Public to weigh in on Stryker plan

Advertiser Staff

The Army tomorrow is holding the first of six public meetings on O'ahu and the Big Island to gather public comment on its plans for a $1.5 billion Stryker brigade combat team.

The brigade of about 300 eight-wheeled vehicles is one of six fast-response units planned by the Defense Department, and would mean $693 million in construction and a fundamental change in the way the Army here trains and fights.

More than 49 miles of private trails are planned to keep the 20-ton vehicles off public roads as much as possible.

The Stryker brigade would affect the environment and cultural resources and cause a significant amount of dust when soldiers train with the vehicles.

The six public comment meetings are part of a required "Environmental Impact Statement" that now is in draft form.

All meetings are scheduled to begin at 5:30 p.m. and are being held as follows on O'ahu:

• Tomorrow, Honolulu Country Club, 1690 Ala Pu'umalu St.
• Wednesday, Helemano Plantation, 64-1510 Kamehameha Highway.
• Thursday, Makaha Resort Golf Club, 84-626 Makaha Valley Road.
• Nov. 4, Turtle Bay Resort, 57-091 Kamehameha Highway.

On the Big Island:

• Nov. 5, Waikoloa Beach Marriott Resort, 69-275 Waikoloa Beach Drive.
• Nov. 6, Hilo Hawaiian Hotel, 71 Banyan Drive.

The draft EIS is available at www.SBCTEIS.com.