Navy seeks additional comment on planned special ops exercises

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.

The proposed training would include naval as well as Army, Air Force and U.S. Marine Corps special ops forces. 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.

For 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 can be viewed online at https://go.usa.gov/xUnDC (click on “Environmental Assessment Open for Public Review” on the left side of page) and at some public libraries.

Comments can 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.