[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 106 (Friday, June 1, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 25442-25443]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-11733]
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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Office of the Secretary
Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for
Construction and Operation of a Homeland Defense Radar in Hawaii
AGENCY: Missile Defense Agency, Department of Defense.
ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement.
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SUMMARY: The Missile Defense Agency (MDA) announces its intention to
prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) in accordance with the
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969 and the Council on
Environmental Quality Regulations for implementing the procedural
provisions of NEPA. MDA is proposing to construct and operate a
Homeland Defense Radar-Hawaii or HDR-H (a radar to identify, track, and
classify long-range ballistic missile threats in mid-course flight), an
In-Flight Interceptor Communication System Data Terminal or IDT (a
facility that provides communication (incorporating data provided by
HDR-H) between the Ground-Based Midcourse Defense fire control system
and the interceptor that are both stationed elsewhere), and associated
support facilities and infrastructure on the island of Oahu, Hawaii.
The purpose of the Proposed Action is to support the United States
(U.S.) ballistic missile defense system and enhance homeland defense
capabilities in the Pacific region including Hawaii. The 2017 National
Defense Authorization Act requires the MDA to develop a plan to procure
and field a ``discrimination radar'' to improve the defense of Hawaii
from ballistic missile threats. MDA is preparing the EIS to evaluate
the potential environmental impacts that could result from the
construction and operation of the HDR-H. The Department of Defense has
not made a decision concerning the location of
[[Page 25443]]
where to construct and operate the HDR-H, but has initially evaluated
the potential alternatives from a mission requirements standpoint.
DATES: The MDA invites public comments on the scope of the HDR-H EIS
during a 45-day public scoping period beginning with publication of
this notice in the Federal Register. Comments will be accepted on or
before July 16, 2018.
ADDRESSES: Written comments, statements, and/or concerns regarding the
scope of the EIS or requests to be added to the EIS distribution list
should be addressed to MDA HDR-H EIS and sent by email to
llc.com">MDA.HDRH.EIS@kfs-llc.com, by facsimile at 256-713-1617, or by U.S.
Postal Service to: KFS, LLC, Attn: MDA HDR-H EIS, 303 Williams Ave.,
Suite 116, Huntsville, AL 35801. Electronic or facsimile comments are
preferred. If sending comments by U.S. Postal Service, please do not
submit duplicate electronic or facsimile comments. All comments,
including names and addresses, will be included in the administrative
record.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: MDA Public Affairs at 256-450-1599 or
571-231-8210, or by email: [email protected]. Additional
information can be found at MDA's website: https://www.mda.mil/news/nepa_documents.html.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In accordance with 40 Code of Federal
Regulations (CFR) 1501.6, the U.S. Air Force, U.S. Army, and U.S. Navy
will be cooperating agencies in preparing the EIS. Other cooperating
agencies may be identified during the scoping process. Deployment of
the HDR-H at a candidate location on Oahu would be within an
approximate 160-acre notional boundary, as much as topography and
environmental conditions allow, that would be cleared of vegetation,
grubbed, and graded. The new facility site would include radar
equipment, the Homeland Defense Radar Equipment Shelter, Mission
Control Facility, IDT, Radar Cooling Shelter, Military Satellite
Communications, Power Plant, and Bulk Diesel Fuel Storage. These
mission critical facilities would be within a restricted fenced area.
Located within or outside of the restricted area would be other mission
support facilities that include an Entry Control Facility, Maintenance
Facility, Water Supply and Treatment Buildings, Electrical Substation,
and a remote Fuel Fill Station. Additional site utilities and roadway
improvements, including communications, electrical connections, water
supply, sewer, stormwater drainage, fire protection, sidewalks, and
parking would be located within and outside the restricted area.
In addition to the No Action Alternative, the EIS will analyze
alternative sites for the proposed radar facility at: (1) Kuaokala
Ridge on State land adjacent to Kaena Point Satellite Tracking Station
and (2) Kahuku Training Area on the island of Oahu, Hawaii. If deployed
at Kuaokala Ridge, the use of approximately 160 acres of State land
within the Agricultural District (for the facility footprint, buffer,
and construction laydown areas), as well as the right of access to the
site, would be required. At each alternative location, impacts will be
assessed for the following resource topics: Air quality, airspace
management, biological resources, coastal zone management, cultural
resources, geology and soils, hazardous materials and hazardous waste,
health and safety, infrastructure and transportation, land use and
recreation, noise, socioeconomics and environmental justice, water
resources, and visual resources.
In addition to satisfying compliance requirements under NEPA, the
EIS will also comply with the provisions of the Hawaii Environmental
Policy Act (HEPA). MDA encourages all interested members of the public,
as well as federal, state, and local agencies to participate in the
scoping process for the preparation of this EIS. The scoping process
assists in determining the scope of issues to be addressed, other
alternatives that should be considered, and helps identify significant
environmental issues to be analyzed in depth in the EIS.
Public scoping meetings will be held in the communities of Haleiwa,
Waianae, and Honolulu on Oahu, Hawaii, within 30 days from the
publication of this Notice of Intent. The meetings will be in an open
house format, which provides attendees the opportunity to speak with
and ask questions of representatives from the MDA, U.S. Air Force, and
U.S. Army. The meetings will have the same format and content at all
locations. Notification of the public scoping meeting locations, dates,
and times will be published and announced in local news media prior to
the meetings.
Dated: May 25, 2018.
Shelly E. Finke,
Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison Officer, Department of Defense.
[FR Doc. 2018-11733 Filed 5-31-18; 8:45 am]
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