[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 149 (Friday, August 6, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 43230-43231]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-16807]



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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, Defense (DoD).

ACTION: Amended notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: The Department of the Army (Army) is issuing this Amended 
Notice of Intent, updating the original notice published on July 23, 
2021 of its continuing 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. Since 
coronavirus (COVID-19) restrictions have eased in the City and County 
of Honolulu in the State of Hawaii (Mayor of the City and County of 
Honolulu's Fourteenth Proclamation issued July 2, 2021), in addition to 
virtual scoping opportunities, EIS scoping sessions are scheduled to be 
held at Leilehua Golf Course (199 Leilehua Golf Course Rd., Wahiawa, HI 
96786) on August 10 and 11, 2021 from 6 to 9 p.m.

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. EIS scoping sessions 
will be held at Leilehua Golf Course (199 Leilehua Golf Course Rd., 
Wahiawa, HI 96786) on August 10 and 11, 2021 from 6 to 9 p.m., during 
which video presentations will also be viewable at https://
home.army.mil/hawaii/index.php/OahuEIS, and oral comments will be taken 
via an accompanying call-in option at 808-556-8277.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Please contact Amy Bugala, U.S. Army 
Garrison-Hawai`i (USAG-HI) Public Affairs Officer, at: (808) 656-3158 
or by email to: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Army is updating Federal Register, Vol. 
86, No. 139, 39007 with this notice. 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.
    State-owned lands include 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.
    The purpose of land retention is to secure the long-term military 
use of 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.

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    The Draft EIS will be available at the end of 2022. The Final EIS 
will be published in 2023, and the ROD will be available by fall 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. Written 
comments will be accepted during the EIS Scoping Open House and 
throughout the duration of the 40-day scoping process through an online 
comment platform or by mail or email. Notification of the EIS Scoping 
Open House 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) 656-3158 or by 
email to: [email protected].

James W. Satterwhite, Jr.,
Army Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 2021-16807 Filed 8-5-21; 8:45 am]
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