Federal agencies plan additional review of environmental documents; withdrawal halts state board’s consideration of final statement.
WEST KAUAʻI — The U.S. Navy and NASA have withdrawn their Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) concerning continued use of thousands of acres of state-owned lands on Kauaʻi, marking a significant development in the ongoing review of federal land-use agreements on the island.
The Hawaiʻi Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) announced Thursday, Nov. 5, that both federal agencies had formally withdrawn the document covering the Pacific Missile Range Facility (PMRF) in Kekaha and the Kōkeʻe Park Geophysical Observatory (KPGO).
The environmental review concerned the Navy’s proposed continued use of approximately 8,172 acres of state lands supporting PMRF operations and NASA’s continued use of approximately 23 acres associated with its Kōkeʻe observatory.
The existing land-use agreements are scheduled to expire between 2027 and 2030.
In a letter dated Nov. 5 to DLNR Chairperson Ryan Kanakaʻole, the Navy and NASA stated that they had elected to undertake additional review and refinement of their environmental documentation before pursuing further state review.
The agencies did not identify specific deficiencies in the document or provide a timeline for submitting revised materials.
DLNR welcomed the decision.
“DLNR commends the Navy and NASA for their decision to withdraw the FEIS, which we believe to be in the best interest of the people of Hawaiʻi,” said DLNR First Deputy Director Dave Day.
Day emphasized the importance of providing decision-makers and the public with sufficient information to evaluate the use of state lands under Hawaiʻi law.
He also described the withdrawal as a demonstration of respect for state law and responsiveness to public concerns.
What happens next?
The withdrawal means the FEIS will no longer be presented to the Board of Land and Natural Resources (BLNR) for an acceptance determination.
Under Hawaiʻi Administrative Rules §11-200.1-28(g), if the Navy and NASA submit another draft environmental impact statement, it must undergo the required filing, publication, distribution and review procedures, including a new public-comment period.
However, the withdrawal does not necessarily mean either agency intends to discontinue its operations or abandon its pursuit of renewed land-use agreements.
The future timeline for the environmental review and proposed agreements remains unclear.
Hurricane Lowell delayed the review
The Navy and NASA originally filed their final environmental statement on Aug. 14, establishing a Sept. 13 deadline for state acceptance.
DLNR subsequently granted a 15-day extension, moving that deadline to Sept. 29.
On Sept. 14, however, the department suspended the acceptance deadline following Hurricane Lowell, citing the need to preserve meaningful public participation while Kauaʻi residents recovered from the storm.
The emergency proclamation currently extends through Dec. 20, although the withdrawal makes the previously suspended acceptance deadline irrelevant.
Questions remain for West Kauaʻi
The proposed agreements have implications for federal operations, environmental stewardship, cultural resources and public oversight of state-owned lands on Kauaʻi.
Public participation has been a central component of the environmental review, including meetings held on Kauaʻi in July 2025 and opportunities for residents and Native Hawaiian organizations to submit comments.
While the latest decision pauses the state’s consideration of the final environmental statement, questions remain about the scope of additional environmental review, the status of existing land-use agreements and when residents may have another opportunity to participate.
Westside Ledger will continue following developments involving the Navy, NASA, DLNR and the Office of Hawaiian Affairs as the agencies clarify their next steps and what the withdrawal means for West Kauaʻi communities.
Sources: Hawaiʻi Department of Land and Natural Resources, Nov. 5, 2026, news release; Navy and NASA formal withdrawal letter, Nov. 5, 2026; U.S. Navy announcement of the Final EIS, Aug. 21, 2026; PMRF/KPGO environmental review project website