Army will hold Stryker meetings

The military has been ordered to study places besides Schofield for the combat team

The Army will hold a series of public meetings next week on the Big Island and Oahu to decide what type of information should be included in an environmental study of stationing the fifth Stryker Brigade Combat Team.

HOW TO GIVE INPUT ON STRYKERS The public will get a chance to tell the Army what should be addressed in a supplemental environmental impact statement on the location of its fifth Stryker Brigade Combat Team. All of the meetings will begin at 6 p.m. OAHU » Monday: Waianae District Park Multi-Purpose Building at 85-601 Farrington Highway » Tuesday: Kawananakoa Intermediate School at 49 Funchal St. » Wednesday: Haleiwa Elementary School at 66-505 Haleiwa Road BIG ISLAND » Next Thursday: Waikoloa Elementary School at 68-1730 Hooko St. in Waikoloa » Feb. 2: Waiakea Intermediate School at 200 West Puainako St. in Hilo Contact: Robert DiMichele, U.S. Army Environmental Command, Building E4460, 5179 Hoadley Road, Attention: IMAE-PA, Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD 21010-5401.

The federal courts have ordered the Army to study other places besides Schofield Barracks, where the 25th Infantry Division's 2nd Brigade Combat Team is being converted to a $1.5 billion Stryker unit in preparation for its deployment to Iraq in November.

The other locations could include:

Other alternatives that could be covered in the study include returning the 2nd Brigade to its original strength and mission, or not replace it all.

The environmental study will be done by the U.S. Army Environmental Command located at Aberdeen Proving Ground in Maryland.

In July 2004 the Army approved locating the fifth Stryker Brigade at Schofield Barracks and began converting the 2nd Brigade. It was about 60 percent completed and had received 70 percent of its equipment when a San Francisco federal appeals court sided in October with Hawaiian and anti-war activists and stopped the process.

Earlier, Earthjustice, representing the Ilioulaokalani Coalition, Na Imi Pono and Kipuka, had requested the injunction, arguing that the Army had violated the National Environmental Policy Act by failing to consider locations outside Schofield Barracks.

So far, Schofield Barracks has received 162 of the 319 eight-wheeled vehicles assigned to the unit. If the Stryker unit remains in Hawaii, it will grow and be outfitted with nearly 4,000 soldiers.

Public comments can be submitted in writing until Feb. 19.*

CORRECTION Friday, January 26, 2007 » Written public comments on the environmental study of stationing an Army Stryker Brigade Combat Team in Hawaii can be submitted until Feb. 19 to Robert DiMichele, U.S. Army Environmental Command, Building E4460, 5179 Hoadley Road, Attention: IMAE-PA, Aberdeen Proving-Ground, MD 21010-5401. A story on Page A5 in yesterday's morning edition incorrectly said the deadline was Feb. 9. Please see the applicable Corrections Page for more information.