KAILUA-KONA — Residents can still comment on the U.S. Navy’s plans for joint special operations training off the West Hawaii coast and elsewhere in the state.
The U.S. Naval Special Warfare Command republished its draft environmental assessment in the Dec. 8 edition of the Environmental Notice in order to solicit additional comment and feedback on the proposal first published Nov. 8. The public now has through Jan. 7 to provide input.
The final EA will include comments received during both comment periods.
West Hawaii Today first reported about the proposed training that includes naval as well as Army, Air Force and U.S. Marine Corps special ops forces on Nov. 27. Training would occur in the nearshore waters and land-based areas on Oahu, Hawaii Island and Kauai, and in nearshore waters, including harbors and bays, of Maui, Molokai, and Lanai.
On Hawaii Island, training will be conducted along part of the South Kohala and North Kohala coasts, approximately from Mahukona in North Kohala to just south of Kawaihae in South Kohala. Training also is planned in North Kona from Kukio Bay to about Waiaha Bay, south of Kailua Bay.
Training exercises are scheduled to start in 2019.
The EA may be viewed online at https://go.usa.gov/xUnDC (click on Environmental Assessment Open for Public Review at left side of page) and at some public libraries, including the Kailua-Kona Public Library.
Comments may be submitted by email to NFPAC-Receive@navy.mil, or by mail to: Naval Facilities Engineering Command Pacific, Attention: Project Manager, EV21.JZ, 258 Makalapa Drive, Ste 100 Pearl Harbor, HI 96860-3134.
Read the original West Hawaii Today article on the draft EA here.