[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 94 (Friday, May 16, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 21014-21015]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2025-08697]
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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Army
Final Environmental Impact Statement for Army Training Land
Retention at Kahuku Training Area, Kawailoa-Poamoho Training Area, and
Makua Military Reservation, Island of O[revaps]ahu, Hawai[revaps]i (ID#
EISX-007-21-001-1733763715)
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 Final Environmental Impact Statement (Final EIS) regarding its
proposed action to retain up to approximately 6,322 acres of land on
the island of O[revaps]ahu that the Army currently leases from the
State of Hawai[revaps]i (``State-owned land''). These lands 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). In
accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and the
Hawai[revaps]i Environmental Policy Act (HEPA), the Final 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. Because the proposed retention involves State-owned
lands, the EIS is a joint NEPA-HEPA document that meets requirements of
both statutes. The Army will observe a 30-day waiting period before
deciding how much land, if any, it will seek to retain.
DATES: The waiting period for the Final EIS will end 30 days after
publication of this Notice of Availability in the Federal Register by
the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, at which time the Army can
execute a Record of Decision.
ADDRESSES: The Final EIS and informational materials are available on
the EIS website at: https://home.army.mil/hawaii/OahuEIS/project-home.
The public may also review the Final EIS and select materials at the
following libraries:
1. Hawai[revaps]i State Library, Hawai[revaps]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 Avenue, Wahiaw[amacr],
HI 96786
4. Wai[revaps]anae Public Library, 85-625 Farrington Highway,
Wai[revaps]anae, HI 96792
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Michael Donnelly, U.S. Army
Garrison Hawai[revaps]i Public Affairs Office, by telephone at (808)
787-2140 or by email at [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: U.S. Army Garrison Hawai[revaps]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[revaps]ahu and trains on a
[[Page 21015]]
rotational basis at various training areas, including KTA, Poamoho, and
MMR.
Located in northeast O[revaps]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 on the western slopes the Ko[revaps]olau Mountains in
north-central O[revaps]ahu, Poamoho has been the site of military
training since 1964. It provides airspace with ravines and deep
vegetation for realistic helicopter training.
Located in northwest O[revaps]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 use 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 Army published a Draft EIS on June 7, 2024. Native Hawaiian
Organizations, Federal, State, and local agencies and officials, and
other stakeholders were invited to participate in the public comment
processes for the Draft EIS. The Army held three public meetings for
the Draft EIS. Comments and responses to comments are included in the
Final EIS.
The Final EIS evaluates the potential impacts of a range of
reasonable 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
(of approximately 162 acres and 2.4 miles of select range and firebreak
roads).
The Final EIS also analyzes the potential impacts of the No-Action
Alternative, under which Army use of the leased land would cease
altogether when the lease expires in 2029. The Army has identified the
preferred alternative as Alternative 2 at KTA and as the No-Action
Alternative at Poamoho and MMR. The Army based its preference on public
comments, environmental, social, technical, and economic
considerations, and the ability of the alternative to meet the mission
of the Army.
The Final EIS analyzes: land use; biological resources; cultural
resources; cultural practices; hazardous substances and hazardous
wastes; air quality and greenhouse gases; noise; geology, topography
and soils; water resources; socioeconomics; environmental justice;
transportation and traffic; and human health and safety.
The analyses regarding air quality, greenhouse gases, and
environmental justice were prepared according to now-rescinded
executive orders, and according to Council on Environmental Quality and
Army NEPA implementing regulations that have been or are in the process
of being rescinded. Because the analyses of air quality, greenhouse
gases, and environmental justice were provided to the public for
comment, they are included as part of the Final EIS for purposes of
transparency and consistency.
The Final EIS indicates that significant adverse impacts could
occur on land use (land tenure) and environmental justice at KTA and
Poamoho under Alternatives 1 and 2, and at MMR under Alternatives 1, 2,
and 3. Significant adverse impacts could occur on cultural practices
with a lease or fee simple sale 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 Army has identified mitigation
measures in the Final EIS to mitigate adverse impacts on cultural
practices and environmental justice at MMR. The modified or minimum-
retention alternatives could 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 could have a significant
beneficial impact on land use (land tenure) and environmental justice
at all areas, and on cultural practices at MMR. The No-Action
Alternative could have less than significant impacts on all other
resources at the three areas.
The Army distributed the Final EIS to Native Hawaiian
Organizations, federal, state, and local agencies and officials, and
other stakeholders.
James W. Satterwhite, Jr.,
U.S. Army Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 2025-08697 Filed 5-15-25; 8:45 am]
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