Department of Defense holding public meeting about restoration progress of Waikōloa Maneuver Area

A meeting to update the community on progress made to restore the Waikōloa Maneuver Area Formerly Used Defense Site is set for Wednesday, Oct. 15.

The Department of Defense is responsible for the environmental restoration of properties that were formerly owned by, leased to, or otherwise possessed by the United States and under the jurisdiction of the Secretary of Defense before October 1986. Such properties are known as Formerly Used Defense Sites.

Between 1943 and 1945, land on the Island of Hawaiʻi was used to conduct the live-fire training of 50,000 troops to ensure military readiness. Unexploded munitions are the byproduct of live-fire training, and following the war, two surface cleanup activities were completed: one in 1946 after the military’s departure and again in 1954.

The U.S. Army is the Department of Defense’s lead agent for the program; however, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers executes the Formerly Used Defense Sites Program on behalf of the U.S. Army and the Department of Defense.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers began investigating Waikōloa Maneuver Area in 1993 as part of the program and has conducted field investigations that include surface and subsurface removal of munitions and debris within areas that posed a risk to the public.

Between 2002 and 2016, the Army Corps of Engineers conducted 26 non-time-critical removal actions throughout the Waikōloa Maneuver Area, reducing the risk of the public’s exposure to munitions and explosives of concern or related debris.

Removal actions are the cleanup or removal of munitions and explosives of concern from the surface and subsurface investigations. The removal process involves metal detection using handheld or digital mapping instruments, excavation of contacts, and disposal of munitions and explosives of concern or related debris.

To date, the removal and disposal of over 2,700 munitions and 120 tons of debris have been performed.

Current progress on the restoration will be discussed at the local Restoration Advisory Board meeting at 5 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 15, at the Mana Christian ʻOhana Classrooms at 67-1182 Lindsey Rd., Waimea. If you’re unable to attend in person, a virtual participation option is available online.

According to the Army Corps of Engineers, residents can make their voices heard in meetings as the goal is to keep the community informed of the ongoing investigation and cleanup.

For questions regarding the Waikōloa Formerly Used Defense Sites Program, call the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Waikōloa Maneuver Area Program Manager at 808-835-4079, or send an email to wmauxoinfo@usace.army.mil.