Your testimony needed now! 

DEADLINE for Written Comments: Mon, Sept 30, 11:59pm 

What: Expansion of Pacific Missile Range Facility Activities on Kauai 

The Backstory: 

A massive military expansion of increased training events (some would go from 2 events to 45 events per year) involving all branches of the military is proposed for Kauai at Barking Sands (with bombing on nearby Kaula island). 

Barking Sands area is home to endangered species and the proposed events would limit public access to the west side and the Napali coast. The proposal includes land-based and space-based weapons systems, such as EMF weapons testing that could involve lasers and nanotech weapons, as well as bringing in foreign militaries for training. 

What could possibly go wrong? 

Summary of the Draft Environmental Assessment (EA) here: https://pacific.navfac.navy.mil/Portals/72/NAVFAC_PACIFIC/Documents/NEPA%20Info/2024/PMRFLBTEAFactSheetFINALAPPROVED20240908WEB.pdf

Full (200+ page) Draft Environmental Assessment (EA) here: 

https://pacific.navfac.navy.mil/Portals/72/NAVFAC_PACIFIC/Documents/NEPA%20Info/2024/PMRFLBTDraftEnvironmentalAssessmentAugust2024.pdf

Kauai News article here: https://kauainownews.com/2024/09/20/u-s-navy-seeks-public-input-on-proposed-increase-in-military-training-on-kaua%CA%BBi-uninhabited-island/

 Anyone can testify! You don't have to live on Kauai. Please testify now! 

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WHAT TO SAY: 

Please pick your favorite(s) from the list below. Be sure to change a few words, add your two-cents worth and your tone. Please DO NOT copy/paste the entire list! Officials don't like cookie-cutter messages. 

Please reject the Military's Draft EA because:

1) No where in the Draft EA does it state the numbers of people coming in for trainings, including foreign militaries, or the timings of the trainings. Increasing events from 2 to 45 in some areas would obviously dramatically increase the number of people coming to the island. This vitally important information to assess the impacts on Kauai residents and island infrastructure (water, roads, airport, electrical grid, etc.) is missing from the Draft EA. This is not acceptable. 

2) Throughout the document, the Draft EA repeatedly refers to assessments that were done years prior for a small number of events and assumes that the results still apply when events are increased. This is baffling. An increase from 2 events to 45 events is a 2150% increase! This renders the entire EA useless. For example, endangered and listed species were apparently moved prior to testing 2/year, and since those species came back, the EA assumes when they are moved 45/year they will come back. What is actually happening is a permanent taking of their habitat. 

3) The Draft EA does not include impacts on Kauai Test Facility, Makaha Ridge, Port Allen, Kokee, or Niihau allegedly because such impacts were previously studied. Niihau, for example, was studied in 2008. This is not acceptable. The world has changed dramatically since 2008 (i.e., climate change; greenhouse gasses, air quality; terrestrial biology; noise pollution; and cultural awareness). More importantly, military weapons have changed dramatically in the last 15 years. These areas could be impacted in ways that absolutely need to be studied with up to date information before any expansion of this scale moves forward. 

4) Under Public Health and Safety the Draft EA describes "public health and safety hazards" of electromagnetic radiation (EMR) associated with radars. It is an established scientific fact that EMR exposure is cumulative. This demands that the proposed dramatic increase in activity be thoroughly studied and include focus on the hazards to public health and safety from the dramatically increased EMR. 

5) Going from 2 events to 45 events a year in some areas will greatly impact the use of Polihale State Park (DLNR), potentially closing it many more times a year to the public for camping and fishing and tour boats. That means the south end of the Napali Coast would be blocked many times a year - the EA does not disclose when - which financially impacts tourism and fishing. 

6) The Draft EA was prepared by the military, the exact entity that proposes this military expansion. Isn't that a conflict of interest? Shouldn't the EA be conducted by an outside agency that is impartial?  

7) Inside the proposed grounds and airspace there are known historic properties, archeological sites and sensitive areas that can't be properly protected or avoided. The Draft EA describes using nothing but "mats" to protect cultural resources against ground disturbance. This is not adequate or acceptable. 
 

8) There is stated risk of fire from missile launches and live-fire events. In the wake of the devastating fires on Maui, wildfires are a major concern. Kauai fire department is not equipped for this increased potential fire threat.  

9) The Draft EA describes wetting vegetation to try to prevent fires. Kauai infrastructure cannot support this increased water consumption.  

10) Increasing trainings, in some instances from 2 events/year to 45 events/year, is a dramatic increase of incoming military personal, including foreign militaries. There would be a dramatic risk of spread of invasive species. This is not acceptable. 

11) The Draft EA describes the potential risk of harm to endangered species such as hoary bats, Hawaiian monk seals and sea turtles. Also described is a risk to migratory birds and other wildlife from air strikes. This is not acceptable.  

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The above are just a few of the concerns. Modify and add as you wish but short is best. Change a few words, add your personal tone. Again, PLEASE DON"T copy/paste the whole list.  
 

If you're concerned about Kauai it's time to speak up! 💪