Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for Pacific Missile Range Facility and Kōke'e Park Geophysical Observatory Real Estate, 39607-39608 [2024-10167]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
• National Aeronautics and Space Administration
• Department of the Navy

[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 91 (Thursday, May 9, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 39607-39608]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-10167]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Navy

NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION


Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for 
Pacific Missile Range Facility and K[omacr]ke[revaps]e Park Geophysical 
Observatory Real Estate

AGENCY: Department of the Navy (DON), Department of Defense (DoD), and 
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 
1969 and regulations implemented by the Council on Environmental 
Quality, the Department of the Navy (DON) and National Aeronautics and 
Space Administration (NASA), the DON and NASA announce their intent to 
prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to evaluate the 
potential environmental effects associated with the continued long-term 
DoD use of 8,348 acres of State lands on Kauai, Hawaii for operational 
continuity and sustainment (in support of continued military training, 
testing, and facility operations) at the Pacific Missile Range Facility 
(PMRF), and the continued long-term NASA use of 23 acres of State lands 
on Kaua[revaps]i, Hawaii in support of continued operations (including 
measurements of the Earth's rotation and local land motion) at 
K[omacr]ke[revaps]e Park Geophysical Observatory (KPGO).

DATES: The 40-day public scoping period begins on May 8, 2024, and 
extends to June 17, 2024. Comments must be postmarked or submitted 
electronically via the project website no later than 11:59 p.m. Hawaii 
Standard Time (HST) on June 17, 2024 for consideration in the Draft 
EIS.
Public scoping meetings are planned as follows:

 June 4, 2024, from 5:00-8:00 p.m. HST at Kaua[revaps]i 
Veterans Center, 3215 Kaua[revaps]i Veterans Memorial Highway, 
L[imacr]hu[revaps]e
 June 5, 2024, from 5:00-8:00 p.m. HST at Kekaha Neighborhood 
Center, 8130 Elepaio Road, Kekaha
 June 6, 2024, from 5:00-8:00 p.m. HST at Sheraton Coconut 
Beach Resort, 650 Aleka Loop, Kapa[revaps]a

    The purpose of the scoping period is to provide the public with 
information related to the Proposed Action, its purpose and need, 
environmental resources to be analyzed in the EIS, the NEPA and HEPA 
process, consultation under NHPA, and public involvement opportunities. 
The DON and NASA are providing a web-based platform, as well as public 
scoping meetings for the public to learn about the Proposed Action and 
alternatives and to provide scoping comments. Comments must be 
postmarked or submitted electronically via the website no later than 
11:59 p.m. HST on June 17, 2024 for consideration in the Draft EIS.

ADDRESSES: The DON and NASA invite all interested parties to submit 
scoping comments on the EIS or information regarding historic 
properties or Section 106 consulting party interest through the project 
website at KPGO-EIS.com">https://www.PMRF-KPGO-EIS.com or by mail to: Naval Facilities 
Engineering Systems Command, Hawaii, Environmental OPHEV2, Attention: 
PMRF and KPGO RE EIS Project Manager, Ms. Kerry Wells, 400 Marshall 
Road, Building X-11, Pearl Harbor, HI 96860.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 
    DON: Commander, Navy Region Hawaii, Attn: Mr. Danny Hayes, 
Environmental Public Affairs Specialist, by telephone (808-473-0662) or 
email ([email protected]).
    NASA: Shari A. Miller, NASA; EIS Project Manager, by telephone 
(757-824-2327) or email ([email protected]).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    As the proposed action involves State lands, the EIS will be a 
joint NEPA, Hawaii Environmental Policy Act (HEPA) (as governed by 
Hawaii Revised Statutes [HRS] chapter 343), and Hawaii Administrative 
Rules (HAR) section 11-200.1 (implementing HRS chapter 343) document; 
therefore, the public scoping processes will run concurrently and will 
jointly meet NEPA and HEPA

[[Page 39608]]

requirements. The DON and NASA are initiating a 40-day public scoping 
process to receive comments on the scope of the EIS including 
identification of potential alternatives and environmental concerns, 
information and analyses relevant to the Proposed Action, issues the 
public would like to see addressed in the EIS, and the project's 
potential to affect historic properties pursuant to section 106 of the 
National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) of 1966. DON's action 
proponent for this proposal is Commander, Navy Region Hawaii.
    The DON's purpose for the Proposed Action is to maintain long-term 
DoD use of 8,348 acres of State lands (including leaseholds and 
easement lands) on Kaua[revaps]i, Hawaii for operational continuity and 
sustainment of the military readiness mission. NASA's purpose for the 
Proposed Action is to maintain long-term use of 23 acres of State land 
on Kaua[revaps]i, Hawaii for continued operations of KPGO. The Proposed 
Action is needed because the existing real estate agreements are set to 
expire between 2027 and 2030. Preserving the long-term DoD and NASA use 
of these State lands is critical for military readiness, continuation 
of ongoing military training and testing, and maintaining data 
collection efforts of global significance. It also ensures the 
continued conservation management by the DON and NASA of natural and 
cultural resources on these lands.
    For the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR), in 
addition to its role as the lessor of State lands, the proposed real 
estate action presents an opportunity for the agency to secure a 
revenue source to support its management of public lands and associated 
environmental and conservation programs. Fees from leases and easements 
are put into a State fund as required by law.
    By ensuring continued DON and NASA operations on Kaua[revaps]i, the 
real estate action would also preserve local jobs and income for the 
residents of Kaua[revaps]i, financially contribute to the overall 
economic well-being of Kaua[revaps]i, and maintain continued 
conservation management of natural and cultural resources on State 
lands at no cost to the State of Hawaii.
    The DON and NASA have identified two preliminary action 
alternatives to carry forward for analysis in the EIS, along with the 
No Action Alternative.
    Alternative 1 (Succeeding Current Real Estate Agreements): The DON 
and NASA would apply to DLNR for new long-term real estate agreements 
in the same manner and for the same uses as the current leases and 
easements.
    Alternative 2 (Fee Simple Acquisition of Current Real Estate 
Agreements for Leaseholds): The DON and NASA would pursue fee simple 
acquisition of 700 acres (684--DON, 16--NASA) of leaseholds, and 
otherwise obtain use of the remaining acreage as described in 
Alternative 1.
    Alternative 3 (No Action Alternative): The DON and NASA would not 
seek any real estate agreements for the State lands on Kaua[revaps]i 
after expiration of the leases and easements between 2027 to 2030. The 
current real estate agreements for 8,348 acres with the DON and 23 
acres with NASA would expire. All existing infrastructure would be 
removed, or abandoned in place (as determined by the existing real 
estate agreements), from the DON and NASA leased and easement lands.
    Consistent with Council on Environmental Quality regulations and 
HAR section 11-200.1-24(b), the scope of the analysis for the 
alternatives in this EIS is proportionate to the potential for 
environmental impacts. The following 13 resources have a potential for 
impacts and are analyzed in this EIS: archaeological and historic 
resources, cultural practices, biological resources, land use, 
socioeconomics, environmental justice, water resources, utilities, 
public health and safety, air quality and greenhouse gases, 
transportation, hazardous materials and wastes, and visual resources. 
The EIS will analyze measures that would avoid, minimize, or mitigate 
environmental effects. The DON and NASA will conduct coordination, 
consultation, and permitting activities required by the NHPA, the 
Endangered Species Act, the Clean Water Act, the Coastal Zone 
Management Act, Hawaii Revised Statues chapter 183C and HAR chapter 13-
5, HAR chapter 6E, and other laws and regulations determined to be 
applicable to the project.
    This EIS will satisfy both Federal and State of Hawaii requirements 
and provide the necessary analyses to allow the DON, NASA, and DLNR to 
consider the environmental effects of the Proposed Action and 
alternatives as part of their decision-making. The DON and NASA 
encourages Federal, State, and local agencies, and interested persons 
to provide comments concerning the alternatives proposed for study and 
environmental issues for analysis in the EIS, as well as to identify 
specific environmental resources the DON and NASA should consider when 
developing the Draft EIS. The DON and NASA will prepare the Draft EIS 
and will include analyses of potential effects to the resources the 
DON, NASA, and the commenting public have identified. All comments 
received during the public scoping period will be considered during EIS 
preparation.
    Comments must be postmarked or submitted electronically by email to 
KPGO-EIS.com">info@PMRF-KPGO-EIS.com, and/or electronically through the EIS website 
at www.PMRF-KPGO-EIS.com. Comments must be posted by 11:59 p.m. HST on 
June 17, 2024.
    After the scoping period, the DON and NASA will develop the Draft 
EIS. The DON and NASA intend to release the Draft EIS in summer of 
2025, the Final EIS in spring of 2026, with a Record of Decision signed 
in late spring of 2026.

    Dated: May 6, 2024.
Emily A. Pellegrino,
Program Analyst, Directives and Regulatory Team, National Aeronautics 
and Space Administration.
J.E. Koningisor,
Lieutenant Commander, Judge Advocate General's Corps, U.S. Navy, 
Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 2024-10167 Filed 5-8-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3810-FF-P