Gotta laugh, or cry, or be angry and frustrated – at some of the language:

“Hazardous materials and waste may be introduced from missiles that have landed in the GHA as a result of early flight termination”.

In other words “Missiles launched from the Pacific Missile Range Facility (PMRF) may occasionally crash or blow up, and spread dangerous materials along the west side of Kauaʻi.”

However, nowhere does it say in the proposed Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) how many missiles are being launched, how often they can be expected to blow up or crash, and exactly what hazardous materials and waste is likely to be spread through-out the area.

The document also does not say how many of those missile launches will travel over populated areas, nor does it say what would happen if such a “flight termination” occurred over the towns of Kekaha, Waimea, Hanapēpē, or any other Kauaʻi town.

The subject lands are needed for “training and testing in the use of surface, subsurface, air, and space weapons systems as well as land-based weapons systems”.

The document references “long-term, minor, potential long-term adverse effects to public health and safety from the ongoing use and storage of fuels and oils, missile operations/assembly, ordnance storage and movement”.

But then offers no specifics.

It also says there will be “Potential effects to public health and safety, such as injury to people, from premature, unintentional, or unauthorized detonation of ordnance during transportation…”

Translation: There could be an accident (or terrorism incident) that results in a catastrophic explosion while the ordnance is being transported by truck from Port Allen through Hanapēpē, Waimea, and Kekaha.

Unfortunately there’s no discussion in the document analyzing what such a catastrophic incident might look like, nor whether the public is notified when the ordnance is being transported.

The word “ordnance” is used multiple times but nowhere is there a list of what kinds of “ordnance” are being used/stored/assembled and transported. Are these bombs, missiles, guns, drones, explosives, high-energy, nuclear, bio-weapons, tanks, bazooka, or chemical?

The Honolulu Star-Advertiser headline just a few months ago stated, “MILITARY WANTS HAWAIʻI TO BE A HUB FOR PACIFIC ARMS MANUFACTURING” and reported “Military leaders in Hawaiʻi have been telling their troops they need be prepared to deploy in the event of a potential conflict in the Pacific as early as 2027.”

Yet, there’s no mention whatsoever as to what impact a “potential conflict in the Pacific as early as 2027” may have on PMRF and consequently Kauaʻi County.

What is the likelihood of PMRF being the target of an attack by China, and how might that might attack impact surrounding areas?

The document does not discuss this at all.

In my role as a Hawaiʻi State Senator, and Kauaʻi Councilmember, but most importantly as the former Director of the Hawaiʻi Office of Environmental Quality Control (OEQC), I’ve reviewed hundreds of such documents.

I will say without hesitation, this particular FEIS is woefully inadequate.

My focus on the “ordnance” issues reflect just a small part of the documents shortcomings.

In my role as OEQC Director, I learned that a properly drafted FEIS document must include direct, indirect, AND cumulative impacts.

This document falls far short of that minimum standard, and the 700 words permitted for this column does not allow me to discuss them all here today.

This FEIS (see link below) is essential reading for anyone concerned about our island home and planet.

Please take the time review it closely, and send your comments, questions, and concerns directly to the State of Hawaiʻi Board of Land and Natural Resources (BLNR) prior to September 9th. (email address is forthcoming)

My hope is that the BLNR will reject this document and request the applicant “go back to the drawing board” and resubmit an improved version for future review and further consideration.

The document discussed above: The Final Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed United States (U.S.) Navy Pacific Missile Range Facility and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Kōkeʻe Park Geophysical Observatory can be found here: https://tinyurl.com/mr2xh3jb

Let’s do this.

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