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Department of the Navy (DoN), Department of Defense (DoD); National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).
Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and regulations implemented by the DoN and NASA, as joint lead agencies, DoN and NASA have prepared and filed with the United States (U.S.) Environmental Protection Agency a Draft Environmental Impact Statement(EIS) for retaining the use of state lands on Kaua'i, Hawai'i (HI) in support current operations that occur on these lands. The Draft EIS includes an analysis of the potential environmental effects associated with the continued long-term DoD use of 8,172 acres of State lands on Kaua'i for operational continuity and sustainment (in support of continued military training, testing, and facility operations) at the Pacific Missile Range Facility (PMRF), and the continued long-term NASA use of 23 acres of State lands on Kaua'i in support of continued operations (including measurements of the Earth's rotation and local land motion) at the Kōke'e Park Geophysical Observatory (KPGO). As the Proposed Action involves State lands, the EIS is a joint NEPA and Hawai'i Environmental Policy Act (HEPA) (as governed by Hawai'i Revised Statutes (HRS) Chapter 343), and Hawai'i Administrative Rules (HAR) (implementing HRS Chapter 343) document; therefore, the public review processes will run concurrently and will jointly meet NEPA and HEPA requirements.
The 48-day public comment period begins June 20, 2025, and ends August 7, 2025. In support of NEPA and HEPA requirements, in-person public meetings (with some of the meetings live-broadcasted) will be held in Kaua'i, HI from July 15 through 17, 2025, to provide an overview of the Draft EIS, answer questions from the public, and provide the public an opportunity to provide oral comments. Each meeting will also provide an opportunity to learn how the DoN and NASA are complying with the Section 106 process of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) and to comment on potential effects on historic properties. The public can submit comments during the Draft EIS public review and comment period at one of the public meetings, electronically via the project website ( https://pmrf-kpgo-eis.com/), or via U.S. mail. Public comments on the Draft EIS must be postmarked or received online by 11:59 p.m. HI Standard Time (HST) Thursday, August 7, 2025, for consideration in the Final EIS.
Three in-person public meetings with a virtual component will be held as follows:
1. July 15, 2025, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. HST at Kaua'i Veterans Center, 3215 Kaua'i Veterans Memorial Highway, Līhu'e, HI 96766;
2. July 16, 2025, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. HST at Kekaha Neighborhood Center, 8130 Elepaio Road, Kekaha, HI 96752;
3. July 17, 2025, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. HST at Sheraton Coconut Beach Resort, 650 Aleka Loop, Kapa'a, HI 96746.
Comments on the Draft EIS may be provided at the public meetings, electronically through the project website at: https://pmrf-kpgo-eis.com/, or by U.S. mail to: Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command, Hawai'i; Attention: PMRF and KPGO Real Estate EIS Project Manager, Ms. Kerry Ling; 400 Marshall Road, Building X-11; Pearl Harbor, HI 96860.
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