[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 111 (Friday, June 7, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48600-48601]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-12573]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army


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

AGENCY: Department of the Army, DoD.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: The Department of the Army (Army) announces the availability 
of a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (Draft EIS) regarding its 
proposed action: to retain up to approximately 6,322 acres of land the 
Army currently leases from the State of Hawai`i. These lands are 
located on the island of O`ahu and comprise approximately 1,150 acres 
at Kahuku Training Area (KTA), approximately 4,390 acres at Kawailoa-
Poamoho Training Area (Poamoho), and approximately 782 acres at Makua 
Military Reservation (MMR). The purpose of the proposed action is to 
retain these three areas for military training beyond the end of the 
current leases. The need for the proposed action is to maintain 
facilities for training by the Army and other Department of Defense 
organizations, as such training facilities are not available elsewhere 
in Hawai`i. In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act 
(NEPA) and the Hawai`i Environmental Policy Act (HEPA), the Draft EIS 
analyzes the potential direct, indirect, and cumulative impacts of a 
range of reasonable alternatives that meet the purpose of and need for 
the proposed action. The Draft EIS also analyzes the potential impacts 
of the No-Action Alternative, under which Army use of these lands would 
cease when the leases expire in 2029. Because the proposed retention 
involves state-owned lands, the EIS is a joint NEPA-HEPA document. The 
two public review processes run concurrently.

DATES: The Army invites public comments on the Draft EIS during the 60-
day public comment period. To be considered in the Final EIS, all 
comments must be postmarked or received by 11:59 p.m. Hawai'i Standard 
Time on August 7, 2024. Public meetings will be held at Wai`anae 
District Park Multi-Purpose Room on July 9, 2024, Kahuku High and 
Intermediate School on July 10, 2024, and at Leilehua High School on 
July 11, 2024, to provide information on the Draft EIS and to enhance 
the opportunity for public comment. Information on how to participate 
in the Draft EIS public meetings and on how to submit comments is 
available on the EIS website: https://home.army.mil/hawaii/index.php/OahuEIS/project-home.

ADDRESSES: Written comments should be: submitted through the EIS 
website (https://home.army.mil/hawaii/index.php/OahuEIS/project-home); 
emailed to [email protected]; mailed to O`ahu ATLR EIS Comments, 
P.O. Box 3444, Honolulu, HI 96801-3444; or provided during public 
meetings. Comments must be postmarked or received by August 7, 2024.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Michael Donnelly, U.S. Army 
Garrison-Hawai`i Public Affairs Office, by telephone at (808) 787-2140 
or by email at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: U.S. Army Garrison-Hawai`i is home to the 
25th Infantry Division (25th ID) and other commands, the mission of 
which is to deploy and conduct decisive actions in support of unified 
land operations. 25th ID is based at Schofield Barracks on the island 
of O`ahu. 25th ID 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 land 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, Poamoho 
has been

[[Page 48601]]

the site of military training since 1964. It provides airspace with 
ravines and deep vegetation for realistic helicopter training.
    Located in northwest O`ahu, MMR has been a military training site 
for nearly 100 years. Tactical training at MMR began in 1941 after the 
attack on Pearl Harbor and military training continues to this day. 
Current activities on state-owned land at MMR include maneuver 
training, the use of restricted airspace for unmanned aerial vehicle 
training, as well as wildland fire suppression and security activities.
    The Draft EIS evaluates the potential impacts of a range of 
alternatives:
    For KTA--(1) Full Retention (of approximately 1,150 acres); (2) 
Modified Retention (of approximately 450 acres);
    For Poamoho--(1) Full Retention (of approximately 4,390 acres); (2) 
Modified Retention (of approximately 3,170 acres);
    For MMR--(1) Full Retention (of approximately 782 acres); (2) 
Modified Retention (of approximately 572 acres); (3) Minimum Retention 
and Access (of approximately 162 acres and 2.4 miles of select range 
and firebreak roads).
    Under the No-Action Alternative for each of these training areas, 
the leases would lapse in 2029 and the Army would lose access to these 
training areas. The Army has identified the preferred alternative as 
Alternative 2 at each of the training areas.
    The Draft EIS analyzes the impacts of both a new lease of the areas 
and full federal ownership (i.e., fee simple title). The Draft EIS 
analyzes land use, biological resources, cultural resources/practices, 
hazardous substances and hazardous wastes, air quality, greenhouse 
gases, noise, geology, topography, soils, water resources, 
socioeconomics, environmental justice, transportation, traffic, human 
health, and safety. The Draft EIS indicates that significant adverse 
impacts on land use (land tenure) and environmental justice would occur 
with a lease or fee simple title at: KTA and Poamoho under Alternatives 
1 and 2; and MMR under Alternatives 1, 2, and 3. Significant adverse 
impacts on cultural practices would occur with a lease or fee simple 
title at MMR under Alternatives 1, 2, and 3. Some of the significant 
impacts for land use (land tenure) could be reduced to less than 
significant. The modified or minimum retention alternatives would have 
significant beneficial impacts on land use (land tenure) for land not 
retained at KTA, Poamoho, and MMR. Impacts of the action alternatives 
on other resources are less than significant. The No-Action Alternative 
would have a significant beneficial impact on land use (land tenure) 
and environmental justice at all sites, and on cultural practices at 
MMR. The No-Action Alternative would have less than significant impacts 
on all other resources at the three sites.
    To mitigate adverse impacts on land use (land tenure), the Army 
would consider adding non-barbed-wire fencing and signage to minimize 
accidental or intentional trespass from adjacent non-U.S. Government-
controlled land. This applies to Alternative 2 for KTA and to 
Alternatives 2 and 3 for MMR. As mitigation for impacts to cultural 
practices and environmental justice at MMR, the Army would, for 
alternatives 1, 2, and 3: review and update its public engagement 
efforts; work with cultural practitioners and Native Hawaiian 
Organizations to update and/or develop a mutually beneficial cultural 
access plan; and promote long-term stewardship of the [amacr]ina (i.e., 
the land of Hawai`i) with regard to military use of state-owned land. 
The Army distributed the Draft EIS to Native Hawaiian Organizations, to 
federal, state, and local agencies/officials, and to other 
stakeholders. The Draft EIS and related information are available on 
the EIS website at: https://home.army.mil/hawaii/index.php/OahuEIS/project-home. The public may also review the Draft EIS and select 
materials at the following libraries:

1. Hawai`i State Library, Hawai`i Documents Center, 478 S King Street, 
Honolulu, HI 96813
2. Kahuku Public and School Library, 56-490 Kamehameha Highway, Kahuku, 
HI 96731
3. Wahiaw[amacr] Public Library, 820 California Ave., Wahiaw[amacr], HI 
96786
4. Wai'anae Public Library, 85-625 Farrington Highway, Wai'anae, HI 
96792

    Native Hawaiian Organizations, federal, state, and local agencies/
officials, and other interested entities/individuals are encouraged to 
comment on the Draft EIS during the 60-day public comment period. All 
comments postmarked or received by August 7, 2024 will be considered in 
the development of the Final EIS.

James W. Satterwhite, Jr.,
U.S. Army Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 2024-12573 Filed 6-6-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3711-02-P