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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Thursday, July 9, 2009

Senate bill sends $329M to Hawaii for military construction projects


Advertiser Staff and News Reports

The Senate Appropriations Committee approved $329 million for military construction projects in Hawaiçi, defense appropriations subcommittee Chairman Sen. Daniel K. Inouye announced today.

Under the Senate version of the bill, Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard would receive more than $30 million for the construction of a new two-story services support building.
“Today the workers and their equipment are scattered throughout the head of Drydock 1 amidst an array of temporary tents, towers, storage bins and trailers. This project will provide a permanent waterfront facility for production personnel working on ships undergoing major maintenance,” said Inouye, D-Hawaiçi. “Not only will this structure improve the efficiency of shipyard staff, but it will provide the workers shelter from the daily elements and elevate the quality of their work life.”
Pacific Air Forces, headquartered at Hickam Air Force Base, would receive $910,000 for the planning and design of a practice runway for C-17 cargo aircraft combat maneuvers at Kona International Airport.
The money would go toward a new 4,550-foot Short Auxiliary Airfield runway, taxiway, shoulders, paved overruns, and operation support facilities at the Kona airport.
“The construction of this airfield would meet landing training requirements needed by the crews of the eight (C-17) Globemaster III’s stationed at Hickam Air Force Base,” Inouye said. “Currently, these crews cannot complete their training requirements in Hawaiçi. They are forced to fly 16-hour round trips to the Mainland to meet their requirements, a grueling cycle that leaves them little time to rest. These training trips also increase fuel and maintenance costs for the Air Force, all factors that impact the number of actual missions the Globemaster crews can complete.”
The following are the Hawaiçi-related projects in the Fiscal Year 2010 Military Construction Appropriations Bill:
Air Force:
C-17 Kona Short Auxiliary Airfield (planning and design): $910,000
Army:
Schofield Barracks:
Vehicle Maintenance Shop: $63 million
Vehicle Maintenance Shop: $36 million
Warrior in Transition Barracks: $55 million
Warrior in Transition Complex: $30 million
Wheeler Army Airfield: $15 million.
Wheeler Army Airfield:
Regional SATCOM Information Center: $7.5 million
Navy:
Oçahu:
Puuloa Range: $5.38 million
Pearl Harbor:
Productive Services Support Facility: $30.4 million
Asia Pacific Center for Security Studies Conference and Technology center: $12.8 million
Missile Magazines, West Loch: $22.4 million
Submarine Drive-In Magnetic Silencing facility: $8.6 million
Hawaiçi Air National Guard:
Hickam Air Force Base:
F-22 fighter Composite Repair Facility: $26 million
F-22 fighter Parking Apron and Taxiways: $7 million
Defense Information Systems Agency:
Ford Island:
Pacific Operations Facility Upgrade: $9.6 million