LIHUE — One of three public meetings to be held in Hawaii and Southern California about future Navy training activities in Pacific waters will take place tonight. The Navy is preparing an evaluation of potential environmental effects associated with its
LIHUE — One of three public meetings to be held in Hawaii and Southern California about future Navy training activities in Pacific waters will take place tonight.
The Navy is preparing an evaluation of potential environmental effects associated with its planned military training, testing and research in these areas after 2018.
The intent of the meeting, set to take place from 5 to 8 p.m. in the main hall at Island School, is to identify community concerns. While there will be no formal presentation, Navy representatives will be available to provide information and answer questions about the proposal and process.
Earlier this year the Navy agreed to limit its use of sonar off Hawaii and Southern California through 2018. The deal bans sonar and explosives training on the eastern side of the Big Island and north of Molokai and Maui, as well as locations in California.
Until it expires, the agreement will help protect habitat for some of the most vulnerable marine mammal populations, such as endangered blue whales, for which waters off Southern California are a globally important feeding area; and numerous small, resident whale and dolphin populations off Hawaii.
The meeting to be held Thursday will address planned Naval activities after the deal’s expiration.
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The Garden Island
