding large public gatherings, the Army may not hold 
in-person public scoping meetings for this action. In lieu of in-person 
public scoping meetings, the Army may provide virtual scoping 
opportunities that will include an online presentation and 
collaboration tools, as appropriate, and reasonable accommodations for 
the public to view information and provide oral or written comments 
subject to COVID-19 limitations. An EIS Scoping Virtual Open House will 
be held at Leilehua Golf Course (199 Leilehua Golf Course Rd., Wahiawa, 
HI 96786) on August 9 and 10, 2021 from 6 to 9 p.m. During the EIS 
Scoping Virtual Open House, video presentations describing the Proposed 
Action can be viewed online at: https://home.army.mil/hawaii/index.php/OAHUEIS and oral comments will be taken via an accompanying call-in 
option. Written comments will be accepted during the EIS Scoping 
Virtual Open House and throughout the duration of the 40-day scoping 
process through an online comment platform or by mail or email. 
Additional in-person public comment stations may be made available, 
subject to procedural compliance with governmental guidance and 
restrictions related to COVID-19. Notification of the EIS Scoping 
Virtual Open House and in-person public comment stations will also be 
published and announced in local news media outlets and on the EIS 
website: https://home.army.mil/hawaii/index.php/OAHUEIS. Hard copy 
scoping materials are available by making a request to Amy Bugala, 
USAG-HI Public Affairs Officer at (808) 656-3160 or by email to: 
[email protected].

James W. Satterwhite Jr.,
Army Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 2021-15666 Filed 7-22-21; 8:45 am]
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