Big Island News: ARMY VESSEL HEARINGS URGED
The environmental group cites risks to marine animals from high-speed vessel strikes, fuel spills, and live-fire, and risks of spreading invasive species such as brown tree snakes, fire ants, coquis, and invasive plants. They question how security zones at ports and around the vessel may affect native Hawaiian cultural practices and subsistence activities, as well as fishing, commerce, and recreation. The group also wants an assessment of cumulative impacts from former military sites containing hazards, Stryker training, thousands of acres of recent land acquisitions, and ongoing actions by all military services in Hawai‘i. “The impacts of JHSV, added to numerous other military actions in Hawai’i, would be severe,” said Cory Harden of the Executive Committee for Sierra Club’s Moku Loa group. “We feel two sets of hearings are warranted, for scoping and the draft EIS, to air public concerns.” Comments will be accepted for 30 days after the February 5 Army announcement at: Public Affairs Office, U.S. Army Environmental Command Attention: IMAE-PA 5179 Hoadley Rd. Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD 21010-5401 Phone (410) 436-2556; fax (410) 436-1693; e-mail: APGR-USAECNEPA@conus.army.mil after the February 5 Army announcement at: Public Affairs Office, U.S. Army Environmental Command Attention: IMAE-PA 5179 Hoadley Rd. Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD 21010-5401 Phone (410) 436-2556; fax (410) 436-1693; e-mail: APGR-USAECNEPA@conus.army.mil |
