I ... ~-, E-- -~fip-yl'' t ~ 11,,.,, _ tu 'f;j SUZANNE D. CASE DAVIDY.IGE CHAIRPERSON BOARD OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES GOVERNOR OF HAWAII COMMISSION ON WATER RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
ROBERT K. MASUDA FIRST DEPUTY SEP -: 2020 M. KALEO MANUEL DEPUTY DIRECTOR WATER
AQUATIC RESOURCES STATE OF HAWAII BOATING AND OCEAN RECREATION BUREAU OF CONVEYANCES DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION ON WATER RESOURCE MANAGEMENT CONSERVATION AND COASTAL LANDS CONSERVATION ANO RESOURCES ENFORCEMENT POST OFFICE BOX 621 ENGINEERING HONOLULU, HAWAII 96809 FORESTRY AND \MLDLIFE HISTORIC PRESERVATION KAHOOLAWE ISLAND RESERVE COMMISSION LAND STATE PARKS
August 27 2020
TO: Tom Eisen, Acting Director Office of Environmental Quality Control
FROM: Suzanne Case, Chairperson ff Board of Land and Natural Resources
SUBJECT: Environmental Impact Statement Preparation Notice for the Army Training Land Retention at Pohakuloa Training Area; TMKs: (3) 4-4-015:008, (3) 4-4-016:005, (3) 7-1-004:007, (3) 3-8-001:013 & (3) 3-8-001 :022
The Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) requests the Environmental Impact Statement Preparation Notice for the Army Training Land Retention at Pohakuloa Training Area (EISPN) be published in the next issue of the Office of Environmental Quality Control's (OEQC) periodic bulletin, The Environmental Notice.
So as to not overlook any potentially significant impacts to the natural and/or human environment, the DLNR has authorized the applicant to conduct an Environmental Impact Statement-level analysis pursuant to Hawai•i Revised Statutes §343-5(e) and Hawai'i Administrative Rules (HAR) §l l-200.1-14(d)(2). The applicant is the U.S. Army Garrison-Hawaii; the project site occupies Tax Map Keys (TMK) (3) 4-4-015:008, 4-4-016:005, 7-1-004:007, 3-8-001:013 & 3-8-001 :022 in the Hamiikua and North Kona districts on the island of Hawai'i. 1
The required publication forms and files, including an electronic copy of the EISPN in pdf format. have been provided via the OEQC online submission platform. Concurrently with the electronic filing, and as required by HAR§ 11-200. l-5(4)(B), paper copies of the EISPN have been submitted to Hilo Public Library. Kailua-Kona Public Library and Thelma Parker Memorial Public and School Library.
Pursuant to HAR §l 1-200.l-23(10)(c), publication of the EISPN in The Environmental Notice initiates a 30-day public comment period for parties to provide comments regarding potential
1 TMK parcels (3) 3-8-001 :013 and (3) 3-8-001 :022 are Hawaiian home lands and are under the jurisdiction of the Hawaiian Homes Commission. Inclusion of these parcels within the scope of the Environmental Impact Statement does not confer the Hawaiian Homes Commission's approval of future use of these lands after the current lease expires.
21-041 Tom Eisen Acting Director, Office of Environmental Quality Control August 27, 2020 Page 2
effects of the proposed action. A Notice of Intent for this project has been published in the Federal Register. It is the applicant's intent to prepare a single EIS, compliant with both the Hawaii Environmental Impact Statements law and National Environmental Policy Act as allowed under HAR § 11-200.1-31.
Please contact Mr. Russell Tsuji, Land Division Administrator, with any questions at (808) 587- 0422.
c: USAG-HI, Attn: Gregory Wahl G70, Attn: Jeff Overton
' '· ! ' From: [email protected] To: HI Office of Environmental Quality Control Subject: New online submission for The Environmental Notice Date: Monday, August 31, 2020 1:47:22 PM
Action Name Army Training Land Retention at Pōhakuloa Training Area
Type of Document/Determination
Environmental impact statement preparation notice (EISPN)
HRS §343-5(a) Trigger(s)
(1) Propose the use of state or county lands or the use of state or county funds (2) Propose any use within any land classified as a conservation district
Judicial district Hawaiʻi - multiple districts
Tax Map Key(s) (TMK(s))
(3) 4-4-015:008; (3) 4-4-016:005; (3) 7-1-004:007; (3) 3-8-001:013; (3) 3-8-001:022
Action type
Applicant
Other required permits and approvals
Numerous
Discretionary consent required
Use of State Land
Approving agency
DLNR, Land Division
Agency contact name
Russell Tsuji
Agency contact email (for info about the action)
Agency contact phone
(808) 587-0419
Agency address
1151 Punchbowl St. Room 220 Honolulu, HI 96813 United States Map It
Public Scoping Meeting information September 23, 2020 4 - 9 p.m. (Virtual) https://home.army.mil/hawaii/index.php/PTAEIS
Accepting authority State of Hawaiʻi Board of Land and Natural Resources
Applicant
U.S. Army Garrison-Hawaii & U.S. Army Installation Management Command
Applicant contact name
Gregory Wahl
Applicant contact email
Applicant contact phone
(808) 656-3093
Applicant address
U.S. Army Garrison Hawaii Directorate of Public Works - Environmental 948 Santos Dumont Ave., Building 105, 3rd Floor, Wheeler Army Airfield Schofield Barracks, HI 96857-5013 United States Map It
Was this submittal prepared by a consultant?
Yes
Consultant
G70
Consultant contact name
Jeff Overton
Consultant contact email
Consultant contact phone
(808) 523-5866
Consultant address
111 S. King Street Suite 170 Honolulu, HI 96813 United States Map It
Action summary
The Pōhakuloa Training Area (PTA) on Hawai‘i Island encompasses approximately 133,000 acres of federally- owned and state-owned land. The U.S. Government leases approximately 23,000 acres at PTA from the State. The 65-year lease expires on August 16, 2029. The Army proposes to retain up to 23,000 acres of State-owned land in support of continued military training. The retention will preserve access between major parcels of U.S. Government-owned land in PTA, retain substantial
Army infrastructure investments, and allow for future facility and infrastructure modernization. Loss of this land would substantially impact the ability of the Army to meet training requirements and mission of readiness. The Proposed Action does not involve new training, construction, or resource management activities at PTA. Instead, it is a real estate action that would enable continued military use of the land. A Notice of Intent for this action will also be published in the Federal Register.
Attached documents (signed agency letter & EA/EIS)
20-08-28-ATLR-PTA_EISPN.pdf 20200827-DLNR-to-OEQC_PTA-EISPN-signed.pdf
Action location map
PTA_StateOwnedLands.zip
Authorized individual
Barrie F. Morgan
Authorization
The above named authorized individual hereby certifies that he/she has the authority to make this submission. ARMY TRAINING LAND RETENTION AT PŌHAKULOA TRAINING AREA ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT PREPARATION NOTICE
PŌHAKULOA TRAINING AREA, ISLAND OF HAWAI‘I, HAWAI‘I
Photo: G70
PREPARED FOR DIRECTORATE OF PUBLIC WORKS, U.S. ARMY GARRISON-HAWAII
PREPARED BY U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS, HONOLULU DISTRICT UNDER CONTRACT W9128A19D0004
AUGUST 2020
ARMY TRAINING LAND RETENTION AT PŌHAKULOA TRAINING AREA
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT PREPARATION NOTICE
PŌHAKULOA TRAINING AREA, ISLAND OF HAWAI‘I, HAWAI‘I
This environmental document is prepared in accordance with the requirements of Hawaiʻi Revised Statutes Chapter 343 and Hawaiʻi Administrative Rules Chapter 200.1
PREPARED FOR DIRECTORATE OF PUBLIC WORKS, U.S. ARMY GARRISON-HAWAII
PREPARED BY U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS, HONOLULU DISTRICT UNDER CONTRACT W9128A19D0004
AUGUST 2020
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Table of Contents
Section Page
List of Figures ...... ii List of Tables ...... ii Acronyms and Abbreviations ...... iii
Introduction 1.1 Project Summary ...... 1-1 1.2 Project Background ...... 1-2 1.3 Purpose and Need ...... 1-2 1.4 NEPA/HEPA Process ...... 1-5 1.5 Decisions to be Made ...... 1-5 1.6 List of Required Permits and Approvals ...... 1-6
Description of Proposed Action and Alternatives 2.1 Project Area Description ...... 2-1 2.2 Proposed Action ...... 2-3 2.3 Alternatives Considered ...... 2-3 2.4 Land Retention Methods ...... 2-10
Affected Environment 3.1 Land Use ...... 3-1 3.2 Biological Resources ...... 3-5 3.3 Archaeological and Cultural Resources ...... 3-5 3.4 Hazardous and Toxic Materials and Wastes ...... 3-9 3.5 Air Quality and Greenhouse Gases ...... 3-10 3.6 Noise ...... 3-11 3.7 Geology, Topography and Soils ...... 3-11 3.8 Socioeconomics and Environmental Justice ...... 3-12 3.9 Water Resources ...... 3-15 3.10 Transportation and Traffic ...... 3-15 3.11 Airspace ...... 3-16 3.12 Electromagnetic Spectrum ...... 3-17 3.13 Utilities ...... 3-17 3.14 Human Health and Safety ...... 3-19
i Army Training Land Retention at Pōhakuloa Training Area Environmental Impact Statement Preparation Notice
Relationship to Plans, Policies and Controls
Determination and Rationale
Public Scoping Process
Consulted Parties for Preparation of the EIS
References
List of Figures
Figure Page
1-1 Location of Pōhakuloa Training Area, island of Hawai‘i ...... 1-3 1-2 U.S. Government-owned and State-owned Land at PTA ...... 1-4 2-1 Training Areas at PTA ...... 2-2 2-2 Alternative 1: Full Retention ...... 2-4 2-3 Alternative 2: Modified Retention ...... 2-5 2-4 Alternative 3: Minimum Retention and Access ...... 2-8 3-1 Tax Map Key Parcel Identification ...... 3-2 3-2 State Land Use District ...... 3-3 3-3 Hawaiʻi County Zoning ...... 3-4 3-4 Palila Critical Habitat ...... 3-6 3-5 Soils ...... 3-13
List of Tables
Table Page
1-1 Anticipated Permits and Approvals ...... 1-6 3-1 Population in Hawai’i County as Compared to the State of Hawai’i and the United States (2010 and 2017) ...... 3-12 7-1 Consulted Parties ...... 7-1
ii Army Training Land Retention at Pōhakuloa Training Area Environmental Impact Statement Preparation Notice
Acronyms and Abbreviations
APZs Accident Potential Zones HEPA Hawai‘i Environmental Policy Act; Army U.S. Army collective reference for State EIS statute (HRS 343) and rules (HAR 11- ATLR Army Training Land Retention 200.2) BAAF Bradshaw Army Airfield HRS Hawai‘i Revised Statutes CAB Clean Air Branch, DOH ICRMP Integrated Cultural Resources CEQ Council on Environmental Quality Management Plan C.F.R. Code of Federal Regulations MEC Munitions and Explosives of Concern CIA Cultural Impact Assessment mph Miles Per Hour CREC Controlled Recognized Environmental NEPA National Environmental Policy Act Condition NHPA National Historic Preservation Act CZs Clear Zones NO2 Nitrogen Dioxide dB Decibel NOI Notice of Intent DBEDT Department of Business, Economic O3 Ozone Development & Tourism, State PA Programmatic Agreement DHHL Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, State Pb Lead DKI Daniel K. Inouye PTA Pōhakuloa Training Area DLNR Department of Land and Natural REC Recognized Environmental Condition Resources, State (related to ECOP) DOH Department of Health, State ROD Record of Decision EIS Environmental Impact Statement SDZs Surface Danger Zones EISPN Environmental Impact Statement SO2 Sulfur Dioxide Preparation Notice State State of Hawaiʻi ESQD Explosive Safety-Quantity Distance TA Training Area FAA Federal Aviation Administration TMK Tax Map Key FR Forest Reserve U.S. United States FY Fiscal Year USACE- U.S. Army Corps of Engineers GHG Greenhouse Gas POH Honolulu District HAR Hawai‘i Administrative Rules USAG-HI U.S. Army Garrison-Hawaii HELCO Hawai‘i Electric Light Company, Inc. USARHAW U.S. Army Hawaii U.S.C. U.S. Code USCB U.S. Census Bureau
iii Army Training Land Retention at Pōhakuloa Training Area Environmental Impact Statement Preparation Notice
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4
Chapter 1
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Project Summary
Type of Document: Environmental Impact Statement Preparation Notice (EISPN) Project Name: Army Training Land Retention (ATLR) at Pōhakuloa Training Area (PTA) Applicant: U.S. Army Garrison-Hawaii (USAG-HI) & U.S. Army Installation Management Command Agent: G70 111 S. King St., Suite 170 Honolulu, HI 96813 Contact: Mr. Jeff Overton Phone: (808) 523-5866 Email: [email protected] Accepting Authority: State of Hawaiʻi Department of Land and Natural Resources EISPN Triggers: Proposed use of State lands [Hawaiʻi Revised Statute (HRS) 343-5(a)(1)] Proposed use within a Conservation District [HRS 343-5(a)(2)] Project Location: PTA, island of Hawai‘i, Hawai‘i Figure 1-1 Judicial District: Hamakua & North Kona Project Area: Tract A-105-1/Parcel A: 15,420 acres Figure 1-2 Tract A-105-2/Parcel B: 1,944 Tract A-105-3/Parcel C: 5,607 Total Acreage: 22,971 Tax Map Keys (TMK): TMK: (3) 4-4-015:008 (State of Hawai‘i) Figure 3-1 Landowners and TMK: (3) 4-4-016:005 (State of Hawai‘i) Administrators TMK: (3) 7-1-004:007 (State of Hawai‘i) TMK: (3) 3-8-001:013 & (3) 3-8-001:022 (State of Hawai‘i/Department of Hawaiian Home Lands) State Land Use District Conservation District Figure 3-2 County of Hawai‘i Zoning: Open – Open District Figure 3-3 FR – Forest Reserve
1-1 Army Training Land Retention at Pōhakuloa Training Area Environmental Impact Statement Preparation Notice
1.2 Project Background
The United States Army Hawaii (USARHAW) conducts training at Pōhakuloa Training Area (PTA) to meet its federally mandated mission of readiness. The United States (U.S.) Army (Army) plans and executes its operational and training mission by implementing key U.S. military policy documents such as the National Security Strategy, National Defense Strategy, National Military Strategy, and Army Strategy. In the state of Hawai‘i, USARHAW’s mission and training requirements are based on national and Army security and defense strategies. Training offered at installations such as PTA supports the Army’s fulfillment of its role in the Nation’s defense. Users of PTA, including the Army, U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Navy, U.S. Air Force, U.S. Army Reserve, Hawaii Army National Guard, Hawaii Air National Guard, state and county first responders and firefighters, Hawai‘i Civil Defense Agency, Hawai‘i Emergency Management Agency, State Office of Homeland Security, Hawai‘i Police Department, and others, rely on the installation to meet their agency-specific mission and readiness requirements. The effects of current training activities at PTA were previously analyzed under applicable environmental regulations.
PTA consists of approximately 132,000 acres between the mountains of Mauna Loa, Mauna Kea, and Hualālai on the island of Hawaiʻi (Figure 1-1). It is accessed from State Route 200, the Daniel K. Inouye (DKI) Highway. PTA is the largest contiguous live-fire range and maneuver training area in Hawai‘i and is considered the Pacific’s Premier Training Center. It is the only training area in the Pacific region where USARHAW units can complete all mission essential tasks, and the only installation in Hawaiʻi that can accommodate larger than company-sized units (i.e., battalion and brigade) for live-fire and maneuver exercises (AEC, 2013).
The U.S. Government leases approximately 23,000 acres of PTA from the state of Hawaiʻi (State) (Figure 1-2). The 65-year lease of the “State-owned land” expires on August 16, 2029. Over the past six decades, the State-owned land has been the keystone of PTA, supporting numerous training facilities and capabilities that are essential to USARHAW and other military services and local agencies. The State- owned land contains maneuver land and key training facilities, some of which are not available elsewhere in Hawai‘i, and provides access among the U.S. Government-owned portions of PTA. Loss of this land would substantially impact the ability of USARHAW and other military services and local agencies to meet their training requirements and mission of readiness. Therefore, U.S. Army Garrison-Hawaii (USAG-HI), the entity responsible for management of PTA, proposes retention of up to approximately 23,000 acres of the State-owned land at PTA in support of continued military training. USAG-HI is initiating an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to analyze the potential impacts of the Army’s Proposed Action.
1.3 Purpose and Need
The purpose of the Proposed Action is to enable USARHAW to continue to conduct military training on the State-owned land within PTA to meet current and future training requirements.
The Proposed Action is needed to enable access between major parcels of U.S. Government-owned land in PTA, retain substantial Army infrastructure investments, allow for future facility and infrastructure modernization, preserve limited maneuver area, provide austere environment training, and maximize use of the impact area in support of USARHAW-coordinated training.
1-2 Army Training Land Retention at Pōhakuloa Training Area Environmental Impact Statement Preparation Notice
Figure 1-1: Location of Pōhakuloa Training Area, island of Hawai‘i
1-3 Army Training Land Retention at Pōhakuloa Training Area Environmental Impact Statement Preparation Notice
Figure 1-2: U.S. Government-owned and State-owned Land at PTA
1-4 Army Training Land Retention at Pōhakuloa Training Area Environmental Impact Statement Preparation Notice
1.4 NEPA/HEPA Process
Proposed Army retention of State-owned land requires compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) (42 United States Code [U.S.C.] Section 4321 et seq.). NEPA directs federal agencies to examine the potential effects of proposed actions on the human environment. NEPA requirements ensure that environmental information is available to public officials and citizens for review before decisions are made and before actions are taken. To pursue retention of the State-owned land for continued USARHAW training, the Army is initiating an EIS process under the Council on Environmental Quality NEPA implementing regulations in Title 40 Code of Federal Regulations (C.F.R.) Parts 1500–1508, and Army NEPA implementing regulations in Title 32 C.F.R. Part 651. The EIS also will fulfill the Hawaiʻi Environmental Impact Statement statute and implementing rule, codified in Hawaiʻi Revised Statutes Chapter 343 (HRS Chapter 343) and Hawaiʻi Administrative Rules (HAR) Chapter 11-200.1. Collectively, the Hawaiʻi statute and rule are referred to as the “Hawaiʻi Environmental Policy Act (HEPA).” Like NEPA, the purpose of HEPA is to ensure environmental concerns are given appropriate consideration in decision making, along with economic and technical considerations. HEPA requires an EIS Preparation Notice (EISPN) to alert the public of the applicant’s intention to prepare an EIS. The first step in the NEPA process is publication of the Notice of Intent (NOI) in the Federal Register to alert the public of an agency’s intent to prepare an EIS and initiate the public scoping process.
Public involvement is a key component of the NEPA and HEPA processes. Solicitation of public input includes notification, publication of project information, and invitations to participate in scoping and provide comments regarding the project. The Army is preparing a single EIS compliant with NEPA and HEPA regulations to facilitate concurrent public review and processing at the federal and state levels of government. HEPA allows draft and final federal EIS documents to be submitted in compliance with HRS Chapter 343, as long as the federal EIS satisfies the content requirements identified in HEPA, including addressing potential cultural resources impacts [HAR Section 11-200.1-31 (4) and (5)]. Chapter 5 briefly describes the determination and rationale to prepare an EIS-level document. Chapter 6 further describes the public scoping process.
In addition to compliance with NEPA and HEPA, the EIS process includes documentation of compliance with other relevant environmental laws and regulations. The EIS will address relevant laws and regulations to provide decision makers with a comprehensive overview of the regulatory issues associated with the Army’s Proposed Action. Chapter 4 lists the anticipated plans, policies and controls that influence the Proposed Action.
1.5 Decisions to be Made
1.5.1 Army Decision
Based on the findings of the Final EIS, the Army will decide on an alternative, taking into consideration which alternative best meets the purpose of and need for the Proposed Action, public comments on the Draft EIS, and the environmental analysis associated with each alternative. The final decision and rationale for selection of an alternative will be presented in a Record of Decision (ROD) following issuance of the Final EIS. The ROD will document the decision made, provide a supporting explanation, and identify mitigation measures. It will explain the pertinent factors relied on in making the decision and how the selected alternative meets the purpose of and need for the Proposed Action. Once the ROD is signed by the Army's decision maker, the U.S. Army Installation Management Command’s Executive Deputy to the Commanding General, the Army will place a Notice of Availability in the Federal Register to announce the availability of the ROD for public review.
1-5 Army Training Land Retention at Pōhakuloa Training Area Environmental Impact Statement Preparation Notice
1.5.2 State Decision
Decisions to be made by state agencies related to the EIS would be made by the Department of Land and Natural Resources’ (DLNR) Board of Land and Natural Resources (BLNR). Under HRS Chapter 343, the agency with the greatest responsibility for approving the action as a whole is the accepting authority. The State-owned land is under the management of DLNR’s Land Division, thus DLNR is the accepting authority for the state. Under HAR Section 11-200.1-28, the accepting authority evaluates whether the EIS fulfills the intent and provisions of HRS Chapter 343, adequately discloses and describes identifiable impacts and satisfactorily responds to comments provided during public review.
Once the EIS acceptability determination is made and the ROD is issued, the alternative selected in the ROD can be implemented. Depending on the alternative selected, possible decisions that may need to be made by state agencies, following acceptance of the EIS, include: • Whether to allow Army retention of the State-owned land. • What method(s) would be used to allow Army retention of the State-owned land, and what terms would be associated with the selected method(s). • If presented with a Conservation District Use Application to permit military use of lands in the state’s Conservation District (Resource Subzone), consider allowable uses and management actions to meet the purposes of the Conservation District.
1.6 List of Required Permits and Approvals
A list of all permits and approvals from federal, state, and county agencies necessary for implementation of the Proposed Action is required to be included in the EIS under 40 C.F.R. Part 1502.25 and HAR Section 11-200.1-23. Table 1-1 lists the anticipated permits and approvals.
Table 1-1 Anticipated Permits and Approvals Permits and Reviews Agency Federal National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 USAG-HI and USAG-Pōhakuloa 54 U.S.C. Part 300101 et seq. with State Historic Preservation Officer (DLNR) Endangered Species Act of 1973 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq. State Coastal Zone Management State Office of Planning HRS Chapter 205A Hawaiʻi Historic Preservation Review State DLNR Land Division HRS Chapter 6E-8 and HAR Chapter 13-275 State Historic Preservation Division Hawaiʻi State Land Use Law State DLNR HRS Chapter 183C and HAR Chapter 13-5 Office of Conservation and Coastal Lands
1-6
Chapter 2
DESCRIPTION OF PROPOSED ACTION AND ALTERNATIVES
2.1 Project Area Description
The State-owned land leased by the U.S. Government consists of three parcels: Parcel A (Tract A-105-1), 15,420 acres; Parcel B (Tract A-105-2), 1,944 acres; and Parcel C (Tract A-105-3), 5,607 acres (DLNR, 1964). See Figure 1-2. The State-owned land connects the three U.S. Government-owned areas at PTA: (1) Cantonment; (2) impact area and training ranges; and (3) Keʻāmuku parcel.
Parcels A, B, and 5,357 acres of Parcel C are managed and administered by DLNR. DLNR’s Board of Land and Natural Resources is responsible for management and administration of approximately 250 acres of Parcel C on behalf of the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands (DHHL), until expiration of the U.S. Government lease. This 250-acre area is referred to as “DHHL-administered land” in this document. The lease for Parcels A, B, and C excludes approximately 112 acres of the Old Saddle Road right-of-way in Parcels A and C. The State transferred administration of Old Saddle Road to the County of Hawai‘i, which grants PTA use of this area (USACE-POH & USAG-HI, 2019). Easements for portions of DKI Highway that cross State-owned land were given to the State Department of Transportation upon highway completion.
The State-owned land includes Training Areas (TAs) 1–15, 18, 19, and 20, and portions of TAs 16, 17, 21, and 22 (including the northern part of TA 22B), which accounts for 22 of the 24 TAs at PTA (Figure 2-1). The TAs are used for maneuver and weapons training and include a variety of training and support facilities, utilities and infrastructure. Army-owned facilities within the State-owned land include live-fire and non-live-fire artillery firing points; ranges for mounted, dismounted, and aviation training; and support facilities such as ammunition storage areas and helicopter and tilt-rotor aircraft landing zones. Army-owned utilities within the State-owned land include electrical, potable water, fire protection water, and communications equipment. Army-owned infrastructure within the State-owned land include roads, training trails, firebreaks/fuel breaks and fire access roads, and a tactical vehicle wash facility.
Figures throughout this document are based on the latest available geographic information system data available to the Army. The approximate acreages presented for the alternatives and associated areas also are based on this data and have been rounded to illustrate the numbers are approximate. Currently, a boundary survey is underway for the State-owned land, and it is anticipated the updated boundary coordinates will be available to refine the figures and acreages presented in the Draft EIS.
2-1 Army Training Land Retention at Pōhakuloa Training Area Environmental Impact Statement Preparation Notice
Figure 2-1: Training Areas at PTA
2-2 Army Training Land Retention at Pōhakuloa Training Area Environmental Impact Statement Preparation Notice
2.2 Proposed Action
Army proposes to retain up to approximately 23,000 acres of State-owned land at PTA in support of continued military training. Army would retain the State-owned land prior to expiration of the current lease to ensure training is not interrupted. Following retention of the State-owned land, Army would continue to conduct current levels and types of military training; facility, utility and infrastructure maintenance and repair activities; and natural and cultural resources stewardship and mitigation on the State-owned land. Army also would continue to permit and coordinate training and other activities on the State-owned land by other PTA users. The Proposed Action does not involve new training, construction, or resource management activities at PTA. Instead, it is a real estate action that would enable continued military use of the State-owned land.
2.3 Alternatives Considered
2.3.1 Alternative 1: Full Retention
Under Alternative 1, Army would retain all the State-owned land (approximately 23,000 acres) at PTA (Figure 2-2). Army would continue to manage and use the State-owned land currently leased; have unrestrained access between the Cantonment, impact area and training ranges, and Keʻāmuku parcel; conduct current levels and types of training as well as facility, utility and infrastructure maintenance and repair activities; and conduct natural and cultural resources stewardship and mitigation. Army also would continue to permit and coordinate training and other activities on the State-owned land by other PTA users at current levels. Alternative 1 is considered the baseline land retention alternative.
Alternative 1 would allow Army to retain its substantial investment in facilities, utilities and infrastructure on the State-owned land; continue military training and other activities without downtime; and conduct future modernization of the facilities, utilities and infrastructure. This alternative would have the least potential for encroachment (e.g., real property intrusion via trespassing, dumping) on U.S. Government- owned land at PTA from adjacent properties as Army would continue to control access to the State-owned land at PTA.
2.3.2 Alternative 2: Modified Retention
Under Alternative 2, Army would retain approximately 20,000 acres of the State-owned land at PTA (Figure 2-3). Additionally, Army would retain all Army-owned utilities, firebreaks/fuel breaks and fire access roads in the State-owned land not retained to enable safe operation of the U.S. Government- owned land and retained State-owned land at PTA. Figure 2-3 depicts the general area, but not all infrastructure and utilities, that would be retained under Alternative 2. Army regularly trains on the State- owned land proposed for retention. The State-owned land not retained (approximately 3,000 acres) includes DHHL-administered land and land rarely used for training.
2-3 Army Training Land Retention at Pōhakuloa Training Area Environmental Impact Statement Preparation Notice
Figure 2-2: Alternative 1: Full Retention
2-4 Army Training Land Retention at Pōhakuloa Training Area Environmental Impact Statement Preparation Notice
Figure 2-3: Alternative 2: Modified Retention
2-5 Army Training Land Retention at Pōhakuloa Training Area Environmental Impact Statement Preparation Notice
Alternative 2 includes the following Army actions and responsibilities: • Army would continue to use all the State-owned land until a new real estate agreement is in place or the current lease expires, whichever occurs first. • In accordance with the lease or otherwise negotiated with the State, Army would restore the State-owned land not retained (approximately 3,000 acres). • Army would continue training on the retained State-owned land (approximately 20,000 acres). • Army would continue to permit and coordinate training at and use of the retained State-owned land by other PTA users. • Army would continue to fund and manage conservation programs in the retained State-owned land but would no longer fund or manage conservation programs in the State-owned land not retained. • Army would install fences, gates, and signs along the edges of the U.S. Government-owned land that are adjacent to the State-owned land not retained.
Alternative 2 includes the following State actions and responsibilities: • The State would assume full control and management of the State-owned land not retained. • The State would be solely responsible for the management of archaeological sites, fire prevention and control services, ungulate (i.e., sheep, goats, pigs) population control, and public hunting access on the State-owned land not retained.
Under Alternative 2, Army would no longer have access to approximately 3,000 acres of maneuver area and various roads and training trails in the State-owned land not retained. Most of this area is critical habitat designated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) for Palila (Loxioides bailleui), a Hawaiian finch-billed honeycreeper. The Palila critical habitat was based on a historical range to promote species recovery. Today, the Palila is typically only seen at elevations above the State-owned land at PTA (USACE-POH, 2017). Because of training restrictions in Palila critical habitat and the physical separation of most of this area from the rest of the State-owned land by DKI Highway, the State-owned land not retained has limited infrastructure and is rarely used for military training; therefore, current levels and types of training would not be impacted.
Alternative 2 would allow Army to continue to manage and use the approximately 20,000 acres of retained State-owned land; maintain access between the Cantonment, impact area and training ranges, and Keʻāmuku parcel; conduct current levels and types of military training; conduct facility, utility and infrastructure maintenance and repair activities; conduct natural and cultural resources stewardship and mitigation; retain much of its substantial investment in facilities, utilities and infrastructure on the State-owned land; continue military training and other activities without downtime; permit Army to access State-owned land not retained for wildfire protection and firefighting activities; and enable future modernization of the facilities, utilities and infrastructure within the retained State-owned land. The Army also would continue to permit and coordinate training at current levels by other PTA users on the retained State-owned land. This alternative would have minimal potential for encroachment on U.S. Government-owned land at PTA from adjacent properties because Army would continue to control access to the majority of the State-owned land at PTA.
2.3.3 Alternative 3: Minimum Retention and Access
Under Alternative 3, Army would retain the following on the State-owned land: vital training and support facilities and associated maneuver land not able to be relocated within U.S. Government-owned land at PTA; select roads and training trails; all Army-owned utilities; firebreaks/fuel breaks and fire access roads; tactical vehicle wash facility; and land use rights to enable the firing of indirect fire weapons (e.g., artillery, mortars)
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from U.S. Government-owned portions of PTA northwest of the State-owned land into the impact area. Figure 2-4 depicts the general area (specific retention area to be refined in the EIS) and select roads and training trails, but not all infrastructure and utilities that would be retained under Alternative 3. Access to vital training and support facilities and associated maneuver land, and Army-owned utilities and infrastructure within the State- owned land is necessary to enable continuation of larger unit collective live-fire and maneuver exercises at PTA; range and emergency services communication at PTA; facility, utility and infrastructure maintenance and repair within the State-owned land; and invasive species seeds and plant material removal from vehicles at PTA. Access to select roads and training trails within the State-owned land is necessary to ensure training; range operations; facility, utility and infrastructure repair and maintenance; and natural and cultural resources stewardship and mitigation on U.S. Government-owned land would continue.
Alternative 3 includes the following Army actions and responsibilities: • Army would continue to use all the State-owned land until a new real estate agreement is in place or the current lease expires, whichever occurs first. • In accordance with the lease or otherwise negotiated with the State, Army would restore the State-owned land not retained. • Army would meet most or all of the natural resource mitigation requirements in the State-owned land via restoration of the State-owned land not retained. • Army would no longer fund or manage conservation programs in the State-owned land not retained. • Army would install fences, gates, and signs along the edges of the U.S. Government-owned land that are adjacent to the State-owned land not retained.
Alternative 3 includes the following State actions and responsibilities: • The State would assume full control and management of the State-owned land not retained. • The State would be solely responsible for the management of archaeological sites, fire prevention and control services, ungulate population control, and public hunting access on the State-owned land not retained.
Under Alternative 3, Army would no longer have access to the training and support facilities, maneuver land, and various roads and training trails on State-owned land not retained. Therefore, training capabilities at PTA would be substantially reduced. Lost training would be accommodated in other ways, which is not part of the Proposed Action, will not be analyzed in the EIS, and would require separate NEPA analysis. Loss of training would affect combat readiness of USARHAW and all military units that use PTA, as well as readiness of state and county government agencies that use PTA. Alternative 3 would increase the potential for encroachment on U.S. Government-controlled land at PTA from adjacent properties because Army would control access of limited areas of the State-owned land.
Alternative 3 would enable Army to continue to use vital training and support facilities and associated maneuver land in the State-owned land; maintain and repair Army-owned utilities and infrastructure in the State-owned land; access State-owned land for wildfire protection and firefighting activities; and fire indirect fire weapons from U.S. Government-owned portions of PTA northwest of the State-owned land into the impact area. Additionally, Alternative 3 would provide Army necessary access between the Cantonment, impact area and training ranges, and Keʻāmuku parcel, which would enable Army to continue military training; facility, utilities and infrastructure maintenance and repair; and natural and cultural resources stewardship and mitigation within U.S. Government-owned land at PTA.
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Figure 2-4: Alternative 3: Minimum Retention and Access
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2.3.4 No Action Alternative
Under the No Action Alternative, Army would not retain any of the State-owned land at PTA after the current lease expiration.
The No Action Alternative includes the following Army actions and responsibilities: • Army would continue to use all the State-owned land until the current lease expires. • In accordance with the lease or otherwise negotiated with the State, Army would restore the State-owned land. • Army would meet natural resources mitigation requirements in the State-owned land via restoration of the State-owned land. • Army would no longer fund or manage conservation programs in the State-owned land, which covers approximately 8,500 acres of the State-owned land (USACE-POH, 2017). • Army would install fences, gates, and signs along the edges of the U.S. Government-owned land that are adjacent to the State-owned land.
The No Action Alternative includes the following State actions and responsibilities: • The State would assume full control and management of the State-owned land at the expiration of the current lease. • The State would be solely responsible for the management of archaeological sites, fire prevention and control services, ungulate population control, and public hunting access on the State-owned land.
The Army would have land access to the Cantonment and Keʻāmuku parcel via DKI Highway, but would have no land access to the impact area and training ranges without an access easement or agreement with surrounding landowners (i.e., State, and Kamehameha Schools). Additionally, the Army would have no access to Army-owned utilities and infrastructure within the State-owned land, which would impact use of the Cantonment, wildfire protection and firefighting activities, training, range operations, and range and emergency services communication.
Under the No Action Alternative, Army would have: (1) no ability to train in or access the State-owned land; (2) limited to no ability to train in or access the impact area and training ranges; (3) no ability to operate, maintain, or repair utilities and infrastructure in the State-owned land that serve U.S. Government-owned land; and (4) no ability to fire indirect fire weapons from U.S. Government-owned portions of PTA northwest of the State-owned land into the impact area. Without land access, the impact area and training ranges might have to be abandoned. Army would lose access to the Ammunition Supply Point and three Ammunition Holding Areas, leaving access to only two Ammunition Holding Areas, which would severely reduce ammunition storage capabilities. The No Action Alternative would greatly curtail training, natural and cultural resources stewardship and mitigation on U.S. Government-owned land at PTA, and would reduce use of the U.S. Government-owned land by other PTA users due to lack of access to the State-owned land and impact area and training ranges. This alternative also would create the greatest potential for encroachment because all three of the U.S. Government-owned areas would be surrounded by adjoining parcels not controlled by the Army.
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The No Action Alternative would compromise the integrity of PTA and reduce USARHAW’s collective live- fire and maneuver training capabilities at PTA from above the company level (i.e., battalion and brigade level) to the platoon level for infantry, artillery, and aviation units (USARHAW, 2017a). USARHAW would not be able to support ready forces to provide the Pacific Response Force per U.S. Indo-Pacific Command order or the Army Contingency Response Force per U.S. Army Pacific order (USARHAW, 2017b). USARHAW, 25th Infantry Division, 3rd Marine Regiment, and many other military units and state and county government agencies would be unable to effectively train at PTA. Lost training would be accommodated in other ways, which is not part of the Proposed Action, will not be analyzed in the EIS, and would require separate NEPA analysis. Loss of training would affect combat readiness of USARHAW and all military units that use PTA, as well as readiness of state and county government agencies that use PTA.
2.4 Land Retention Methods
Army Regulation 405-10 authorizes various methods for Army retention of non-federal government- owned land including title (full ownership), lease, easement, and license. These land retention methods can be accomplished by a variety of ways, including purchase, negotiation, donation, exchange, and eminent domain. In general, it is assumed that title is the land retention method that would result in the greatest potential impact because the other land retention methods could include restrictions, such as restrictions on the quantity and type of training, and could require mitigation to lessen potential impacts. Therefore, to account for the range of potential impacts that could result from the Proposed Action, the EIS will analyze potential impacts associated with obtaining title. Where impacts would be greater under a different land retention method, the EIS will state which land retention method was analyzed and why the impacts would be greater than those associated with title.
If Army decides to proceed with the Proposed Action, then the Army would negotiate the most appropriate land retention method(s) for the selected alternative with the State. One or multiple land retention methods might be negotiated to achieve the selected alternative. Negotiation options cannot be known prior to initiation of negotiation, and negotiation cannot formally start before the conclusion of the EIS process.
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Chapter 3
AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT
This chapter provides a preliminary overview of the existing environmental conditions for the resources within the State-owned land, and surrounding areas where applicable, at PTA. Further details on the existing conditions and potential effects of the Proposed Action on the resources will be provided in the Draft EIS. Additionally, the Draft EIS will include measures to minimize or mitigate potential effects of the Proposed Action.
A preliminary overview of existing conditions relevant to the analysis of the Proposed Action is presented in this chapter and includes: land use, biological resources, archaeological and cultural resources, hazardous and toxic materials and wastes, air quality and greenhouse gases, noise, geology, topography and soils, socioeconomics and environmental justice, water resources, transportation and traffic, airspace, electromagnetic spectrum, utilities, and human health and safety.
3.1 Land Use
The State-owned land as defined in State General Lease No. S-3849 and U.S. Lease DA-94-626-ENG-80 is described in Section 2.1 and shown in Figure 1-2. Tax Map Key (TMK) numbers are used in Hawai‘i to identify real property. TMKs identify the island, zone, section, plat and parcel. The island of Hawai‘i identifier is shown as (3). The State-owned land includes TMKs (from west to east): (3) 7-1-004:007; (3) 4- 4-015:008; (3) 4-4-016:005; and (3) 3-8-001:013 and (3) 3-8-001:022 (Figure 3-1). The two easternmost parcels form the approximately 250-acre DHHL-administered land within PTA (refer to Section 2.1).
The State has a unique system of classifying and managing lands in which both state and county agencies hold distinct responsibilities. All lands in Hawai‘i are classified into four land use districts: urban, rural, agricultural and conservation. The land use district classification was enacted in 1964, following execution of the lease for Army use of the State-owned land. The State-owned land at PTA is currently designated as being in the Conservation District (Figure 3-2). Under the Conservation District statute, HRS Chapter 183C, and its implementing rule, HAR Chapter 13-5 (Conservation District), lawful use of lands established prior to October 1, 1964 are considered nonconforming; thus, the State-owned land is not subject to the land use rules in HRS Chapter 183C and HAR Chapter 13-5. The County of Hawai‘i zoning for the State- owned land is “Open” and “Forest Reserve (FR)” (Figure 3-3).
The lands surrounding PTA include State and private lands (Figure 3-1). Uses in the area include cattle grazing at Parker Ranch, a residential subdivision at Waikiʻi Ranch, undeveloped land owned by the State, and Kamehameha Schools. The county-managed Gilbert Kahele Recreation Area is northeast of PTA.
The Draft EIS will provide additional information and analyze potential impacts.
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Figure 3-1: Tax Map Key Parcel Identification
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Figure 3-2: State Land Use District
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Figure 3-3: Hawaiʻi County Zoning
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3.2 Biological Resources
The Department of Defense is required to comply with all federal laws and executive orders. This includes the Endangered Species Act of 1973, the Sikes Act Improvement Act of 1960, the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918, NEPA, Executive Order 13112 (Invasive Species), and others. The USAG-Pōhakuloa Natural Resource program established goals and objectives and methods of implementation to meet regulatory requirements for the conservation and preservation of natural resources at PTA.
Approximately 35 percent of plants found at PTA are indigenous or endemic, and about 65 percent are non-native species. The majority of State-owned land within PTA is covered in lava flows with a sub-alpine tropical dryland ecosystem that supports ‘ōhi‘a lehua (Metrosideros polymorhpa) and dryland native shrubs including naio (Myoporum sandwicense) and māmane (Sophora chrysophylla). The predominant landscape of PTA outside the State-owned land is dominated by non-native grasses, including invasive fountain grass (Pennisetum setaceum) (USACE-POH, 2017).
State-owned land provides potential habitat for approximately 25 federally listed species. One plant species is listed as threatened, and approximately 19 plant species are listed as endangered. The only terrestrial mammal, the Hawaiian hoary bat, is listed as endangered. One endangered invertebrate species and four endangered bird species could potentially utilize habitat in the area; it should be noted that not all these species have been identified within PTA’s State-owned land. Approximately 5,000 acres within the State-owned land are designated as critical habitat for the endangered Palila. The Palila critical habitat boundaries, established in 1977, were based on a historical range to promote species recovery (Figure 3-4). Today, the Palila is typically seen only at elevations above those of the State-owned land at PTA (USACE-POH, 2017).
Native plants are threatened by grazing from ungulates known to occur within PTA, including pig (Sus scrofa), sheep (Ovis aries), goat (Capra hircus), mouflon sheep (Ovis mismon), and other mammals, including rat (Rattus rattus), small Indian mongoose (Herpestes auropunctatus), and mouse (Mus domesticus) (USACE-POH, 2018). The Army has fenced approximately 8,500 acres of State-owned land to protect native plant species from damage by ungulates (USACE-POH, 2017).
Water resources are discussed in Section 3.9. There are no water bodies within PTA. Aquatic fauna species such as amphibians, reptiles, fish, and marine wildlife do not occur within PTA (AEC, 2013).
The Draft EIS will provide additional information and analyze potential impacts.
3.3 Archaeological and Cultural Resources
The Draft EIS will characterize archaeological sites and cultural resources within the State-owned land in PTA, within the context of the installation and the broader Mauna Kea region to the north of PTA. Approximately 45 percent of the accessible land (approximately 81,000 acres outside of the impact area) at PTA has been surveyed for archaeological sites (USAG-PTA et al., 2018). Roughly 450 acres of the State- owned land are considered “no go” – closed to personnel and vehicles – to protect cultural resources (Taomia, 2020).
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Figure 3-4: Palila Critical Habitat
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The Army is responsible for managing archaeological, cultural, and historic resources at PTA under the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA), Archaeological Resources Protection Act, Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, Executive Order 13007 (Indian Sacred Sites), and Army Regulation 200-1. USAG-HI and USAG-Pōhakuloa implemented a Programmatic Agreement (PA) with the State Historic Preservation Officer and the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation in September 2018. The PA was executed under the NHPA and establishes a process to satisfy Section 106 requirements. The PA governs multiple routine military training and related training range management activities under the USAG-Pōhakuloa mission and identifies steps the installation will take to facilitate consultations, such as ongoing surveys and identification of historic properties (USAG-PTA et al., 2018).
An overview of the archaeological and cultural resource context is included in the following sections.
3.3.1 History of Land Ownership and Use
Prior to and following European contact, the Pōhakuloa area was used for bird hunting, resource gathering and other cultural purposes by Native Hawaiians (USACE-POH & USAG-HI, 2017). In 1859, the lands were leased for sheep and cattle ranching by Francis Spencer. In the 1870s, John Parker of Parker Ranch began acquiring leases of the lands. Due to elevation, climate, and lack of water, the Pōhakuloa area did not support permanent settlement by Native Hawaiians. However, numerous archaeological resources associated with Native Hawaiian use of the area have been identified (USACE-POH, 2017).
Prior to statehood, land in the Pōhakuloa area was held by the Kingdom of Hawai‘i. The lands were either Crown or Government lands until 1893, when the Hawaiian Kingdom was overthrown. The successor government, the Republic of Hawai‘i, assumed ownership and control of these lands and continued public use. When the Republic of Hawai‘i was annexed as a territory of the U.S. under the 1898 Joint Resolution of Annexation (30 Stat. 750), the Republic ceded these lands to the U.S. The U.S. accepted ownership of the lands in fee simple (i.e., owned completely without limitations or conditions). These lands are referred to as ceded lands.
During the territorial era (1898–1959), additional ceded lands were set aside for U.S. military use and other public purposes under Executive Order by the Governor of the Territory of Hawai‘i. On August 21, 1959, Hawai‘i was admitted into the Union and ceded lands were transferred to the newly created state, subject to the trust provisions in Section 5 of “the Admission Act” (Pub. L. 86-3, 73 Stat. 4). The U.S. Government retained ownership of the lands it needed for military and other public purposes and conveyed the remaining ceded lands to the State (USACE-POH, 2016; USACE-POH, 2017). There are Hawaiians and non-Hawaiians who strongly maintain that the State ceded lands were taken illegally from the former Kingdom of Hawai‘i and should be returned to the Hawaiian people or descendants of Hawaiian nationals.
3.3.2 Cultural Context
Native Hawaiians have a spiritual relationship with Mauna Kea, as oral traditions describe Mauna Kea as the first-born child of Wākea and Papa (original father and mother), and thus an ancestor of Native Hawaiians. Mauna Kea is seen as a living elder and the piko (navel) through which the island of Hawai‘i came into being. Mauna Kea reaches up to Wao Kau (lands of the gods) and connects to Wao Kanaka (lands used by the people). Water is an important part of the Mauna Kea’s sacredness. Sacred water sources include springs and Lake Waiau, which is prized for its use in religious and medicinal practice (USACE-POH, 2017). The State-owned land in PTA is south of Mauna Kea.
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The State and its agencies have an affirmative obligation to preserve and protect Native Hawaiians’ customarily and traditionally exercised rights to the extent feasible under the Hawai‘i State Constitution Article XII, Section 7. State law further recognizes that the cultural landscapes provide living and valuable cultural resources where Native Hawaiians have and continue to exercise traditional and customary practices, including hunting, fishing, gathering and religious practices. In Ka Pa‘akai, the Hawai‘i Supreme Court provided government agencies an analytical framework to ensure the protection and preservation of traditional and customary Native Hawaiian rights while reasonably accommodating competing interests.
As part of the EIS analysis, a cultural impact assessment (CIA) will be prepared in accordance with HRS Chapter 343 and Act 50 (Session Laws of Hawai‘i 2000). The appropriate information concerning the area ahupuaʻa (a traditional land division) will be collected, focusing on areas near or adjacent to PTA’s State- owned land. A thorough analysis of potential impacts on cultural resources, historical resources, and traditional and customary practices will be included in the CIA. The CIA will be appended to the Draft EIS.
Previous ethnographic studies have been completed and will be integrated into the CIA. Information gathered through research will be used to focus interview questions related to specific features and elements within the State-owned land. Research will include analyses of archival documents, oral traditions (chants, mele [songs] and/or hula) and Hawaiian language sources. These sources include books, manuscripts and newspaper articles that identify recorded cultural and archaeological resources present on the landscape, including: Hawaiian and non-Hawaiian place names; landscape features (e.g., ridges, gulches, cinder cones); archaeological features (e.g., kuleana parcel walls, house platforms, shrines, heiau [places of worship]); culturally significant areas (e.g., viewsheds, unmodified areas where gathering practices and/or rituals were performed); and significant biocultural resources.
Interviews with lineal and cultural descendants are instrumental in procuring information about the area’s transformation through time and changing uses. Interviews will be conducted with cultural experts and area practitioners; summaries of the interviews will be included in the CIA.
The Draft EIS will summarize cultural and historic resources on the State-owned land and analyze potential impacts.
3.3.3 Archaeological and Cultural Resource Management
NHPA Section 106 requires federal agencies to consider the impacts of undertakings (i.e., project, activity, or program either funded, permitted, licensed, or approved by a federal agency) on historic properties and compliance may be conducted concurrently with the NEPA EIS process.
Under HRS Chapter 6E-42, State agencies providing a permit or entitlement must determine if the project would affect historic properties, aviation artifacts, or burial sites. If the project may affect such sites, a project review must be conducted in coordination with the Hawaiʻi State Historic Preservation Division. Compliance with HRS Chapter 6E provides for the agency (i.e., DLNR) to determine whether a project may have an effect on historic properties. The agency’s determination can include commitments to mitigation actions to address potential effects. The State Historic Preservation Division can review the determination and decide whether it concurs, or can recommend further action under Section 6E.
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The emphasis on cultural resource management at PTA has been on archaeological site identification, documentation, evaluation, and treatment. The Army has funded efforts to identify cultural resources at PTA since 1977, and an archaeologist has been permanently employed at PTA since 1997 (USACE-POH & USAG-HI, 2017).
An Integrated Cultural Resources Management Plan (ICRMP) was prepared for PTA in 2018. The ICRMP ensures consistency in application by consolidating management principles included in over 40 separate statutes, regulations and other binding guidance that dictate the responsibility for managing cultural resources on PTA. ICRMPs are reviewed and updated every year to ensure accuracy and revised approximately every five years as needed. The ICRMP provides comprehensive guidance for the identification, protection, preservation, restoration, enhancement, and successful stewardship of cultural resources on PTA.
The Draft EIS will provide additional information and analyze potential impacts.
3.4 Hazardous and Toxic Materials and Wastes
A Final Environmental Condition of Property (ECOP) Report Phase I (2017) was prepared for State-owned land at PTA with the purpose of identifying environmental conditions, such as hazardous and toxic materials and wastes and potential liabilities. Findings of the ECOP are based on observations during a site visit in June 2016; staff interviews; and review of federal, state, and local databases related to the storage, release, treatment, or disposal of hazardous wastes and petroleum products/derivatives. The ECOP lists Controlled Recognized Environmental Conditions (CRECs) and Recognized Environmental Conditions (RECs). CRECs refer to sites that have residual contamination, where no further remediation is required, but is subject to some sort of control or use restriction. RECs refer to the (likely) presence of any hazardous substances or petroleum products in, on, or at a property (USACE-POH & USAG-HI, 2017).
CRECs on the State-owned land include former landfills and radiological materials from depleted uranium spotting rounds. The depleted uranium on State-owned land is limited to a portion of one of three ranges where spotting rounds were fired; the rounds landed in the impact area, which is outside the State-owned land (see airborne uranium monitoring in Section 3.5 for additional information). RECs on the State- owned land consist of munitions and explosives of concern (MEC), which include unexploded ordnance, discarded military munitions, and munitions constituents. Munitions have been fired in the TAs and from firing points on State-owned land. MEC was discovered during the construction of the DKI Highway; therefore, there is potential for MEC to be found on State-owned land. The Former Bazooka Range in TA 17 has undergone surface cleanup that removed over 1,000 pounds of munitions and munitions debris. This former range is recommended for confirmatory soil sampling.
In addition to the CRECs and RECs, historically unknown quantities and types of hazardous materials were disposed of on State-owned land. Several former debris piles and burn pans have been identified with various levels of clean up conducted to date. Further evaluation and sampling are needed to confirm the status. No pesticides mixing or storage facilities have been identified on State-owned land; therefore, pesticide testing was not recommended. Commercially available pesticides and herbicides are used on State-owned land under recommended guidelines (e.g., for control of invasive weeds around endangered plant species and to maintain fuel breaks).
The Draft EIS will provide additional information and analyze potential impacts.
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3.5 Air Quality and Greenhouse Gases
3.5.1 Air Quality
Air quality is dependent on the type and amount of pollutants emitted into the atmosphere, the size and topography of the air basin, and the prevailing meteorological and weather conditions. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has established national ambient air quality standards for several different air pollutants that are considered harmful to public health and the environment. These pollutants, referred to as criteria pollutants, are sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), carbon monoxide (CO), ozone (O3), suspended particulate matter (measured less than or equal to 10 microns in diameter [PM10] and less than or equal to 2.5 microns in diameter [PM2.5]), and lead (Pb). CO, SO2, Pb and some particulates are emitted directly into the atmosphere from emissions sources. O3, NO2 and some particulates are formed through atmospheric chemical reactions that are influenced by weather, ultraviolet light, and other atmospheric processes. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and nitrogen oxide emissions are used to represent O3 generation because they are precursors of O3.
The Hawai‘i Department of Health (DOH), Clean Air Branch (CAB) also regulates and monitors air pollutants under HAR Chapter 11-59, Ambient Air Quality Standards, and HAR Chapter 11-60.1, Air Pollution Control. The CAB has established its own ambient air quality standards for the criteria pollutants, and these standards are stricter than the national ambient air quality standards for some pollutants. The CAB also has promulgated an additional air quality standard for hydrogen sulfide.
Based on air monitoring results, the island of Hawai‘i is currently designated unclassified/attainment for all criteria pollutants, which means the criteria pollutants are and historically have been within the ambient air quality standards or have not been evaluated (USEPA, 2020). Hawai‘i has relatively good air quality due to persistent northeast trade winds, which limit locally-generated air pollutants from accumulating. The CAB currently operates 11 monitoring stations on the island of Hawai‘i to measure SO2 and PM2.5 (primarily from volcanic activity) and to monitor air quality. No monitoring stations are at PTA, and the nearest air monitoring station is in Hilo, approximately 25 miles from PTA.
Sources of air emissions at PTA include exhaust from military vehicles, aircraft flight operations, boilers, and internal combustion engines; dust from vehicle use on gravel and dirt roads; and emissions from ordnance use and explosives detonations (USAG-HI, 2011). A short-term air monitoring program was conducted at PTA during January 2006 to January 2007 to determine the impact of fugitive dust from training and other activities at PTA. The results indicated levels of airborne particulate matter well below the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and State’s 24-hour PM10 ambient air quality standard of 150 micrograms per cubic meter.
During the 1960s, training was conducted on PTA using 20-millimeter spotter rounds containing a depleted uranium alloy. At the time, use of the alloy was accepted technology and potential health effects were not understood. Fragments of these rounds were documented in the impact area of PTA in 2008. A 1-year airborne uranium monitoring program was undertaken in 2009 to determine if the decay and vaporization of these depleted uranium fragments have impacted air quality. The monitoring program concluded that the depleted uranium had not impacted air quality in the PTA area, and that the uranium levels in the collected particulate matter samples were within the range of naturally occurring uranium in Hawaiian soils and rock (USACE, 2010).
The Draft EIS will provide additional information and analyze potential impacts.
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3.5.2 Greenhouse Gases
Greenhouse gases (GHGs) are compounds found naturally within the Earth’s atmosphere that trap and convert sunlight into infrared heat. Increased levels of GHGs have been correlated to a greater overall temperature on Earth and global climate change. Global climate change refers to long-term fluctuations in temperature, precipitation, wind, sea level, and other elements of Earth’s climate system. The most common GHGs emitted from natural processes and human activities include carbon dioxide (CO2), methane, and nitrous oxide. CO2 is the primary GHG emitted by human activities in the U.S., with the largest source generated from fossil fuel combustion. Scientific evidence indicates a trend of increasing global temperature over the past century because of an increase in GHG emissions from human activities. The climate change associated with this global warming is predicted to produce negative economic and social consequences across the globe.
Ongoing global climate change has the potential to increase average temperatures, alter precipitation patterns, and raise sea level within the islands. As a result, the availability of freshwater, potential for coastal flooding, distribution and abundance of native plants and animals, and the health of native populations could be adversely impacted from ongoing climate change (USGCRP, 2018).
The Draft EIS will provide additional information and analyze potential impacts.
3.6 Noise
Sound is vibration of air, a term used to describe pressure variations that are sensed by humans and animals. Noise is generally defined as unwanted sound and can negatively affect the health and well-being of humans and wildlife. Sound is measured in decibels (dB) with the average human hearing ranging between 0 and 140 dB. Sound measurements are frequently filtered, known as A-weighting, to adjust for human ear functions (USAG-HI, 2017). Noise outside of comfort levels can affect humans and wildlife. Human and wildlife noise responses vary depending on multiple factors including noise level, distance, noise regularity, noise perception, and species sensitivity (Shannon, et al., 2016).
Noise control standards are enforced by federal and state laws. Federal noise standards focus on workplace standards. In Hawaiʻi, the DOH Indoor and Radiological Health Branch regulates noise in accordance with HAR Chapter 11-46, Community Noise Control. HAR Section 11-46-3 defines maximum permissible sound levels for three classifications of land use, by zoning district, and provides for the abatement and control of excessive noise sources (DOH-IRHB, 2018).
PTA noise sources include live-fire ordnance, large and small caliber weapons, and military movement of vehicles and aircraft. The Draft EIS will provide additional information and analyze potential impacts.
3.7 Geology, Topography and Soils
3.7.1 Geology and Topography
The island of Hawai‘i is the largest and youngest of the eight main Hawaiian Islands, at approximately 460,000 years old. Five separate shield volcanoes (Kohala, Mauna Kea, Hualālai, Mauna Loa, and Kīlauea) erupted almost sequentially to form the island. State-owned land is between the steep slopes of Mauna Kea and the plateau between Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa. The portion of PTA’s State-owned land south
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of DKI Highway rises gradually from west to east, with an elevation of approximately 4,200 feet on the west and approximately 6,800 feet on the east. North of DKI Highway, the slope of Mauna Kea rises from approximately 5,600 feet in the west to the edge of the State-owned land at approximately 7,600 feet in the east. Multiple pu‘u (cinder cones) are scattered across the State-owned land.
3.7.2 Soils
State-owned land in PTA is dominated by recent lava flows, including lava flows from Mauna Loa during the 19th and 20th centuries. Soils on State-owned land formed on volcanic ash pumice and cinders and are generally coarse to medium textured and excessively drained. PTA maintains the Ahi Quarry site near the Ahi Puʻu in TA 13 on State-owned land. The Ahi Quarry has a vein of “blue rock” that stretches to an unknown extent beneath surface lava flows. Blue rock has highly desirable characteristics of hardness, abrasion resistance and tensile strength; therefore, it is an outstanding engineering and construction resource (USACE-POH & USAG-HI, 2019b).
Soil types on State-owned land are illustrated in Figure 3-5. The Draft EIS will provide additional information and analyze potential impacts.
3.8 Socioeconomics and Environmental Justice
3.8.1 Socioeconomics
Socioeconomics is the relationship between economics and social elements such as population levels and economic activity. Factors that describe the socioeconomic environment represent a composite of several inter-related and non-related attributes. There are several factors that can be used as indicators of economic conditions for a geographic area such as demographics, median household income, unemployment rates, employment, and housing data. The U.S. Census Bureau (USCB) is the principal agency in the U.S. that collects and provides demographic and economic data.
PTA is in the County of Hawaiʻi, which encompasses the entire island of Hawaiʻi. There are 12 USCB Census County Divisions within the County of Hawaiʻi. PTA is primarily within the Pāʻauhau-Paʻauilo Census County Division, with smaller portions in the North Kona, South Kohala, and North Hilo Census County Divisions.
Population Characteristics. In 2017, the estimated population of the County of Hawaiʻi was 196,325, representing approximately 14 percent of the total population for the State. The population of the County of Hawaiʻi grew 6.1 percent from 2010 to 2017. This growth rate (6.1 percent) was greater than the growth rate of the State at 4.5 percent, and the U.S. at 4 percent, over the same time period. Table 3-1 presents the 2010 and 2017 population data for the County, State and U.S. (USCB, 2010; USCB, 2017a).
Table 3-1: Population in Hawai’i County Compared to the State of Hawai’i and the United States (2010 and 2017) Location 2010 2017 Percent Change United States 308,745,538 321,004,407 4.0 percent State of Hawaiʻi 1,360,301 1,421,658 4.5 percent County of Hawaiʻi 185,079 196,325 6.1 percent
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Figure 3-5: Soils
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Employment Characteristics. In 2017, an estimated 84,962 individuals were employed in the County of Hawaiʻi. The median household income for the County of Hawaiʻi was estimated at $56,395, compared to statewide median household income of $74,923 (USCB, 2017b). The three largest industries in the County of Hawaiʻi, in terms of percentage of the workforce employed within an industry, are educational services, health care, and social assistance (20 percent); arts, entertainment, recreation, and accommodation and food services (16 percent); and retail trade (12 percent) (USCB, 2017b). In November 2019, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported a 3.3 percent unemployment rate in the County of Hawaiʻi, which is equal to that of the U.S. and slightly higher than that of the State (2.6 percent) (BLS, 2020).
Military Activity in the State. Military activity has been an important contributor to the State’s economy for decades. In fiscal year (FY) 2018, defense spending (contract and payroll) totaled $7.2 billion in Hawaiʻi, which accounted for 7.7 percent of the State’s gross domestic product. Defense contract spending during FY 2018 in Hawaiʻi was $2.3 billion; 36 percent of that was allocated for Army projects. The DoD contract obligation specific to the County of Hawaiʻi in FY2018 was $34.8 million (DoD, 2018).
DoD FY 2018 total gross pay for active duty, civilian, National Guard or Reserve personnel in Hawaiʻi was $4.9 billion, with 38 percent of that payroll spent on Army personnel assigned to the State. Total gross pay during FY 2018 in the County of Hawaiʻi for active duty, civilian, National Guard or Reserve personnel was $20.8 million. These numbers do not include benefits for current or former defense personnel (DoD, 2018).
As of March 2020, the military in Hawaiʻi employed 71,955 personnel in with 26,105 personnel employed by the Army (DoD, 2020). Two active-duty personnel are stationed at PTA, and approximately 120 military and civilian personnel work at the PTA cantonment (JMK, 2019). The personnel are residents of the County of Hawaiʻi and commute to PTA on a regular basis. In FY 2019, approximately 12,000 military personnel trained at PTA over roughly 200,000 troop training days (USAG-PTA, 2020).
The Draft EIS will provide additional information and analyze potential impacts.
3.8.2 Environmental Justice
Executive Order 12898 (Federal Actions to Address Environmental Justice in Minority Populations and Low-Income Populations) directs agencies to address environmental and human health conditions in minority and low-income communities. Environmental justice addresses the disproportionate and adverse effects of a federal action on low-income or minority populations. The intent of the order and related directives and regulations is to ensure that low-income and minority populations do not bear a disproportionate burden of negative effects resulting from federal actions (AEC, 2013).
As defined by the Environmental Justice Guidance under NEPA (CEQ, 1997), minority populations include persons who identify themselves as Asian, Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, Native American or Alaskan Native, black (not of Hispanic origin), or Hispanic. A minority population exists where the percentage of minorities in an affected area either exceeds 50 percent or is meaningfully greater than in the general population. In addition, a minority population also exists if there is more than one minority group present and the minority percentage, when calculated by aggregating all minority persons, meets one of the above thresholds (AEC, 2013).
The Draft EIS will provide additional information and analyze potential impacts.
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3.9 Water Resources
Water resources include surface water (e.g., streams, lakes, rivers and wetlands), groundwater, floodplains, coastal resources, and marine water, and compose the hydrology of a watershed. The watersheds in the Hawaiian Islands are relatively small, steep, and have fast flowing streams with underlying highly permeable volcanic rocks and soils (AEC, 2013).
PTA is within the West Mauna Kea and Northwest Mauna Loa watersheds, which drain to the southern Kohala and northern Kona coasts, respectively (AEC, 2013). Most of the State-owned land receives less than 20 inches of mean annual rainfall (USACE-POH & USAG-HI, 2017). Rainfall, fog drip, and occasional frost occurs on part of the State-owned land and the moisture is naturally lost through discharge to oceans, evaporation, and subsurface seepage into crevices in the lava. Surface water runoff at PTA is low, due to relatively low rainfall and permeable volcanic soils; however, substantial surface water runoff occurs during large storm events or continuous heavy rain. There are three intermittent streams within the far northern border of PTA’s State-owned land; the Waikahalulu Gulch (TA 2 and TA 4), Pōhakuloa Gulch (TA 10), and ʻAuwaiakeakua Gulch (TA 15 and TA 16) collect runoff from the southern flank of Mauna Kea (USACE-POH & USAG-HI, 2019b). There are no perennial streams within or near PTA. The nearest surface water downgradient of PTA is Popo‘o Gulch, an intermittent stream, which converges with the ʻAuwaiakeakua Gulch approximately 15 miles south of PTA (USACE-POH & USAG-HI, 2017).
The Pacific Ocean and other coastal resources are approximately 24 to 30 miles to the west and east of PTA.
The depth to basal groundwater at PTA is estimated to be approximately 4,500 feet above sea level in a perched aquifer (USACE-POH & USAG-HI, 2017; USACE-POH & USAG-HI, 2019b).
According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency 2010 Flood Insurance Rate Map, State-owned land at PTA is within Flood Zone X, an area between the limits of the base flood (also known as the 100- year flood) and the 0.2-percent-annual-chance (or 500-year) flood (USACE-POH & USAG-HI, 2017).
The Draft EIS will provide additional information and analyze potential impacts.
3.10 Transportation and Traffic
Army uses air, ocean, and ground transportation to transport troops, vehicles, equipment, and munitions from Oʻahu to PTA. Transportation infrastructure used by Army includes regional airports (e.g., Hilo International Airport and Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport), harbors (e.g., Hilo Harbor and Kawaihae Harbor), and roadways (e.g., DKI Highway and Māmalahoa Highway). Kawaihae Military Reservation is an Army port facility in Kawaihae Harbor that is used to transport equipment, munitions and supplies to and from PTA and for deployment training. As part of deployment training, vehicle convoys are used to move personnel and equipment on the public roads between Kawaihae Harbor and PTA. Military personnel also are bussed from commercial airports to PTA (USACE-POH & USAG-HI, 2019a).
The primary entry point to PTA is via the DKI Highway, which crosses State-owned land in a northwest- southeast direction. The main gate to the PTA Cantonment is south of the DKI Highway, approximately at milepost 35. DKI Highway is a two-lane highway and is the only roadway that runs across the central part of the island of Hawai‘i, connecting Hilo and Waimea. The posted speed limit ranges from 60 miles per
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hour (mph) for most of the highway, to 45 mph near PTA and the Mauna Kea Recreation Area (USACE- POH & USAG-HI, 2019a). The average annual daily traffic for the portion of the DKI Highway that traverses PTA’s State-owned land was reported to be 4,900 vehicles in 2017 (DOT, 2017a). The DKI Highway intersects Māmalahoa Highway, also referred to as Hawaiʻi Belt Road, at the western edge of the Keʻāmuku parcel (approximately at milepost 20). Hawai‘i Belt Road circles the perimeter of the island and is used to travel between PTA and Kawaihae Harbor, Hilo International Airport and Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport.
Saddle Road was constructed as a one-lane roadway in 1942 to support military training activities. Over time the road was widened and became a route used to cross the island. Portions of Saddle Road were improved and realigned to create a new route resulting in the DKI Highway, which was completed in 2017. In addition to renovations, resurfacing, and realignment, the entrance to PTA was redesigned to include right and left turn lanes to ease traffic congestion (DOT, 2017b).
PTA contains a network of roads and training trails that provide access between the Cantonment, State- owned land, impact area and training ranges, and Keʻāmuku parcel. The State-owned land includes approximately 57 miles of roads and 99 miles of training trails. Old Saddle Road is the primary road used to access the training areas on State-owned land. Most of the other roads and training trails are single- lane and unimproved. Airfields at PTA include Bradshaw Army Airfield (BAAF) and Cooper Air Strip. BAAF is within the Cantonment. Cooper Air Strip, used for unmanned aerial systems, is on the State-owned land.
The Draft EIS will provide additional information and analyze potential impacts.
3.11 Airspace
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is the government agency responsible for regulatory and non-regulatory airspace. FAA jurisdiction applies to all airspace users, including the U.S. military. Airspace management includes times of usage and horizontal and vertical boundaries. Airspace is categorized as controlled, uncontrolled, Special Use Airspace or “Other Airspace Areas.” Within controlled and uncontrolled airspace categories, FAA designated six classes. Controlled airspace includes Class A, B, C, D and E. For these five classes, air traffic control services are provided, and pilots must meet specific qualifications, equipment requirements, and operating rules to fly within them. Uncontrolled airspace includes Class G and, with the exception of possible traffic advisories, no air traffic control services are provided. In Special Use Airspace, only certain activities may occur, or aviation limits are imposed. Special Use Airspace areas can be Prohibited, Restricted, Warning, Controlled Fire, Alert, or Military Operations Areas (USDOT-FAA, 2016).
The U.S. military uses restricted airspace to facilitate military operations, minimize airspace usage conflicts, and ensure safety of all airspace parties. PTA has an area of restricted airspace designated as R- 3103. When active, R-3103 is restricted to specific military operations. Covering 128 square nautical miles and extending from the ground surface to 30,000 feet, R-3103 is managed by the Honolulu Combined Center Radar Approach Control Air Traffic Control (AEC, 2013). When R-3103 is not active, the majority of PTA airspace is Class G airspace extending from the ground surface to 1,200 feet and Class E, which extends above 1,200 feet. The exception to these classifications is BAAF, which is designated Class D airspace when R-3103 is not active (MARFORPAC et al., 2014). R-3103 is used to support weapons and aviation training at PTA. Aviation training at PTA consists primarily of aerial gunnery and assault support for ground troops (MARFORPAC et al., 2014).
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Aviation facilities within the State-owned land include Cooper Air Strip (unmanned aerial vehicle airfield); six landing zones (cleared area for landing helicopters and tilt-rotor aircraft); one drop zone (cleared area for dropping equipment and personnel via parachute from aircraft); helicopter dip tanks (surface water where helicopters can fill buckets with water for firefighting); and aircraft refueling, rearming, and live-fire facilities.
While not within State-owned land, BAAF is within the Cantonment and is also restricted under R-3103. BAAF has a 3,705-foot by 90-foot runway that is primarily used for helicopters and tilt-rotor aircraft, but has limited C-130 usage (USACE-POH, 2012).
The Draft EIS will provide additional information and analyze potential impacts.
3.12 Electromagnetic Spectrum
Electromagnetic spectrum is the range of waves of electromagnetic energy. It includes static fields such as the Earth’s magnetic field, radio waves, microwaves, infrared light, visible light, ultraviolet light, X-rays, and gamma rays. The electromagnetic spectrum is the complete range of electromagnetic waves on a continuous distribution from a very low range of frequency and energy level, with a corresponding long wavelength, to a very high range of frequency and energy level, with a corresponding short wavelength. The low-frequency end of the spectrum includes radio, short-wave radio, and television signals, as well as microwaves used for cooking.
Military personnel at PTA use radio systems to communicate across the installation. A retransmission site is located within the State-owned land. The retransmission site contains electronic equipment that receives and resends electronic communications to overcome physical or operational issues, such as obstruction to radio frequency transmission or to allow different groups to communicate without sharing encryption keys.
The Draft EIS will provide additional information and analyze potential impacts.
3.13 Utilities
Utility systems are essential to support daily operations at PTA and include a broad array of services (e.g., water, wastewater, stormwater drainage, electricity, communications, and solid waste management). The utilities primarily support the Cantonment and are presented in the following section to provide an overview of the systems at PTA. As noted in Section 2.1, Army-owned utilities within the State-owned land include electrical, potable water, fire protection water, and communications equipment. Further information on the utility systems and potential impacts will be provided in the Draft EIS.
3.13.1 Potable Water
The Army pays the County of Hawai‘i Department of Water Supply to deliver potable water to the Cantonment. This water is sourced primarily from the department’s Waimea Water Treatment Plant. PTA currently has approximately 11.8 million gallons per year of water delivered via 5,000-gallon tanker trucks. Water consumption at PTA ranges from 10,000 gallons per day (gpd) (during minimal troop presence at PTA) to 70,000 gpd (when PTA is near full training capacity). If PTA’s water demand is not able to be met by the Waimea Water Treatment Plant, water is supplied by a well in Hilo (AEC, 2013).
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Once delivered to PTA, water is dispensed into one of two enclosed standpipes. Pumps then transfer the water into three 675,000-gallon steel storage tanks/reservoirs on PTA’s State-owned land. One tank is dedicated to fire protection and on-site construction activities and is piped to the Cantonment via a 12- inch pipe. Two tanks are dedicated to PTA’s potable water supply and are chlorinated and further transferred to two 10,000-gallon tanks located within the Cantonment. Potable water is then conveyed via a 6-inch ductile iron pipe to points of use (USACE-POH & USAG-HI, 2015).
3.13.2 Wastewater
Portable toilets are used on the State-owned land within PTA (USACE-POH & USAG-HI, 2015). Portable latrine waste disposal services are provided by commercial haulers; waste is disposed at county wastewater disposal facilities (USACE-POH, 2018).
3.13.3 Stormwater
State-owned land receives less than 20 inches of rainfall annually (USACE-POH & USAG-HI, 2017). The soils and underlying lava flows in PTA have variable permeability, which allow rain to infiltrate the subsurface rapidly (AEC, 2013). Surface water runoff on State-owned land is limited due to the combination of low rainfall and permeable volcanic soils (USACE-POH, 2017).
There is no drainage infrastructure on the State-owned land within PTA.
3.13.4 Solid Waste
The amount of waste generated at PTA is highly dependent on the number of troops training and using PTA. In 2010, the average waste generated at PTA was estimated at three tons per day, or approximately 1,100 tons per year. Municipal solid waste is collected at PTA and hauled to the West Hawai‘i Sanitary Landfill by commercial haulers (USACE-POH, 2018). Section 3.4 describes historically unknown quantities and types of hazardous materials that were disposed of on State-owned lands, with further evaluation needed to confirm the status.
3.13.5 Electrical
Electrical power services are provided to PTA by Hawai‘i Electric Light Company, Inc. (HELCO) from a HELCO-owned substation. At the substation, the 69 kilovolt transmission voltage is transformed down to the 12.47 kilovolt primary distribution voltage through a radial distribution system feeding the remainder of the installation, using a 2,500 kilovolt amperes transformer. PTA owns, operates, and maintains the distribution network beyond the substation; the components of this system include metering equipment, 29 transformers, 20 miles of overhead lines, and 755 poles. PTA’s current electricity usage is approximately 1,718,400 kilowatt hours per year, and electricity consumption has increased steadily in recent years (AEC, 2013). Overhead power lines on poles extend through the State-owned land between the Cantonment and the training ranges to provide power to those areas (USACE-POH & USAG-HI, 2015).
3.13.6 Communications
PTA has a variety of communication systems including communication lines, antennas, and retransmission sites. Some of these systems are located on the State-owned land.
The Draft EIS will provide additional information and analyze potential impacts related to utilities.
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3.14 Human Health and Safety
General human health and safety concerns at PTA include hazardous materials and depleted uranium (discussed in Section 3.4), explosive safety-quantity distance (ESQD) arcs, surface danger zones (SDZs), clear zones (CZs), accident potential zones (APZs), and natural hazards.
Department of Defense establishes ESQD arcs for the safe storage and handling of various quantities and types of ammunition and explosives. There are multiple ammunition storage areas with associated ESQD arcs on PTA’s State-owned land. Additionally, there are ESQD arcs on PTA’s State-owned land that are associated with ammunition storage areas on U.S. Government-owned land at PTA. SDZs are two- dimensional features oriented toward the impact area of a live-fire range in which projectiles have a 1:1,000,000 probability of escapement. There are two SDZs on State-owned land, both of which are in TA 9. CZs and APZs are areas at each end of a runway that possess an increased potential for aircraft accidents. The CZs and APZs on State-owned land are associated with Cooper Air Strip and BAAF, which is on the Cantonment though its APZs extend into TA 10.
Natural hazards at PTA include flooding, volcanic activity, and earthquakes. As noted in Section 3.9, State- owned land is within Flood Zone X, an area between the limits of the base flood and the 0.2-percent- annual-chance (or 500-year) flood (USACE-POH & USAG-HI, 2017). PTA is between three volcanic mountains (i.e., Mauna Kea, Mauna Loa, and Hualālai). Lava-flow hazard zones, ranging from Zone 1 (most severe) to Zone 9 (least severe), are a measure of human hazard based on location of eruption events, past lava coverage, and topography. The majority of PTA is within lava-flow hazard Zones 2 and 3, while some northern portions of PTA are within Zones 7 and 8 (Wright et al., 1992). PTA also is near several active fault lines and is likely to experience varying magnitudes of earthquakes (USGS, 2007).
Additionally, PTA provides police, fire and medical services for PTA and the surrounding areas. The PTA police facility and limited medical facilities are at the Cantonment, while the fire department is at BAAF. The PTA fire department also assists the State during prescribed wildland fires and emergency forest fire controls. PTA emergency medical services has the capacity to respond to accidents along 25 miles of DKI Highway (U.S. Army & USACE, 2004).
PTA is used for training and logistics by local emergency response agencies including Hawaiʻi’s Emergency First Responders, Hawaiʻi Civil Defense Agency, Hawaiʻi Emergency Management Agency, State Office of Homeland Security, Hawaiʻi Police Department, and the Red Cross.
The Draft EIS will provide additional information and analyze potential impacts.
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Chapter 4
RELATIONSHIP TO PLANS, POLICIES AND CONTROLS
The EIS will evaluate the Proposed Action’s conformance with relevant federal, state, and county land use plans, policies and controls, with the intent to provide decision makers with a comprehensive overview of the regulatory compliance associated with the Proposed Action. Federal • National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, 42 U.S.C. Section 4321 et seq. • Environmental Protection and Enhancement, Title 32 C.F.R. Part 650 • Environmental Analysis of Army Actions, Title 32 C.F.R. Part 651 • National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, 54 U.S.C. Section 300101 et seq. • Sikes Act Improvement Act of 1997, 16 U.S.C. Section 670a et seq. • Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972, 16 U.S.C. Section 1451 et seq. • Endangered Species Act of 1973, 16 U.S.C. Section 1531 et seq. • Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918, 16 U.S.C. Section 703 et seq. • Clean Water Act of 1972, 33 U.S.C. Section 1251 et seq. • Clean Air Act of 1963, 42 U.S.C. Section 7401 • Safe Drinking Water Act of 1974, 42 U.S.C. Section 300f et seq. • Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (Superfund), 42 U.S.C. Section 9601 et seq. • Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, 42 U.S.C. Section 6901 et seq. • Executive Order 12898, Federal Actions to Address Environmental Justice in Minority Populations and Low-Income Populations • Executive Order 13045, Protection of Children from Environmental Health Risks and Safety Risks State of Hawai‘i • Hawai‘i State Constitution, Article XII, Section 7 • Hawaiʻi State Plan, HRS Chapter 226 • State Land Use Law, HRS Chapter 205 • Environmental Impact Statements, HRS Chapter 343 • Hawaiʻi Cultural Impact Assessment, HRS Section 343-2 • Historic Preservation, HRS Section 6E-42 • Conservation District, HRS Chapter 183C • Conservation District Rules, HAR Chapter 13-5 • Coastal Zone Management, HRS Chapter 205A • Hawaiʻi State Functional Plans • Hawaiʻi 2050 Sustainability Plan County of Hawai‘i • General Plan 2040 • Hāmākua Community Development Plan
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Chapter 5
DETERMINATION AND RATIONALE
In accordance with HRS Section 343-5(a)(1), this project involves the use of State lands, which requires the preparation of an environmental assessment or EIS.
HRS Section 343-5(e), enacted by Act 172 (2012), allows an applicant to prepare an EIS rather than an environmental assessment if the accepting authority determines, through its judgment and experience, that an EIS is likely to be required. The preparation of such an EIS begins with the preparation of an EISPN, sometimes referred to as an “Act 172 EISPN.”
This EISPN has been prepared in accordance with HRS Chapter 343 and HAR Chapter 11-200.1 (see Section 1.4).
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Chapter 6
PUBLIC SCOPING PROCESS
An EIS is a process and a document. Section 1.4 describes that public involvement is a key component of HEPA and NEPA. Public input is formalized in a public scoping process. HEPA requires an EISPN be prepared to notify the public that an EIS process will be undertaken. This EISPN has been prepared per the requirements codified in HAR Section 11-200.1-23. NEPA requirements for public involvement are codified in 40 C.F.R. Part 1506.6, and Army public involvement requirements are codified in 32 C.F.R. Part 651, Subpart G. The HEPA and NEPA public involvement processes will run concurrently. Substantive comments received in response to this EISPN during the public scoping process will help determine the significant issues to be analyzed in depth in the future Draft EIS.
The scoping process provides for public and agency input through outreach and a public comment period. Scoping serves as an opportunity to obtain input from the community regarding the issues and resources community members would like to see addressed or analyzed throughout the EIS process. In this regard, it helps to define the “scope” of issues and analyses in the EIS. The intent of the scoping process for this EISPN is to reach out early and engage a broad range of stakeholders with the purpose of informing, eliciting input, building relationships, and avoiding misunderstandings. Federal, state, and local agencies, Native Hawaiian organizations, and the public are invited to participate in the scoping process. Information about the Proposed Action and scoping dates are available on the project website at https://home.army.mil/hawaii/index.php/PTAEIS.
NEPA requires a 30-day public scoping process to begin with the publication of the NOI in the Federal Register , which documents the Army’s intent to prepare an EIS. Under HEPA, a 30-day scoping period follows publication of the EISPN in The Environmental Notice . While simultaneous publication may not be possible, the intent is to create a concurrent scoping period that meets the state and federal requirements, which will result in a public scoping period of more than 30 days.
Due to public health concerns from COVID-19, in-person agency and public meetings will not be held. The Army is providing opportunities for public input by facilitating an EIS Scoping Virtual Open House where individuals can view presentations on the project website at https://home.army.mil/hawaii/index.php/PTAEIS and record oral comments by calling a specific telephone number during a 5-hour period. Notification of the date and time for the EIS Scoping Virtual Open House will be published and announced in local news media outlets. In addition, postcard notification will be mailed directly to initially identified stakeholders.
Written comments will be accepted throughout the public scoping period. All comments will be valued equally, regardless of how they are submitted. Written comments will be responded to in accordance with HEPA and NEPA requirements. Comment submittal through the EIS website is preferred: https://home.army.mil/hawaii/index.php/PTAEIS.
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Alternatively, written comments can be sent via email to: [email protected]; or mailed to: ATLR PTA EIS Comments P.O. Box 3444 Honolulu, HI 96801-3444
Personal contact information will not be published in the Draft or Final EIS. Personal contact information will be maintained for the project record and will not be released unless required by law. A recording of oral comments submitted during the Scoping Virtual Open House will be made available to the State Office of Environmental Quality Control for the public record; a summary of oral comments will be included in the EIS.
Two additional community engagements will be held with cultural practitioners, Native Hawaiians, and other stakeholders. As described in Section 3.3.2 , a CIA will be prepared in accordance with HRS Chapter 343 and Act 50 (Session Laws of Hawai‘i 2000). The newsletter of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Ka Wai Ola , will publish the opportunity to participate and include contact information for the cultural specialist conducting the CIA.
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Chapter 7
CONSULTED PARTIES FOR PREPARATION OF THE EIS
As discussed in Chapter 6, consultation is a requirement of the scoping process for the EISPN. Information collected during the public scoping process will be incorporated into the Draft EIS to help identify important issues and provide guidance on the analysis and evaluation of potential impacts from the Proposed Action. The following list of agencies, organizations, and individuals (Table 7-1) will be consulted, invited to provide input, and/or will receive a copy of the EISPN during the scoping period.
Table 7-1: Consulted Parties Federal Agencies U. S. Army Corps of Engineers, Honolulu District U.S. Department of Commerce, National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Pacific Islands Fish and Wildlife Office U.S. Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service Hakalau National Wildlife Refuge U.S. Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Aviation Administration U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Pacific Islands Office Region 9 U.S. Geological Survey, Pacific Islands Region 12 U.S. Marine Corps, Marine Corps Base Hawaii State of Hawai‘i Agencies Department of Agriculture Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism (DBEDT) and DBEDT Office of Planning Department of Defense Department of Hawaiian Home Lands Department of Health Clean Air Branch
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Table 7-1: Consulted Parties Clean Water Branch Hazard Evaluation and Emergency Response Indoor and Radiological Health Branch Safe Drinking Water Branch Solid and Hazardous Waste Branch Department of Land and Natural Resources Commission on Water Resources Management Division of Forestry and Wildlife Engineering Division Land Division Office of Conservation and Coastal Lands State Historic Preservation Division Department of Transportation Office of Hawaiian Affairs County of Hawai‘i Departments Hawaiʻi Civil Defense Agency Hawaiʻi Department of Environmental Management Hawaiʻi Department of Parks and Recreation Hawaiʻi Department of Public Works Hawaiʻi Department of Water Supply Hawaiʻi Fire Department Hawaiʻi Planning Department Hawaiʻi Police Department Hawaiʻi Department of Finance Elected Officials The Honorable David Ige, Governor of the State of Hawai‘i U.S. Senator Brian Schatz U.S. Senator Mazie Hirono U.S. Representative Ed Case U.S. Representative Tulsi Gabbard
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Table 7-1: Consulted Parties State House Rep. Mark M. Nakashima, District 1 State House Rep. Chris Todd, District 2 State House Rep. Richard H.K. Onishi, District 3 State House Rep. Joy A. San Buenaventura, District 4 State House Rep. Richard P. Creagan, District 5 State House Rep. Nicole E. Lowen, District 6 State House Rep. David A. Tarnas, District 7 State Senator Kaiali‘i Kahele, District 1 State Senator Russell E. Ruderman, District 2 State Senator Dru Mamo Kanuha, District 3 Mayor Harry Kim Council Member Valerie T. Poindexter, District 1 Council Member Aaron Chung, District 2 Council Member Susan “Sue” L. K. Lee Loy, District 3 Council Member Ashley Lehualani Kierkiewicz, District 4 Council Member Matt Kanealiʻi-Kleinfelder, District 5 Council Member Maile Medeiros David, District 6 Council Member Rebecca Villegas, District 7 Council Member Karen Eoff, District 8 Council Member Herbert M. “Tim” Richards III, District 9 Community Institutions and Organizations Kamehameha Schools Waikiʻi Ranch Homeowners Association Waikoloa Village Association Public Repositories Hawaiʻi State Library, Hawai‘i Documents Center Hilo Public Library Kailua-Kona Public Library Thelma Parker Memorial Public and School Library
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Chapter 8
REFERENCES
AEC, 2013: U.S. Army Environmental Command (AEC). (2013). Final Environmental Impact Statement for the Construction and Operation of an Infantry Platoon Battle Course at Pohakuloa Training Area, Hawai‘i – Volume 1.
BLS, 2020: Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). (2020). Local Area Unemployment Statistics. https://www.bls.gov/data
DoD, 2020: Department of Defense, Defense Manpower Data Center. (2020). Number of Military and DoD Appropriated Fund (APF) Civilian Personnel Permanently Assigned. Retrieved July 8, 2020 from https://www.dmdc.osd.mil/appj/dwp/dwp reports.jsp
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