A public meeting is planned tonight on a study the U.S. Navy hopes will lead to a blanket authorization for sonar training around Hawai'i.

The study calls for increased training and testing over 2.3 million square nautical miles around the Islands and lays the groundwork for what the Navy hopes will be a more efficient way of complying with the Marine Mammal Protection Act in the use of active sonar.

An open-house session on the study will be from 5 to 6 p.m. at Waiakea High School in Hilo, followed by public comment.

For more information, go to www.govsupport.us/navynepahawaii/hawaiirceis.aspx.