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The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969 requires federal agencies to integrate environmental values into their decision making processes by considering the environmental impacts of their proposed actions and reasonable alternatives to those actions. The Army's implementing regulation for NEPA, 32 CFR 651, sets forth the Army's policies and responsibilities for the early integration of environmental considerations into planning and decision-making.
For more information, contact the NEPA Program Office at 808-656-6821.
The Final Environmental Assessment examined the impacts of providing 90 helicopter pilots and aircrew 180 hours of high altitude mountainous environment training for 20 days (weekends and holidays excluded) beginning October 3, 2001 through October 31, 2001. The action (preferred alternative) will consist of flying in unrestricted airspace to (3) landing zones (LZs) located on the slopes of Mauna Kea and three (3) LZs located on the slopes Mauna Loa. Once in the LZ areas pilots will practice power management, approach, touch and go, and hovering tasks to prepare them for weather and low oxygen (helicopter power management) conditions they will encounter when deployed to Afghanistan. Aircraft, when at the LZ areas, should not exceed 10 minutes of ground time per landing. There will be no more than 2 helicopters in the Mauna Kea LZ areas and 3 helicopters in the Mauna Loa LZ areas at any one time. Pilots and aircrews will remain in the helicopters and no ammunition, as well as heavy loads, will be carried during this training. Helicopters, when transiting over occupied palila habitat, will do so at 3,000 feet (ft.) above ground level (AGL) unless weather conditions require a lower altitude which will then be maintained at a minimum of 2,000 ft. AGL.
Familiarity with this specialized high altitude environment is critical to save the lives of our 25th Combat Aviation Brigade (CAB) aircrews and the Soldiers they transport when operating in support of our nations operations in Afghanistan.
Based on conservation and mitigation measures set forth in the EA and consideration of public comments the Preferred Alternative will not result in significant direct, indirect, or cumulative impacts on natural resources, cultural resources, water resources, recreational resources and other resources assessed in the FEA.
For more information, contact the NEPA Program Office at 808-656-6821.
The Final Environmental Assessment examined the impacts of providing 90 helicopter pilots and aircrew 180 hours of high altitude mountainous environment training for 20 days (weekends and holidays excluded) beginning October 3, 2001 through October 31, 2001. The action (preferred alternative) will consist of flying in unrestricted airspace to (3) landing zones (LZs) located on the slopes of Mauna Kea and three (3) LZs located on the slopes Mauna Loa. Once in the LZ areas pilots will practice power management, approach, touch and go, and hovering tasks to prepare them for weather and low oxygen (helicopter power management) conditions they will encounter when deployed to Afghanistan. Aircraft, when at the LZ areas, should not exceed 10 minutes of ground time per landing. There will be no more than 2 helicopters in the Mauna Kea LZ areas and 3 helicopters in the Mauna Loa LZ areas at any one time. Pilots and aircrews will remain in the helicopters and no ammunition, as well as heavy loads, will be carried during this training. Helicopters, when transiting over occupied palila habitat, will do so at 3,000 feet (ft.) above ground level (AGL) unless weather conditions require a lower altitude which will then be maintained at a minimum of 2,000 ft. AGL.
Familiarity with this specialized high altitude environment is critical to save the lives of our 25th Combat Aviation Brigade (CAB) aircrews and the Soldiers they transport when operating in support of our nations operations in Afghanistan.
Based on conservation and mitigation measures set forth in the EA and consideration of public comments the Preferred Alternative will not result in significant direct, indirect, or cumulative impacts on natural resources, cultural resources, water resources, recreational resources and other resources assessed in the FEA.
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