Pacific Missile Range Facility and Kōkeʻe Park Geophysical Observatory Real Estate Environmental Impact Statement

The U.S. Navy and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) are jointly preparing an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to evaluate the potential environmental impacts of proposed real estate agreements with the State of Hawai‘i for the Pacific Missile Range Facility (PMRF) and the Kōkeʻe Park Geophysical Observatory (KPGO). The Navy and NASA invite the public to participate in the environmental planning process.

This project website provides the latest information on the EIS. Please review this site for:

• information on the status and schedule of the EIS
• documents and references available for review
• opportunities for public involvement

This website will be updated throughout the project. Please check back often for updates.

Public Involvement

The Navy and NASA held a public comment period on the Draft EIS from June 20, 2025, to August 7, 2025. During the public comment period, the Navy and NASA held three public meetings in July 2025 at three locations on Kaua‘i (Līhuʻe, Kekaha, and Kapaʻa) to provide project information to the public and to receive public comments on the Draft EIS. The meetings were also available online. The Final EIS, which is now available, includes responses to comments received on the Draft EIS.

Additionally, the Navy and NASA propose to implement Enhanced Engagement under the alternatives. These enhancements were developed in response to feedback received from the public during the scoping and public comment periods. Comments indicated that increased communication with the public and regulatory agencies regarding several ongoing programs could improve mutual understanding and cooperation. Additionally, comments also pointed to programs that, moving forward, could bridge the gap between the military and the community. This Enhanced Engagement is meant to be this bridge. Enhanced Engagment-4, PMRF Kauaʻi, is a quarterly newsletter distributed to over 300 individuals and organizations that was created as part of this EIS process and public feedback.

Next Steps

The Final EIS was published on August 21, 2026, in the U.S. Federal Register, completing the Final EIS stage of the federal National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process. Following the required 30-day waiting period, the Navy and NASA will issue a Record of Decision (ROD), a concise public record documenting their respective decisions regarding the proposed action.

For the State environmental review process, the Final EIS was published in The Environmental Notice on August 23, 2026. In accordance with Hawai‘i Revised Statutes (HRS) Chapter 343 (referred to as “HEPA”), the Board of Land and Natural Resources (BLNR), as the accepting authority, will determine the acceptability of the Final EIS and publish its determination in The Environmental Notice.

On September 14, 2026, Governor Josh Green issued an emergency proclamation in response to recent hurricanes affecting the Hawaiian Islands (Second Proclamation Relating to September 2026 Tropical Cyclones). On September 15, 2026, the Department of Land and Natural Resources announced that the deadline for BLNR’s determination on the Final EIS has been suspended pursuant to the emergency proclamation. BLNR stated that it will notify the public of significant developments in the environmental review process (NR Deadline Suspended for Pacific Missile Range Facility and Kōkeʻe Park Sep 15 2026).

The federal NEPA and State HEPA processes will continue in accordance with their respective requirements. This website will be updated as the Navy and NASA issue their RODs and as additional information becomes available regarding BLNR’s review and determination of the Final EIS.

Final EIS Availability

The Navy and NASA encourage the public to view the NEPA version and HEPA version of the Final EIS. The HEPA version shows changes from Draft to Final. Both the NEPA and HEPA versions of the Final EIS are available on the Documents page. A copy of the HEPA Final EIS will be available on the Environmental Review Program website at https://planning.hawaii.gov/erp/ and at the Waimea Public Library (Kaua‘i) and the Hawai‘i Documents Center (Hawai‘i State Library, O‘ahu).