SBCT Final EIS - Govsupport.us

Appendix D ⎯ Responses to Comments on the Draft Environmental Impact StatementResponse: The discussion in Section 5.5.3.1.2 has been changed to reflect that therewould be no impacts to water quality from the use of the Dillingham Trail underthe No Action Alternative.155. OHA is not convinced of the environmental consequences on water resources in Hawaii asdescribed in the DEIS. OHA requires analysis for the watersheds from specific sources, asdoes the federal environmental review process. Also, the analysis does not address impacts toHawaii by the 4,000 Soldiers’ and their Families.Response: The EIS indicates that the Stryker BCT would have 4,105 Soldiers, about 2,210spouses, and 1,610 children. This represents an increase of 2,020 people in totalover the total associated with the 2/25 th ID (L) in 2004. Because the 2/25 thSBCT actually organized and was fully staffed between 2004 and 2007, SBMRhas actually already experienced and supported the Soldier and Family requirementsof the SBCT. Analysis of impacts to water resources at SBMR wereanalyzed in Section 5.8. of the 2004 Transformation EIS, which is incorporatedto this EIS by reference. Section 5.2.15.1 of this EIS indicates that boththe drinking water system and wastewater treatment system were able to absorbthese people without any significant impact to other environmental problems.156. The NPS recommends water quality monitoring and continued consultation with specialists tomonitor water quality in the Pelekane lands to ensure that no negative cumulative impacts towater resources such as the coastal wetland would occur.Response: The Army is coordinating with the NPS on a number of issues and will consultwith the NPS to understand better the concerns related to water quality of thePelekane lands. The Army feels that it is unlikely that Army use of the PTATrail will result in impacts to water quality at Pelekane Beach. Any impacts attributableto Army use of the property will be mitigated.157. Drinking water on Hawaii Island originates from the peaks of Mauna Kea and Mauna Loaand is found in ice below the surfaces of these mountains. PTA is located between these tomountains. How are the vibrations triggered from exploding ammunition affecting the ice?Are the vibrations cracking the ice and causing it to melt at a faster rate?Response: There is speculation that there is permafrost below the ground surface atMauna Kea; however, there has never been any confirmation of this. In thepast, there has been difficulty in determining the net infiltration at the summitlevel. Studies of ground water flow from Mauna Kea have confirmed that themajority of the water flow is originating from the 7,000-foot level predominatelyfrom the Hamakua area. It is believed that if there are any ice layers belowthe surface the effects of exploding ammunition would be miniscule incomparison to the effects of frequently on-going seismic events on the Big Island.158. On page 3–19, the DEIS states that the Hawaii Department of Health will have developed atotal maximum daily load (TMDL) for Kaukonahua stream in 2005. Monitoring for theTMDL did not begin until 2006 and has not been completed at this time. Determining theTMDLs will take place at a date later than the one cited in the DEIS.February 2008 D–52 2/25th SBCT Final EIS