SBCT Final EIS - Govsupport.us

Chapter 5 – Environmental Consequencestraining. Historically residential, commercial, and military development throughout the state hasdestroyed or damaged many cultural resource sites.Military construction projects at SBMR, WAAF, and HAFB could result in cumulative impacts tocultural resources including NRHP-eligible historic buildings, on military installations in Oahu. Localhighway projects and bridge replacements could damage archaeological resources along the roadalignments.Construction projects on the Island of Hawaii could also result in cumulative impacts on culturalresources. Public comments indicate that there are significant Native Hawaiian resources in the areaaround Kawaihae Harbor, including an underwater heiau. The harbor deepening and the new highwayfrom Waimea to Kawaihae Harbor could affect these resourcesCurrent practices under the PA include restriction of access to facilities and training areas andmeasures for avoidance, monitoring, and mitigation of eligible historic resources. There is alsoongoing consultation with Native Hawaiian groups to avoid disturbance to PRTCSs and assureauthorized access to sacred areas. No non-military undertakings are anticipated in these controlledareas. Implementation of the ICRMP is beneficial to cultural resources because of the programs foridentification, evaluation, and management of cultural resources. Even with the PA, there would becumulative impacts on cultural resources on both Oahu and Hawaii because archaeological sites,TCPs, and historic buildings would be damaged or destroyed by these projects. Although specificactions proposed under SBCT can be mitigated on a case-by-case basis, the overall effect of increasedtraining, reduced access, and continued development throughout Oahu and Hawaii would be expectedto be significant.5.6.1.5 Land Use and RecreationIndividually, Alternative A would in significant impacts on existing land uses or recreational lands.Ongoing loss of agricultural land would continue because of regional development in the State ofHawaii. Land easement for the Dillingham Trail under Alternative A, in combination with otherongoing land acquisition projects, would contribute to a statewide decline in farmland. Individually,the proposed action would not result in significant impacts on the conversion of agricultural land.However, in the State of Hawaii, there is an ongoing loss of agricultural land due to development. Inlight of historic, ongoing, and reasonably foreseeable future actions, the Army concludes that thecumulative impacts would be significant.5.6.1.6 Traffic and TransportationIndividually, Alternative A would not increase the volume of military traffic on the state and countyroad systems because the number of new personnel is consistent with historic trends, and much of thetraffic would use military vehicle trails rather than public roadways. Traffic impacts associated withthe military vehicle trail crossings of public roadways would be minimal because the convoy trafficyielding to public traffic and traffic-related impacts associated with construction would be minimal.Traffic along the roadways in the area is expected to increase because of the projected populationgrowth and development on both Oahu and Hawaii; however, Alternative A would not result insignificant cumulative impacts on traffic.5.6.1.7 Socioeconomics, Environmental Justice, and Protection of ChildrenUnder Alternative A, long-term direct and indirect beneficial cumulative effects are expected becauseof increased sales volume and employment in the area. Additional increases in sales, employment,February 2008 5-252 2/25th SBCT Final EIS