Hawaiʻi Department of Land and Natural Resources suspended the deadline for accepting the final environmental impact statement for Pacific Missile Range Facility and Kōkeʻe Park Geophysical Observatory so the public’s ability to participate in the review will be protected as recovery efforts from Hurricane Lowell continue.
The final environmental impact statement will not be placed on the Sept. 25 meeting agenda for Board of Land and Natural Resources. Members of the public will be notified about a future meeting date for the document’s review and explain how residents can submit testimony.
“Given the extent of damage on Kauaʻi from Hurricane Lowell, the focus should be on recovery,” said state Land Board Chairperson Ryan Kanakaʻole. “This project directly affects the people of Kauaʻi and they should have a meaningful opportunity to participate when the board considers the [final environmental impact statement].”
He added that moving forward with a decision while the community is still dealing with the impacts of Hurricane Lowell does not make sense and is not in the best interest of the people of Hawaiʻi.
The suspension pauses the decision deadline. It does not accept or reject the document.
U.S. Navy and NASA on Aug. 14 concurrently filed the final environmental impact statement with the state Land Department and Hawaiʻi Office of Planning and Sustainable Development Environmental Review Program, setting the original 30-day acceptance deadline for Sept. 13.
The state on Sept. 4 granted a 15-day extension, which pushed back to Sept. 29 a decision on the acceptability of the final environmental impact statement.
Hawaiʻi Department of Land and Natural Resources filed a formal notice Sept. 14 under Hawaiʻi Gov. Josh Green’s second proclamation relating to September 2026 tropical cyclones. The proclamation puts the deadline on hold until the state Land Department acts or emergency period expires.
It expires Nov. 13, but could be extended.
“As promised, the [Department of Land and Natural Resources] will continue to keep the public informed of every significant development in this environmental review process,” Kanakaʻole said.
The governor’s emergency proclamation can be found online.
