The Board of Land and Natural Resources has declined to approve the U.S. Army's Final Environmental Impact Statement for lease areas on Oʻahu. The decision followed public input, which was largely in opposition. This follows a similar decision made last month concerning the Pōhakuloa Training Area on Hawaiʻi Island, according to the Department of Land and Natural Resources.
The Board of Land and Natural Resources did not accept the U.S. Army's Final Environmental Impact Statement for the Kahuku Training Area, Kawailoa-Poamoho Training Area, and Mākua Military Reservation due to gaps in the environmental analysis. The leases for these sites expire in 2029. The Board of Land and Natural Resources reviewed hundreds of public testimonies before making the decision. Department of Land and Natural Resources Chair Dawn Chang stated, “The action before the BLNR was whether to accept or non-acceptance of the FEIS based upon specific legal criteria set forth in Hawaii Revised Statutes Chapter 343 and relevant administrative rules.” The Department of Land and Natural Resources said the decision was supported by several of its divisions.
The Department of Land and Natural Resources, including the Commission on Water Resources Management and the State Historic Preservation Division, found issues with the U.S. Army's Final Environmental Impact Statement. The report did not include updated information on biological resources, missed surveys of streams, and did not fully address known archaeological sites. These concerns were noted by all Department of Land and Natural Resources divisions. While the U.S. Army's Final Environmental Impact Statement is part of the process, it does not grant land use permission. If the Army seeks to renew its lease, a new and more detailed review will be required.
