Draft Fnsi

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DRAFT FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT FOR HIGH-ALTITUDE MOUNTAINOUS

ENVIRONMENTAL TERRAIN TRAINING

December 2010

ACTION

Environmental Assessment (EA) for Training the 25th

Infantry Division25th

Combat Aviation Brigade inHigh-Altitude Mountainous Environmental Terrain Flight Operations.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

The need for well-prepared aviation brigades to conduct combat operations in Afghanistan led theU.S. Army Forces Command to prioritize the development of standardized training for high-altitude (up to14,000 ft [4,267 m]) mountainous conditions. High-altitude mountainous environmental training (HAMET)was developed to ready pilots for success in combat operations as part of their train-up for deploymentunder Operation Enduring Freedom (U.S. Army 2009). HAMET adapts the National Guards school forindividual mountain helicopter training taught at the National Guards High-Altitude Aviation Training Sitein Gypsum, Colorado, with helicopter training that individual Army Combat Aviation Brigades have beenconducting as part of their regular training operations for the past several years (Gould 2010).

HAMET will be taught in three phases. Phase I consists of academic and simulator training, Phase II isthe basic qualification, and Phase III consists of tactical operation exercises (i.e., flight missions). HAMETis an incremental training process that proceeds from lower to higher elevations, building upon skillsacquired at each altitude. No more than two aircraft will be in the landing zones (LZs) at any given time(USAG-HI/DPTMS 2010, Subsection 2.6). HAMET will be integrated with other scheduled flight training.On average, HAMET requires approximately 5 hours, depending on the pilots ability to demonstrate hisor her proficiency in the required maneuvers. HAMET was designed to four tiers of pilots: (1) instructorpilots, (2) remaining pilots-in-command, (3) line co-pilots, and (4) staff aviators.

Pilots would fly at high altitudes and land at designated high-altitude LZs using varying angles ofapproach, headings, and air speeds to reach proficiency in tasks such as, but not limited to,visual-metrological-conditions takeoff and approach, reconnaissance over high-altitude LZs, slope

operations, and night-time operations. Pilots will be trained using the OH-58D Kiowa, the UH-60Black Hawk, and the CH-47D Chinook aircraft. All aircraft will be unarmed (i.e., no pyrotechnic devices,ordinance, etc.). The LZs are pre-existing, have been used for previous HAMET activities, and arelocated above the tree line. The terrain above the tree line is alpine grasslands and alpine stone deserts,with sparse vegetation scattered over barren rock and cinders with aa and pahoehoe lava.

DESCRIPTION OF PROPOSED ACTION AND ALTERNATIVES

The Proposed Action is to train helicopter pilots and crews for high-altitude missions in preparation fordeployment to Afghanistan and to satisfy mandated annual training requirements. HAMET would beconducted in conjunction with an aviators individual and collective annual training at Phakuloa TrainingArea (PTA).

HAMET entails aviation aircrews only and would not be used in conjunction with ground-maneuver

training activities. Aircraft landing in the LZs would not be picking up or dropping off troops or supplies.Aircraft will be spending a minimal amount of time in the LZs, and ground time should never exceed10 minutes. Momentary landing may occur in order to switch crew stations or review maneuver trainingactivities (USAG-HI/DPTMS 2010, Subsection 2.6).

The PTA HAMET EA (USAG-HI/DPTMS 2010) evaluates a range of alternatives considered to bereasonable under the screening criteria of availability, the number of pilots that can be trained, feasibility(i.e., time and cost), and quality of life for the soldiers and their families (USAG-HI/DPTMS 2010,Subsection 2.7).

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Draft Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for High-Altitude Mountainous Environmental Training (HAMET)

Phakuloa Training Area (PTA)

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The Action Alternatives that were considered are as follows:

Alternative 1 Preferred Alternative. HAMET flights would be conducted from Bradshaw Army Airfield atPTA to three pre-existing Mauna Kea LZs and three pre-existing Mauna Loa LZs (USAG-HI/DPTMS

2010, Subsection 2.6.3).

Alternative 2 Mauna Kea. HAMET flights would be conducted from PTA and Bradshaw Army Airfield tothree pre-existing Mauna Kea LZs (USAG-HI/DPTMS 2010, Subsection 2.6.4).

Alternative 3 Mauna Loa. HAMET flights would be conducted from PTA and Bradshaw Army Airfield tothree pre-existing Mauna Loa LZ (USAG-HI/DPTMS 2010, Subsection 2.6.5).

Alternative 4 Other High-Altitude Locations in the State of Hawaii. HAMET would be conducted at otherhigh-altitude state or federal lands located in the State of Hawaii (USAG-HI/DPTMS 2010,Subsection 2.6.6).

Alternative 5 Other High-Altitude Training Sites (Colorado and Texas). HAMET would be conducted at

an offsite flight training center in Gypsum, Colorado, or El Paso, Texas (USAG-HI/DPTMS 2010,Subsection 2.6.7).

No Action Alternative. HAMET Phase III flight training would not be conducted if no action were taken(USAG-HI/DPTMS 2010, Subsection 2.6.8).

SUMMARY OF ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS

The Proposed Action and its alternatives were evaluated with respect to their potential effects to the

valued environmental components, which include climate, air quality, geology and soils, water resources,

biological resources, cultural resources, socioeconomics and environmental justice, land use, noise,

visual and aesthetic resources, human health and safety hazards, traffic and circulation, and public

services and utilities.

Mitigation actions, such as increasing minimum flight elevations and avoiding flying over noted sensitive

areas, were developed during past HAMET activities conducted in 2003, 2004, and 2006. These

mitigation activities are currently incorporated in the aviation training standard operating procedures.

Through discussions with subject matter experts and after performing reconnaissance-level surveys at

each LZ on Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea, it was determined that there are no historic properties within any

of the LZs. There is a large basalt rock wall enclosure located approximately 0.6 mile (1 kilometer)

southwest of LZ-4 and five mounds believed to be prehistoric Hawaiian features approximately 110 yd

(100 m) from LZ-6. Both of these LZs are located on Mauna Kea. The project area and the flight paths

that would be chosen within them were designed to avoid the vast majority of known cultural properties

on both mountains.

Potential federal- and state-listed threatened and endangered species or sensitive fauna species that can

occur within the project area (i.e., under flight paths) on Mauna Loa, but are unlikely to be present at the

elevation of any of the LZs, are the Hawaiian goose or nn (Branta sandvicensis), the Hawaiian hawk or

io (Buteo solitaries), and the Hawaiian hoary bat or opeapea (Lasirus cinerus semotus).

Potential threatened and endangered species and candidate species or sensitive fauna species that can

occur within the helicopter flight path on Mauna Kea, but are unlikely to be present at the elevation of any

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of the LZs, are the palila (Loxioides bailleui), the hammerhead or akiapolaau (Hemingnathus munroi),

the Hawaiian hoary bat or opeapea (Lasirus cinerus semotus), and the wekiu bug (Nysius wekiuicola).

The LZs are located such that obstructions and hazards associated with biological species are minimized.

Due to the geography and elevation of the proposed LZs, little vegetation exists in the immediate area,and encounters with wildlife are expected to be minimal.

Existing hazards that could threaten human health and safety within the proposed LZs themselves are

related to pilot and LZ safety and include hazards associated with being at high elevation with high winds,

extreme temperatures, and night/low visibility. HAMET would provide pilots experience in high-altitude

night-time operations (i.e., flights); however, it should be noted that the pilots will already be proficient at

night-time operations as a result of overall training accomplished apart from HAMET.

Because there are scientific observatories located on the summits of both mountains, the HAMET project

area, within which flight paths lie, was chosen to reduce the possibility of operating conflicts between

aircraft pilots and observatory operations.

LZs have minimal vehicle and pedestrian use. That use is generally limited to dispersed recreationists or

cultural resource practitioners that happen upon them. The LZs are not destinations for either group. Both

groups mostly use areas outside of the area identified for HAMET flights. HAMET flights may be

perceived as a distraction but would not result in any closures or cessation of activities or in any access

restrictions to either group. Nonpermanent markings will be used to clearly identify LZs during training.

LZs will remain cleared of all markings after completetion of HAMET.

PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT

The publics participation is essential to a successful National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) analysis.

The Council on Environmental Quality and 32 CFR 651 regulations provide for opportunities for the public

to participate in the EA process. In accordance with these public notification requirements, the U.S. Army

Garrison-Hawaii provided the opportunity for the public to participate in the (NEPA) process to promote

open communication and assist in the decision-making process. All persons and organizations having an

interest in the Proposed Action are encouraged to participate in the EA process. A notice of availability of

the final EA and draft Finding of No Significant Impact (FNSI) was published in the State of Hawaiis

Office of Environmental Quality Control Notice on December 23, 2010.

The final EA and draft FNSI were available for public review at the following public libraries: Hilo Public

Library, Kailua-Kona Public Library, and Thelma Parker Memorial Public and School Library. Copies were

also available by contacting the NEPA Program Manager at (808) 656-3075 or

[email protected]. Comments to the draft FNSI are being accepted by the NEPA Program

Manager by mail at the Directorate of Public Works, Environmental Division (IMPC-HI-PWE), Attn:

Mr. William Rogers, 947 Wright Avenue, Wheeler Army Airfield, Schofield Barracks, 96857-5013 and bye-mail to [email protected].

CONCLUSION AND FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT

After careful review of the analysis and guidelines (best-management practices, mitigations, conservation

measures) set forth in the EA (USAG-HI/DPTMS 2010, Subsection 6.3), it has been determined that no

significant environmental impacts are likely to result from implementing the Proposed Action. Impacts

were found to be less than significant or of no impact. Implementation of the Proposed Action would not
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]

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have adverse impacts on the resources or socioeconomics of any of the Action Alternatives proposed for

training. Valued environmental components would not be significantly affected by this action.

Based on this analysis and public comments received as part of this process, it is concluded that allowing

use of the established LZs on Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea to provide high-altitude training of helicopter aircrews is not a major federal action that would significantly affect the quality of the environment within the

conditions of Section 102(2) (c) of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended.

Accordingly, the preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement for this Proposed Action is not

required.

REFERENCES

32 CFR 651, Environmental Analysis of Army Actions, Code of Federal Regulations, Office of the

Federal Register, July 1, 2009.

Gould, J., 2010, Helo pilots learn to fly at extreme altitudes, Army Times,

http://www.armytimes.com/news/2010/07/army_haat_070510w/, published October 11, 2010,

Web page visited October 25, 2010.

USAG-HI/DPTMS, 2010, Environmental Assessment for High-Altitude Mountainous Environmental

Training (HAMET), Phakuloa Training Area, Island of Hawaii, U.S. Army Garrison-

Hawaii/Directorate of Plans, Training, Mobilization, and Security, December 2010.

U.S. Army, 2009, Army Aviation High Altitude Mountain Environmental Training Strategy,

http://www.army.mil/standto/archive/2010/03/09/print.html,Web page updated March 9, 2010,

Web page visited October 25, 2010.
http://www.army.mil/standto/archive/2010/03/09/print.htmlhttp://www.army.mil/standto/archive/2010/03/09/print.html

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