LIHU‘E — The National Guard is proposing to establish a “new danger zone” in waters near the Kekaha Range Facility, on Kaua‘i’s Westside. If passed, a six-mile wide section of the Pacific Ocean will be occasionally closed to public access
LIHU‘E — The National Guard is proposing to establish a “new danger zone” in waters near the Kekaha Range Facility, on Kaua‘i’s Westside.
If passed, a six-mile wide section of the Pacific Ocean will be occasionally closed to public access during scheduled weapons firing.
“The proposed amendment is necessary for the Hawai‘i Army National Guard to continue small arms training operations at the Kekaha Range Facility and to protect the public from potentially hazardous conditions which may exist as a result of that use,” states the proposal.
It further states that vessels would be prohibited “on an intermittent basis” from entering the area — which narrows to a 0.7-mile wide section along the shoreline fronting the Kekaha Range Facility — without first obtaining permission from KRF.
The proposal was sent out and posted in the Federal Register May 9, according to Farley Watanabe of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which is acting as the administrator of the proposal.
Written comments on the proposal can be made online through June 10.
If adopted, the Corps expects the establishment of the danger zone would have “practically no economic impact on the public, no anticipated navigational hazard or interference with existing waterway traffic … (and) no significant economic impact on small entities.”
Watanabe said people are getting the wrong impression that being declared a danger zone means the ocean and beach would be permanently closed.
“Most people think it’s open or shut,” he said.
Weapons firing at KRF may occur at any time between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m., Monday through Sunday, according to the proposal. When live firing is in progress during daylight hours, two large, red, triangular warning pennants will be flown at each of two highly visible and widely-separated locations on the shore at the KRF.
“Boaters will have complete access to the danger zone whenever there is no weapons firing scheduled, which will be indicated by the absence of any warning flags, pennants or beacons displayed ashore,” states the amendment.
“The danger zone is not considered safe for boaters whenever weapons firing is in progress. Boaters shall expeditiously vacate the danger zone at best speed and by the most direct route whenever weapons firing is in progress.”
Weapons firing would be suspended as long as a vessel remained in the zone and observation posts would be manned whenever weapons firing is scheduled.
Public comments may be submitted online, by mail or by email. For more information visit http://www.regulations.gov, docket number COE-2013-0004.
As of Monday evening, no online comments had been submitted.
