The Department of Land and Natural Resources said Saturday it has granted a request from the Department of the Navy and National Aeronautics and Space Administration for a 15-day extension to their Final Environmental Impact Statement on the Pacific Missile Range Facility and Kokeʻe Park Geophysical Observatory.
The statement is required as part of the Navy and NASA’s application to renew leases on the state lands they currently utilize.
“We have heard from residents who are concerned that the FEIS could be automatically accepted on September 14 because it is not on the Board of Land and Natural Resources’ September 11 agenda. I want to assure everyone that we would not let that happen,” said BLNR Chairperson Ryan Kanaka‘ole. “It is vital that the public have an opportunity to provide testimony on this matter — and it will.”
The Navy and NASA concurrently filed the statement with the DLNR and the state Office of Planning and Sustainable Development Environmental Review Program on Aug. 14, setting the original 30-day acceptance deadline for Sept. 13. The DLNR granted the Navy and NASA’s request for the 15-day extension on Friday.
Granting the 15-day extension provides a 45-day acceptance period, which is the maximum allowable time under the administrative rules. DLNR now has until Sept. 29 to render its decision on the acceptance of the final environmental impact statement.