National Environmental Policy Act, Hawai‘i Revised Statutes Chapter 343, and National Historic Preservation Act Section 106

The Navy and NASA, as applicants and joint lead agencies, are preparing an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The EIS will also be used by the Hawai‘i Board of Land and Natural Resources under Hawai‘i Revised Statutes (HRS) Chapter 343 and Hawai‘i Administrative Rules Chapter 11-200.1, collectively referred to as the Hawai‘i Environmental Policy Act (HEPA), in its decision making as to whether and what type of real estate agreement it may grant the Navy and NASA.

The EIS Process diagram (right) illustrates the stages of public involvement in the NEPA and HEPA environmental processes. The public involvement processes for NEPA and HEPA for this EIS are running concurrently to meet the requirements for both state and federal laws and regulations.

The Navy and NASA are coordinating the NEPA/HEPA public meetings to fulfill responsibilities under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) and HRS Section 6E for public participation in reviewing potential effects to historic properties.

To learn more about the HEPA process, visit the State of Hawaiʻi Office of Planning and Sustainable Development Environmental Review Program website.** 

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
On May 8, 2024, the Navy and NASA initiated a public scoping process to receive comments on the scope of the EIS. Members of the public were encouraged to participate in the environmental planning process by providing input on the proposed real estate action including potential alternatives, environmental or cultural concerns, information the public would like the Navy and NASA to know, and any other information the public would like to see addressed in the EIS, and the project’s potential to affect historic properties pursuant to Section 106 of the NHPA and HRS Section 6E-8.

On June 20, 2025, the Navy and NASA published the Draft EIS for public review and comment. During the public comment period, which closes on August 7, 2025, the public has an opportunity to review the document, meet with project team members during the public meetings in July 2025, and provide comments on the Draft EIS.

The Navy and NASA are conducting comprehensive community outreach on the potential environmental impacts of the Proposed Action. The Navy and NASA are proud contributing members to the local community. The Navy and NASA value and welcome input from the community, as well as the chance to share, communicate, and inform the community about the EIS and the need for new real estate agreements.

Opportunities for formal public participation in the EIS process occur during two stages:

1. During the scoping period, which occurred in May–June 2024 following publication of the Notice of Intent (NOI) and the Environmental Impact Statement Preparation Notice (EISPN).

Scoping occurs at the beginning of the NEPA/HEPA process to help the Navy and NASA understand community-specific concerns regarding the Proposed Action and the planned analysis. Scoping encourages the participation of other federal, state, and local agencies; Native Hawaiian Organizations; environmental, cultural, and other groups; and the general public. Scoping helps determine what should be studied in this EIS including the alternatives to be analyzed.
2. During the comment period following publication of the Draft EIS, from June 20, 2025, to August 7, 2025, 11:59 p.m. HST (current phase).

During the public review and comment period for the Draft EIS, the public has an opportunity to review the analysis and provide comments on the adequacy and accuracy of the analysis. The public is encouraged to provide substantive comments on the environmental impacts of the alternatives, environmental or cultural concerns, information the public would like the Navy and NASA to know, and any other information the public would like to see addressed in the Final EIS.

WHAT HAPPENS AFTER THE DRAFT EIS?

After the Draft EIS public review and comment period closes, the Navy and NASA will review all comments received and will prepare the Final EIS. After publication of the Final EIS, there is a 30-day wait period, and concurrently, the Board of Land and Natural Resources will determine acceptability of the Final EIS. The Navy and NASA will then publish a Record of Decision. The Record of Decision is a concise public record that will address the Navy and NASA decision.

**The appearance of any external hyperlinks does not constitute endorsement by the Department of the Navy or NASA, nor does either agency exercise any editorial control over the information found at any external hyperlinks.