Opinion ID: 795883
Heading Depth: 5
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Location in the Pacific Rim and Proximity to Airbases and Seaports

Text: 79 As the SEIS's Statement of Need points out, other locations in the United States with proximity to the Pacific Rim have been designated for early transformation: There are two other SBCTs on the Pacific coast of the continental United States (Alaska and Washington) to support deployment to the critically important Pacific Rim . . . . Final SEIS at 1-5, AR 0051576. Nothing in the record distinguishes Hawaii from Alaska or Washington. 80 Transformation of brigades at Fort Lewis, Washington was part of the Initial Phase of Army Transformation. The Army had already started transformation of these other west-coast brigades, creating alternative locations where transformation of the 2nd Brigade could happen at potentially less detriment to the environment. Furthermore, it is clear that the Army knew that it had the authority to consider moving the 2nd Brigade to Washington or Alaska for transformation. See Dep't of the Army, Strategic Envtl. Assessment for Army Transformation, Initial Report (Nov. 17, 2000), at 30, AR 0005547 (listing [r]e-stationing of brigades to take advantage of training assets and opportunities as a type[ ] of proposal[ ] that must be considered in NEPA analysis.). For example, the Army moved another brigade, the 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment from Louisiana to Fort Lewis for its transformation into a Stryker Brigade Combat Team. See Press Release, Joint Readiness Training Center and Fort Polk Public Affairs Office, Fort Polk to Receive New Infantry Brigade Combat Team (July 23, 2004), AR 0009561. Thus, the Army's argument that Hawaii is close to the Pacific Rim and has access to seaports and airbases does not answer the question, Why Hawaii? 81