Island Voices
Army responding on Makua

By Maj. Gen. James M. Dubik
Commanding general of the 25th Infantry Division (Light) and U.S. Army, Hawai'i

The Army decided not long ago to review its decision to resume modified training at the Pilila‘au Range at Makua. Since then, we've been hard at work reviewing the community’s concerns and seeking to address them. I’d like to provide a progress report on how we're doing.

We received very helpful and constructive comments from the community since releasing the draft of our supplemental environmental assessment last September. Some were voiced at our community meeting in Wai‘anae on Jan. 27, and others came to us in written form. We had a public presentation at Makua on Jan. 20 to show how we conduct combined-arms live-fire training and the control measures we use to protect the environment. In the past months we have met informally with numerous community leaders.

At every step in this process, we’ve sought community involvement.

And in the course of that dialogue, we identified 14 issues of concern most often cited. I directed my staff to thoroughly examine each and propose ways to respond. Our task is to do everything we can to respond to these concerns where possible. We will work to find a middle ground with the majority.

For example, some expressed concern about transporting ammunition along Farrington Highway. The safety record here is impeccable, but we will work to address the community's concern by scheduling the movement of ammunition during off-peak traffic hours.

Many expressed a desire to have more access to Makua for cultural observances. Our proposal is to provide opportunities to Hawaiian cultural practitioners to do just that — with prior notice — to allow access to the cultural sites for specific observances, consistent with safety.

Some members of the community have asked that the Army do more to educate our soldiers about the cultural significance of Makua. We are developing an educational program for new soldiers and leaders arriving in Hawai‘i to orient them to the history and culture of Hawai‘i, especially that of Makua.

Some residents voiced concern about groundwater. In 1992, we halted operations at the open burn/open detonation site, which was operating in full compliance with EPA guidelines for the disposal of wastes. The soil and water in this site were tested, and results show no health risk. But we’re looking at installing more wells to take samples as part of a long-term groundwater-monitoring program, and we’ll provide those results to the public.

Because fire may be the most serious potential threat to the valley, we have instituted a robust wildland fire-management plan that includes both fire-prevention and fire-suppression measures. This program will have an initial startup cost of $1.2 million and then cost about $600,000 annually. The funds provide for firebreak maintenance, firefighter training, fire equipment and a modern weather and fire prediction system. They also provide for increased aerial and ground firefighting capability, using freshwater instead of saltwater that could harm plant species. Our plan for modified training reduces the danger of fire by restricting the use of tracers, illumination rounds, helicopter-fired rockets and missiles.

Over the past two years, we’ve sought extensive consultation with outside agencies, including the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the State Historical Preservation Office and the EPA, in addition to the community. We will not make a final decision on training at Makua until all of these 14 concerns have been carefully considered, addressed and, where possible, remedied.

The Army is proud to be a member of the Hawai‘i community. We will continue to nurture that partnership. There may be disagreement on specifics, but there can be no doubt that the Army has an open, comprehensive and rigorous process to address the community’s concerns. We believe our plan represents a comprehensive and common-sense blueprint for protecting the environment and culturally significant areas while conducting our needed training.

To prepare for combat, we have to have tough and realistic training. Makua offers the one place on O‘ahu to do just that. We have an obligation to field a trained and ready force, and we have an obligation to protect the land while doing so.

Both of these obligations are important, and both will be met.

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