Second Draft Environmental Impact Statement for Army Training Land Retention at Pōhakuloa Training Area in Hawai'i, 28753-28754 [2024-08403]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
• Department of the Army

[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 77 (Friday, April 19, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 28753-28754]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-08403]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army


Second Draft Environmental Impact Statement for Army Training 
Land Retention at P[omacr]hakuloa Training Area in Hawai[revaps]i

AGENCY: Department of the Army, DOD.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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

SUMMARY: The Department of the Army (Army) announces the availability 
of a Second Draft Environmental Impact Statement (Draft EIS) regarding 
its proposed action to retain up to approximately 22,750 acres of the 
23,000 acres of land the Army currently leases from the State of 
Hawai[revaps]i (``State-owned land'') at P[omacr]hakuloa Training Area 
(PTA) on the island of Hawai[revaps]i. The Army is publishing the Draft 
EIS for public review during a 45-day comment period. In accordance 
with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and the 
Hawai[revaps]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. Because the proposed action involves State-owned land, 
the EIS is a joint NEPA-HEPA document; therefore, the public review 
process runs concurrently and meets both NEPA and HEPA requirements.

DATES: The Army invites public comments on the Draft EIS during the 45-
day public comment period. To be considered in the Final EIS, all 
comments must be postmarked or received by 11:59 p.m. Hawai[revaps]i 
standard time on June 7, 2024. Public meetings will be held in Waimea 
District Park on May 6, 2024, and at the [revaps]Imiloa Astronomy 
Center on May 7, 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 how to submit comments 
is available on the EIS website at https://home.army.mil/hawaii/index.php/PTAEIS.

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

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: During World War II, the U.S. Marine Corps 
trained on the land now known as PTA. A 1956 maneuver agreement between 
the Territory of Hawai[revaps]i and the Army formally established PTA. 
In 1964, the State of Hawai[revaps]i granted the Army a 65-year lease 
of approximately 23,000 acres of land adjacent to PTA for military 
purposes. The State-owned land now contains utilities, critical 
infrastructure, maneuver area, and key training facilities, some of 
which are not available elsewhere in Hawai[revaps]i. The parcel also 
provides access among the PTA cantonment area and Bradshaw Army 
Airfield and two other federally owned parcels at PTA.
    The Army made a Draft EIS available for comment on this action on 
April 8, 2022. In response to comments received from agencies and the 
public on that Draft EIS, the Army is no longer considering the 
retention of approximately 250 acres of State-owned land administered 
by the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands. In addition to analyzing 
impacts of a fee simple retention method, the new Draft EIS also 
assesses impacts of a lease retention method. Due to these changes, the 
Army determined that another draft EIS should be made available for 
public comment.
    The Draft EIS evaluates the potential impacts of a range of 
reasonable alternatives: (1) Maximum Retention (of approximately 22,750 
acres); (2) Modified Retention (of approximately 19,700 acres); and (3) 
Minimum Retention and Access (of approximately 10,100 acres and 11 
miles of roads and training trails). The Draft EIS also analyzes the 
potential impacts of the No Action Alternative, under which Army use of 
the land would cease altogether when the lease expires in 2029. The 
Army has identified Alternative 2, Modified Retention, as the Preferred 
Alternative. 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 Draft EIS analyzes: land use; biological resources; historic 
and cultural resources and cultural

[[Page 28754]]

practices; hazardous substances and hazardous wastes; air quality and 
greenhouse gases; noise; geology, topography, and soils; water 
resources; socioeconomics; environmental justice; transportation and 
traffic; airspace; electromagnetic spectrum; utilities; and human 
health and safety.
    The Draft EIS indicates that under Alternatives 1, 2, and 3, 
significant adverse impacts on land use (land tenure), cultural 
practices, and environmental justice could occur. Under the No Action 
Alternative, significant adverse impacts on biological resources, 
socioeconomics, and utilities could occur. The No Action Alternative 
could have significant beneficial impacts on land use, cultural 
practices, and environmental justice. To mitigate adverse impacts to 
land use, the Army would consider adding non-barbed wire fencing and 
signage to minimize encroachment and accidental or intentional trespass 
from adjacent non-U.S. Government-owned land. In consideration of 
adverse impacts to cultural practices and environmental justice, the 
Army, in consultation with Native Hawaiians and cultural practitioners, 
proposes to: (1) formalize a cultural access request process to enable 
Native Hawaiians and cultural practitioners to promote and preserve 
cultural practices, beliefs, and resources; and (2) explore options to 
provide unlimited access to specific locations. To mitigate adverse 
impacts on human health and safety, the Army would consider: (1) 
negotiating an agreement with the State to allow the Army to monitor 
for wildfires on the State-owned land that is not retained by the Army; 
and (2) continuing or renegotiating its Memorandum of Agreement with 
the Hawai[revaps]i County Fire Department to assist wildfire responders 
with wildfire suppression outside of PTA boundaries.
    The No Action Alternative could have: significant adverse impacts 
on biological resources, socioeconomics, and utilities; significant 
beneficial impacts for land use, cultural practices, and environmental 
justice; and less than significant impacts on all other resources.
    The Army distributed the Draft EIS to: Native Hawaiian 
Organizations; Federal, State, and local agencies and officials; and 
other stakeholders. The Draft EIS and informational materials are also 
available on the EIS website at: https://home.army.mil/hawaii/index.php/PTAEIS. The public may also review the Draft 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. Hilo Public Library, 300 Waianuenue Avenue, Hilo, HI 96720
3. Kailua-Kona Public Library, 75-138 Hualalai Road, Kailua-Kona, HI 
96740
4. Thelma Parker Memorial Public and School Library, 67-1209 
Mamalahoa Highway, Kamuela, HI 96743

    Native Hawaiian Organizations, Federal, State, and local agencies/
officials, and other interested entities/individuals are encouraged to 
comment on the Draft EIS during the 45-day public comment period. All 
comments postmarked or received June 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. 2024-08403 Filed 4-18-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3711-02-P