Posted on: Thursday, September 23, 2004
Army wants 1,400 acres
By William Cole
Advertiser Military Writer
The U.S. government wants to obtain 1,400 acres adjacent to Schofield Barracks for the Army's Stryker brigade through condemnation proceedings, an initial step toward bringing a new face for the service to Hawai'i and one that may be challenged by a group of Native Hawaiians.
The filing yesterday seeks to use eminent domain authority to obtain the Campbell Estate land south of Schofield Barracks. The land would be used as firing ranges and for training by the 20-ton Stryker armored vehicles.
Court papers state that the Campbell Estate has agreed to accept as "just compensation" $15.9 million for the land, part of which is used by Del Monte for agriculture.
Three Native Hawaiian organizations last month challenged the $1.5 billion Stryker brigade plan in federal court, saying the Army failed to consider locations other than Hawai'i for the fast-strike unit, which would include 291 Stryker vehicles.
A 3,000-page environmental impact study looked into the options of going ahead with the plan, a reduced land acquisition or scrapping the project, but the Hawaiian groups want the Army to delay the "transformation" project until the service expands its environmental impact statement to consider a range of locations outside the state.
"But my first reaction is it is inappropriate for them to be moving forward on transformation-related activities and, in particular, expending tens of millions of taxpayer dollars on a course of action they have not analyzed in a legally adequate manner," Henkin said.
Henkin noted, however, that the condemnation will be set for hearings where his clients will be able to present their views.
The Army declined comment yesterday, citing the pending petition in federal court.
Part of the land being sought is used by Del Monte for agriculture; a large portion is gulch that is leased but not used by Del Monte; and a portion is part of the Honouliuli Preserve and maintained by The Nature Conservancy of Hawai'i, according to the Campbell Estate. About 80 acres of the preserve encompass an area not actively managed by The Nature Conservancy.
"The estate supports the U.S. Army's Schofield expansion," said David Rae, Campbell Estate's vice president for public affairs. "We believe the Stryker brigade is necessary and will give Hawai'i's economy a much-needed boost."
In one of the biggest Army projects since World War II, the military wants to start this fall on 28 projects on O'ahu and the Big Island to remake the 2nd Brigade into the new unit built around the Strykers.
Reach William Cole at wcole@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-5459.
Earthjustice attorney David Henkin, who is representing three Hawaiian groups in the lawsuit, said yesterday that he still has to examine the condemnation filing, which was expected.
David Henkin
