[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 184 (Monday, September 22, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54566-54567]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-21942]
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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Army
Notice of Availability (NOA) of the Supplemental Draft
Environmental Impact Statement (SDEIS) for Military Training Activities
at Makua Military Reservation (MMR), Hawaii
AGENCY: Department of the Army, DoD.
ACTION: Notice of availability.
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SUMMARY: The Army proposes to conduct live-fire military training
exercises at MMR, Oahu, Hawaii, for units assigned to the 25th Infantry
Division (25th ID) and for other military components. Other military
components that have used MMR in the past include the Marine Corps,
Army Reserves, and the Hawaii Army National Guard. The training
proposed for MMR includes company-level, combined arms live-fire
exercises and convoy live-fire training. The SDEIS addresses, among
other things, the potential direct, indirect, and cumulative
environmental impacts associated with the proposal to conduct military
training activities at MMR. The Army has prepared the SDEIS pursuant to
Section 102(2)(c) of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969
(NEPA), the Council on Environmental Quality regulations (40 CFR Parts
1500-1 508), Environmental Analysis of Army Actions (32 CFR Part 651).
DATES: The public comment period for the SDEIS will end 45 days after
publication of the NOA in the Federal Register by the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency.
ADDRESSES: Please send written comments on the SDEIS to: U.S. Army
Garrison, Hawaii. ATTN: Public Affairs Office, 742 Santos Dumont, WAAF,
Schofield Barracks, HI 96857. E-mail comments should be sent to:
[email protected].
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: U.S. Army Garrison, Hawaii, at (808)
656-3152; or by facsimile at (808) 656-3162.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This EIS was originally published as a draft
in 2005. The Army made several changes to the EIS in response to public
comments including the evaluation of an additional training alternative
at the Pohakuloa Training Area (PTA). The Army is republishing the EIS
as a supplemental draft to seek public comment.
The SDEIS analyzes four alternatives to accomplish the proposed
training in the State of Hawaii: MMR Alternative 1 (Reduced Capacity
Use with Some Weapons Restrictions), MMR Alternative 2 (Full Capacity
Use with Some Weapons Restrictions), MMR Alternative 3 (Full Capacity
Use with Fewer Weapons Restrictions), and PTA Alternative 4 (Full
Capacity Use with Fewer Weapons Restrictions). Alternative 3 is the
Army's Preferred Alternative. A No Action Alternative, under which no
live fire military training would be conducted at MMR, was also
evaluated.
For all alternatives (with the exception of No Action), the range
would be used for 242 training days per year. MMR Alternative 1
(Reduced Capacity Use) involves conducting up to 28 company-level
combined arms live-fire exercises (CALFEXs) per year and 100 convoy
live-fire exercises per year. MMR Alternatives 2, 3, and 4 (Full
Capacity Use) involve conducting up to 50 company-level CALFEXs per
year and 200 convoy live-fire exercises per year. Weapon systems used
for all training alternatives would be similar to those used during
past training at MMR. MMR Alternative 2 incorporates the use of small
arms tracer ammunition. MMR Alternative 3 (Preferred Alternative) adds
tracer ammunition; inert, tube-launched, optically tracked, wire-guided
(TOW) missiles; 2.75-inch rockets; and illumination munitions. PTA
Alternative 4 would encompass training similar to that in Alternative
3.
Some of the major potential impacts discussed in the SDEIS are
associated with contamination of soil; surface water and groundwater
quality; air quality; cultural sites; natural resources; endangered and
threatened species; noise; recreational resources; wildfires; and the
safety and transport of munitions through the Waianae community. The
Army would phase in certain training activities and ammunition types as
steps are taken to conserve endangered species.
Copies of the SDEIS are available at the following libraries on the
islands of Oahu and Hawaii: Hawaii State Library, 478 South King
Street, Honolulu; Wahiawa Public Library, 820 California Avenue,
Wahiawa; Waianae Public Library, 85-625 Farrington Highway, Waianae;
and the Pearl City Public Library, 1138 Waimano Home Road, Pearl City;
Hilo Public Library, 300 Waianuenue Avenue, Hilo; Kailua-Kona Public
Library, 75-138 Hualalai Road, Kailua-Kona; Thelma Parker Memorial
Public and School Library, 67-1209 Mamalahoa Hwy. Kamuela.
The Army invites the general public, local governments, other
federal agencies, and state agencies to submit wriften comments or
suggestions concerning the alternatives and analysis addressed in the
SDEIS. An electronic version of the SDEIS is available for
[[Page 54567]]
download at the following Web site: http://www.qarrison.hawaii.army.mil/makuaeis.
Public meetings will be held during the 45-day comment period. The
exact locations, times and dates of the public meetings will be
announced in advance through notices and media news releases. A Final
EIS will be published following the close of the comment period on the
SDEIS and incorporation of public comments.
Dated: Septmeber 12, 2008.
Addison D. Davis, IV,
Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army (Environment, Safety and
Occupational Health).
[FR Doc. E8-21942 Filed 9-19-08; 8:45 am]
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