SBCT Final EIS - Govsupport.us

Chapter 3 ⎯ Affected Environmentand pyrotechnics (e.g., smoke and incendiary devices). There are no ordnance impact areas or surfacedanger zones (SDZs) on KTA. Implementation of the SBCT will include live-fire training at KTAthat will be limited to short-range training ammunition.About half of KTA lands are within the state-designated Conservation District Resource Subzone,and the remaining lands are within the Agricultural District (State of Hawaii 2002a). Public recreationaluse of KTA is primarily for hiking, biking (including motocross activities), and hunting in twoArmy-maintained areas. The 2.5-mile Kaunala Trail is located in the west-central portion of KTA.The trail is open for hiking and bicycling on weekends and holidays. The Pupukea Summit Trailpasses along the border of KTA and extends south along the eastern border of KLOA. Hiking alongthis trail is allowed with an Army permit.KTA includes two Army-maintained hunting areas. The Kahuku Hunting Area is in Training AreaA1, and the Pupukea State Public Hunting Area is in Training Area A3.Land to the north and east of KTA is agricultural, and includes the town of Waialee and WaialeeBeach Park. Forest and agricultural land is to the southeast, and KLOA is south and southwest ofKTA. Agricultural land is west of KTA, with Pupukea Paumalu Forest Reserve, the Pupukea PaumaluHomesteads, and Camp Paumalu. Land uses to the northwest of KTA include agriculture, park,and rural communities.Kawailoa Training Area. KLOA is located in the Koolau Mountains in north-central Oahu and encompasses23,348 acres. KLOA is used primarily for small infantry unit maneuvers and helicoptertraining. The area is considered excellent for mountain and jungle warfare training because of its ravinesand dense vegetation. Only 5,310 acres of the training area are actually suitable for maneuvertraining activities (USARHAW and 25 th ID [L] 2006). The remaining are is considered unsuitable formaneuver training activities due to excessively steep slopes. In areas with a slope of 20 percent ormore, troop deployment is typically limited to single-file, small unit movements on ridgelines. Nap ofthe Earth (NOE) and night vision goggle (NVG) helicopter training is common. Small unit infantrymaneuver operations via helicopter insertion are also practiced. Blank fire of small arms up to0.50 caliber is allowed. The lease agreement prohibits the use of live fire, tracer ammunition, incendiaries,explosives, and pyrotechnics in all parts of KLOA (USARHAW and 25 th ID [L] 2006).KLOA is included in the state-designated Conservation District Resource and Protective Subzones.Most of KLOA is included in the Kawailoa Forest Reserve, and the southern portion of KLOA includesthe Ewa Forest Reserve. Recreational hiking trails at KLOA include the Poamoho Ridge Trailand the Schofield-Waikane Trail (USARHAW and 25 th ID [L] 2006). The Poamoho Ridge Trail is inthe southern portion of KLOA, and its use requires permission from Dole Food Co., Inc.(USARHAW and 25 th ID [L] 2006). The Schofield-Waikane Trail is located along the southernboundary of KLOA. Access to this trail requires written permission and a permit from the Army.KLOA is bordered on the north by KTA. To the east of KLOA are private lands, Kaipapau Forest Reserve,Hauula Forest Reserve, and Sacred Falls State Park. SBER is south of KLOA and AhupuaaKahana State Park is southeast. The Helemano Military Reservation is southwest of KLOA, and privateagricultural lands are to the west.Drum Road is a dirt and gravel road that runs north and northeast from HMR to KTA. The proposedDrum Road realignment crosses a state-designated Agricultural District and Conservation District Resource,General, and Limited Subzones (State of Hawaii 2002a). The alignment also crosses portionsof state-designated Prime agricultural land, but most of this alignment is on existing roads (State ofHawaii 2002a). The northern portion of Drum Road is within the SMA (State of Hawaii 2002a).February 2008 3–44 2/25th SBCT Final EIS