Preparation of the PEIS for Modernization of Training Infrastructure at Pōhakuloa Training Area, HI, 80799-80800 [2010-32177]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
• Department of the Army
• Army Department

[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 246 (Thursday, December 23, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 80799-80800]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-32177]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army


Preparation of the PEIS for Modernization of Training 
Infrastructure at P[omacr]hakuloa Training Area, HI

AGENCY: Department of the Army, DoD.

ACTION: Notice of intent.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The United States Army Pacific (USARPAC) and United States 
Army Garrison, Hawai`i (USAG-HI) intend to prepare a Programmatic 
Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS) for modernizing training ranges, 
training support infrastructure (roads and utilities), and training 
support facilities in the cantonment area at P[omacr]hakuloa Training 
Area (PTA) to meet better the readiness needs of military units in 
Hawai`i. The PEIS will evaluate PTA's long-term vision for modernizing 
training ranges, training support infrastructure, and the cantonment 
area to improve a current shortfall in collective (group) live-fire 
training capabilities for units stationed in Hawai`i. The PEIS also 
includes an analysis for constructing and operating an Infantry Platoon 
Battle Area (IPBA) that would include an Infantry Platoon Battle Course 
(IPBC), Live-fire Shoothouse, and Military Operations on Urban Terrain 
(MOUT) facility. The IPBC would augment the existing non-standard IPBC 
(located at Range 10 on PTA), which is undersized and cannot be 
modernized in its current footprint. The Range 10 IPBC would continue 
to be used for non-standard collective live-fire training exercises.
    Many of the training ranges and infrastructure at PTA do not meet 
current doctrinal training and standard range design requirements. Many 
of the range assets at PTA also do not have sufficient throughput 
capacity to meet collective live-fire training requirements.
    Alternatives analyzed in the PEIS will consider modernizing the 
training ranges, training support infrastructure, and the cantonment 
area at PTA, and a No Action alternative. Under the No Action 
alternative, the Army would continue utilizing current training lands 
and facilities as efficiently as possible.
    The PEIS will also present a range of alternatives for the IPBA at 
either the Western Range Area of PTA, Charlie's Circle, or along the 
southwest side of Range 20, or to not build and operate the IPBA at 
all.
    The primary environmental issues to be analyzed in the PEIS include 
(but are not limited to) air quality, traffic, biological resources, 
cultural resources, public services and utilities, wildfires, and 
hazardous materials and waste. There could be significant impacts to 
cultural resources, air quality, and risk from igniting wildfires. 
Also, we anticipate that some federally-listed threatened or endangered 
plants would be affected. Predicted environmental impacts associated 
with implementing the initial range project of constructing and 
operating the IPBA will be analyzed to include an increase in vehicle 
traffic, air quality impacts, and live-fire activities at currently 
underutilized range locations at PTA. The proposed action may increase 
the risk of igniting wildfires or may result in a loss of cultural 
resources. The Army will identify mitigation measures that could be 
implemented to reduce or eliminate adverse impacts to the environmental 
resources.

ADDRESSES: Written comments may be addressed to PTA PEIS, P.O. Box 514, 
Honolulu, HI 96809; facsimiles may be sent to (808) 545-6808; e-mail 
may be addressed to PTAPEIS@bah.com.

[[Page 80800]]


FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: USAG-HI Public Affairs by phone at 
(808) 656-3152 during normal business hours Monday through Friday 9 
a.m. to 5 p.m. HST.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The proposed action considers modernizing 
the training ranges, training support infrastructure, and the 
cantonment area at PTA. The Army's proposed action is supportive of 
Training Circular 25-8 Training Ranges (TC 25-8), the National Security 
Strategy (NSS, 2010) and the Quadrennial Defense Review (QDR 2010); 
these strategic documents have been incorporated into the Army's 
decision making process. The purpose of the proposed action 
(modernization) is to reduce a shortfall in collective live-fire 
training capability in Hawai'i and improve the infrastructure that 
supports the training capability.
    An IPBC is used to train and test infantry platoons, either mounted 
or dismounted, on the skills necessary to conduct tactical movement 
techniques and detect, identify, engage, and defeat stationary and 
moving infantry and armor targets in a tactical array. A standard IPBC 
is approximately 500 meter (m) wide at the initial engagement entry 
point and 1,500m wide at the final engagement point and 4,000m long. 
The Army plans to construct an IPBC that would be 1,000m wide at the 
initial engagement entry point to add flexibility for unit commanders 
to train against additional objectives supporting combat scenarios 
experienced in the contemporary combat environment.
    A Live-fire Shoothouse and MOUT facility would be sited in the 
immediate vicinity of the IPBC. The Shoothouse would provide Army unit 
leaders with a facility to train and evaluate the unit during a live-
fire exercise. Soldiers would fire small arms weapons at targets within 
the facility. The range would include associated range operations and 
control facilities, an operations/storage building, latrine, and after-
action review (AAR) facility. The primary facility of the Shoothouse 
would be a two-story building approximately 4,700 square feet, with 
stairways and a roof.
    The MOUT facility would include the construction or placement of 
approximately 24 modular structures to replicate small villages for 
units to complete training tasks in an urban/semi-urban operating 
environment. There is no standard design for a MOUT facility. The MOUT 
facility footprint at PTA would be approximately 800 feet by 800 feet 
or 640,000 square feet.
    Predicted environmental impacts associated with the modernization 
of PTA may include actions that have both positive (beneficial) and 
adverse impacts to the environmental resources at PTA.
    Each proposed IPBA live-fire alternative location under 
consideration is either in or directly adjacent to the existing impact 
area at PTA.
    Based on public scoping and factors discussed above, the Army will 
refine its range of reasonable alternatives to the extent possible to 
accommodate mission requirements. In reaching this decision, the Army 
will assess and consider public concerns.
    Scoping and Public Comment: All interested members of the public, 
including Federally recognized Indian Tribes, Native Hawai`ian groups, 
and Federal, state, and local agencies are invited to participate in 
the scoping process for the preparation of this PEIS. Written comments 
identifying environmental issues, concerns and opportunities to be 
analyzed in the PEIS will be accepted for 45 days following publication 
of the Notice of Intent in the Federal Register. Scoping meetings will 
be held on the Island of Hawai'i. Notification of the times and 
locations for the scoping meetings will be published in local 
newspapers.

    Dated: December 16, 2010.
Hershell E. Wolfe,
Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army (Environment, Safety, and 
Occupational Health).
[FR Doc. 2010-32177 Filed 12-22-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3710-08-P