By James Gonser
Advertiser Leeward Bureau
WAI‘ANAE — Brig. Gen. Karl Eikenberry detailed the Army’s plans to address community concerns about the use of Makua Valley and the resumption of live-fire training at a Wai‘anae Coast Neighborhood Board meeting last night.
The Army has already begun meetings with community groups, and Army representatives will attend a public meeting Saturday to discuss points identified as the major concerns of residents, said Eikenberry, assistant division commander (support), 25th Infantry Division (Light) and U.S. Army Hawai‘i.
About 50 people attended the meeting.
During a brief presentation, Eikenberry announced that three focus groups will be held at the Wai‘anae Army Recreation Center March 12, 14 and 19. Participation in the focus groups will be open to the public, and discussion will be divided into areas covering environmental, cultural and community issues.
"We want to be inclusive and talk to everyone that has any input," Eikenberry said.
Small group meetings are planned with members of Malama Makua, Wai‘anae Military Civilian Advisory Council, Ukanipo Advisory Council, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Leeward Rotary, American Legion and the Lions Club.
Providing more access to Makua Valley’s cultural sites and ensuring the protection of endangered plants and animals are among 14 concerns recognized by the Army in reopening consideration of the issue.
Other concerns include ensuring the safety of the community while transporting ammunition, addressing the cumulative impact of training on soil and water, and clearing unexploded ordnance on the range.
The Army has also agreed to consider explaining why the Army is doing a supplemental environmental assessment rather than an environmental impact statement, and to consider questions about the feasibility of conducting company-level live-fire training at another site.
At the meeting, Fred Dodge, a physician who lives in Wai‘anae and belongs to Malama Makua, asked why the Army chose to look at these 14 issues rather than prepare a complete environmental impact statement, as many community residents have asked.
Eikenberry said the focus groups and smaller meeting will include discussions about an environmental impact statement.
The group Hui Malama O Makua, which opposed live-fire training at Makua Valley, has set up its own public meeting at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Wai‘anae Recreation Center. The Army has agreed to attend.
In December, the Army released an environmental assessment that drew harsh criticism from the community, and said it planned to use a modified approach to training that could have put soldiers back in Makua as early as March.
Last month the Army said it would reconsider the environmental assessment and hold further public meetings. Nearly 500 people gathered Jan. 27 to discuss the initial assessment at a meeting that lasted more than 10 1/2 hours. The Army drew its 14 points primarily from that meeting.
The Army is reviewing its supplemental environmental assessment of Makua Valley. After its findings are published, the document will be subject to a 30-day public comment period.
The Army suspended live-fire training at the Makua Military Reservation in September 1998.
The 4,190-acre Makua Valley is home to 34 endangered species and a number of Hawaiian archaeological sites.
[back to top] |
