The Army is improving the quality and quantity of family housing available to soldiers in Hawaii through its Residential Communities Initiative (RCI) program, which creates partnerships with private developers for the management of family housing. Environmental documentation to support the proposed project included an environmental assessment (EA) and an environmental baseline survey (EBS), both prepared by Tetra Tech.

The project in Hawaii involves seven Army installations: Schofield Barracks, Helemanu Military Reservation, Wheeler Army Airfield, Aliamanu Military Reservation, Fort Shafter, Tripler Army Medical Center, and Kia‘i Kai Hale.

The EA evaluated the proposed modifications to the existing 8,132-unit family housing inventory. These modifications included demolishing 6,768 units, constructing 6,649 units, and renovating 1,285 units to reduce the total inventory to 7,893 units. Some of the environmental issues encountered during preparation of the EA included wetlands, local ordinances protecting valued tree species, steeply sloping land, and demolition and construction debris. The EA resulted in a Finding of No Significant Impact.

The EBS evaluated the existing condition of properties proposed for conveyance or lease under the RCI program. Some of the materials affecting the condition of the housing units included canec (an arsenic-treated particle board that was manufactured from sugar cane), Paris Green (an arsenic-based termiticide), and mold. The EBS used seven categories to define the environmental condition of the property for the subject properties. Based on these categories, the Army determines whether an individual property is suitable for transfer or lease. Based on the EBS, findings were documented in the Finding of Suitability to Transfer and the Finding of Suitability to Lease.