The Army recently released a draft supplemental programmatic environmental impact statement for Army growth and force structure realignment in the Pacific.

Options include the possible addition of up to 7,500 combat support soldiers at installations in Hawai'i, Alaska and elsewhere, with several thousand soldiers possibly coming to Schofield Barracks and Fort Shafter.

The environmental report looks at alternatives for growth and realignment, and a 45-day public comment period ends June 30.

Stationing scenarios possible at Schofield Barracks include 1,000 additional combat support or combat service support soldiers, 3,000 additional support soldiers or a second combat aviation brigade, according to the report.

A combat aviation brigade has about 2,800 soldiers.

With the addition of a second combat aviation brigade, additional garrison infrastructure such as company operations facilities, headquarters buildings, and storage buildings would be sited on Schofield Barracks.

Growth by an additional 2,800 Soldiers would drive requirements to build on 100 to 150 additional acres of land in what's known as the Schofield Barracks South Range, the environmental report states.

At Wheeler Army Airfield, the Army would build additional aircraft hangars for storage and maintenance of aircraft and other equipment that would be stationed with the combat aviation brigade.

Wheeler has several hangar facilities suitable for a battalion-sized aviation unit, but more hangar space, parking, and administrative facilities would need to be sited there to support such a scenario.

The 25th Infantry Division aviation support consists of two aviation battalions consisting of 108 helicopters, the report said. The volume of helicopter flights and departures from Wheeler would approximately double, the Army said.

Stationing possibilities for Fort Shafter include as many as 1,000 additional combat support or combat service support troops. There is not enough buildable space at Fort Shafter to accommodate a larger number of soldiers and the facilities and storage space they require, the Army said.

The more than 400-page report is available at the U.S. Army Environmental Command's Web site at www.aec.army.mil.

All written comments and suggestions should be sent to: Public Affairs Office, U.S. Army Environmental Command, Building E4460, 5179 Hoadley Road, Attention: IMAE-PA, Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD 21010-5401. Telephone: 410-436-2556. Facsimile: 410-436-1693. E-mail comments should be sent to: APGRUSAECPublicComments@conus.army.mil.

COAST GUARD, AGENCIES RECOVER DEBRIS

The Coast Guard and other agencies recovered more than 28 tons of marine debris from the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument.

The crew of the Honolulu-based Coast Guard cutter Walnut, a 225-foot buoy tender, partnered with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the University of Hawai'i during an 18-day removal effort.

The Walnut's crew departed May 20 for a 2,900-mile trip to Maro Reef and Midway Atoll. The Coast Guard was to remove as much marine debris as possible from the waters surrounding the monument using the ship's crane, lift bags and divers.