Army Proposes to Replace Deteriorating Buildings at PTA

PTA Training ares. File photo.

The Pōhakuloa Training Area (PTA) announced that the Army is finalizing an environmental review for a project to support service members by replacing aging buildings here. U.S. Army Garrison-Hawai‘i has prepared a draft Finding of No Significant Impact (FNSI) based on an environmental assessment (EA) of the proposed project. The EA analyzed whether replacing existing buildings in the PTA cantonment would cause significant environmental effects.

The majority of the existing buildings were built in the 1950s and have remained largely unchanged, causing them to be out of compliance with current building codes. The Army’s proposed action would improve personnel safety and quality of life by replacing these buildings with modern, one-story buildings. The proposal would not increase building capacities or height, and the buildings would not extend beyond the existing cantonment boundaries.

The public can review the EA and comment on the draft FNSI during a 30-day public comment period, which runs July 8 through Aug. 7, 2018. The Army will not make a final decision on whether to proceed with the proposed action until after the public’s review.

The EA and FNSI are available online. Printed copies are available at the Hilo, Kailua-Kona, Waimea, and Hawai‘i State libraries, or via request by emailing tousaghi.pao.comrel@us.army.mil.

Comments on the FNSI should be emailed to usaghi.pao.comrel@us.army.mil or mailed to: USAG-HI DPW Environmental Division (IMHW-PWE), Attn: Lisa Graham, 947 Wright Ave., Wheeler Army Airfield, Schofield Barracks, HI 96857.

For questions, contact U.S. Army Garrison-Hawaii Public Affairs at (808) 656-3154 or (808) 656-3160.