FORT SHAFTER — The Waikoloa Maneuver Area (WMA) Formerly Used Defense Site (FUDS) property boundary has changed, adding an additional 81,000 acres to the area.
The revision will affect approximately 250 land owners within the expanded area. Based on historical records identified by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the likelihood of encountering munitions within the added acreage is low because the area was identified as non-firing maneuver areas. However, to comply with federal law and out of an abundance of caution, USACE has begun assessing the expanded area to fully determine past land use.
The Corps has already begun a community outreach initiative to inform land owners of the expansion over the phone, door to door, as well as during upcoming planned public meetings. A community meeting is being planned for December. Additional details with meeting information will be provided through a public notice.
The public is also reminded to follow the “3Rs of Explosives Safety,” which includes: Recognize, Retreat and Report. Recognize when you may have come across a munition and that munitions are dangerous; retreat, by carefully leaving the area — do not touch, move, or disturb the item; and report what you saw and where you saw it to local law enforcement – call 911.
Informational materials and maps of the revised WMA boundary are located on the USACE Honolulu District FUDS web page, https://go.usa.gov/xEKkw .
Info: USACE WMA Field Office in Waimea at 835-4531, or send an e-mail to WMABoundaryExpansion@usace.army.mil .