HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES             H.R. NO.              45
TWENTIETH LEGISLATURE, 1999                                H.D.1
STATE OF HAWAII                                            
                                                             
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                     HOUSE RESOLUTION
REQUESTING THE UNITED STATES ARMY TO FURTHER INFORM AND INVOLVE
   THE PUBLIC ON MILITARY AND RELATED ACTIVITIES AT THE MAKUA
   MILITARY RESERVATION ON OAHU. 


 1       WHEREAS, the presence of the military in Hawaii over the
 2   past fifty years has made an increasingly valuable contribution
 3   to the economy of the State; and
 4   
 5       WHEREAS, the military's presence in the State and our
 6   strategic position in the Pacific hemisphere plays an important
 7   role in our country's national security; and
 8   
 9       WHEREAS, a well-trained and well-prepared military force,
10   and a facility that provides appropriate training opportunities
11   is important to this mission; and
12   
13       WHEREAS, the United States Army has gained control of
14   approximately 4,200 acres--including over 3,00 acres of ceded
15   land--at the Makua Military Reservation on O'ahu, by
16   presidential executive order, state lease, easement, and
17   permit; and
18   
19       WHEREAS, the Army and other branches of the United States
20   military conduct live-fire training and related activities at
21   the Makua Military Reservation, which have increased in the
22   last 25 years, and
23   
24       WHEREAS, the Makua Military Reservation provides habitat to
25   some of Hawai'i's most imperiled plants and animals, including
26   at least 30 endangered plant species, the endangered Hawaiian
27   monk seal, the endangered O'ahu creeper, the endangered pueo,
28   the proposed endangered O'ahu 'elepaio, the endangered O'ahu
29   tree snail, and the threatened green sea turtle; and
30   
31       WHEREAS, sacred Hawaiian sites and over 150 archaeological
32   features are also found at the Makua Military Reservation,
33   including Ukanipo Heiau, which is on the National Register of
34   Historic Places; and
35   

 
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 1       WHEREAS, since 1990, at least 200 fires have been caused by
 2   military training and related activities at the Makua Military
 3   Reservation, burning thousands of acres of native forest,
 4   killing endangered species and their essential habitats, and
 5   destroying cultural sites; and
 6   
 7       WHEREAS, live-fire training, unexploded ordnance, fires,
 8   hazardous waste, traffic, and noise associated with activities
 9   at the Makua Military Reservation raise serious concerns for
10   the safety and well-being of residents along the Wai'anae Coast
11   of O'ahu; and
12   
13       WHEREAS, the loss of native forest, the introduction of
14   alien species, and contamination caused by unexploded ordnance
15   and hazardous waste have limited future land-use options at the
16   Makua Military Reservation; and
17   
18       WHEREAS, the legislature recognizes that the prescribed
19   Environmental Impact Study process is the best method to
20   resolve and mitigate the concerns of the community, however,
21   the matter is currently in litigation; now, therefore,
22   
23       BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the
24   Twentieth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session
25   of 1999, that the Legislature requests that the Army prepare,
26   at a minimum, an environmental assessment for public review for
27   any major change in mission at the Makua Military Reservation;
28   and
29   
30       BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Army is encouraged to
31   conduct water and sediment testing of streams flowing to the
32   muliwai and of the muliwai; and
33   
34       BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Army, to continue to engage
35   in and inform the Wai'anae Coast community when preparing an
36   Environmental Assessment on any major live-fire military
37   training exercise, or change of mission, related to activity at
38   Makua; and
39   
40       BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that all branches of the Armed
41   Forces that may make use of the Makua Valley training facility
42   be made aware of the historical and environmental sensitivities
43   at Makua prior to their use to inform and consult with the
44   surrounding committees prior to any exercise at Makua; and
45   

 
 
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                                  H.R. NO.              45
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 1       BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Army consult with the
 2   surrounding communities on the findings and recommendations of
 3   the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on issues relating to live-
 4   fire military training and related activities that impact
 5   endangered species at Makua; and
 6   
 7       BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Army together with the
 8   other military branches, give advance notification to
 9   neighboring communities before any live-fire exercise at Makua
10   Millitary Reservation is undertaken; and
11   
12       BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Land and
13   Natural resources reexamine the State's lease of Makua Valley
14   Land to the Army, particularly to the terms which relate to the
15   condition of the land, and the cost of any cleanup, prior to
16   the turnover at the end of the lease; and
17   
18       BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this
19   Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Commander-in-Chief
20   Pacific, the Marine Forces Pacific, the United States Army
21   Pacific, the Hawai'i Congressional Delegation, the Department
22   of Land and Natural Resources, the Office of Hawaiian Affairs,
23   the Honolulu City Council, the Wai'anae Military & Civilian
24   Advisory Committee, the Wai'anae Neighborhood Board, the
25   Unkanipo Heiau Advisory Council, and Earthjustice.