Mountaintop Surveillance Sensor Test Integration Center Facility, Kauai, Hawaii

The purpose of the Proposed Action is to create the Mountaintop Surveillance Sensor Test Integration Center MSSTIC Facility to provide a ground-based test capability to evaluate and compare new and updated sensor technologies. The EA addresses three sites the Pacific Missile Range Facility-PMRF Kokee, PMRF-Makaha Ridge, and PMRF-Main Base. All sites are located on the Island of Kauai, Hawaii. The tower originally installed and removed as part of the Mountaintop Sensor Integration and Test program would be reinstalled at PMRF-Kokee. The existing radar antennapad would be modified to support sensors such as the Ultra High Frequency Electronically Scanned Array. Hardware and software systems would be developed and integrated. MSSTIC hardware would be installed and evaluated on existing towers at PMRF-Makaha Ridge. The hardware would be rotated between PMRF-Kokee and PMRF-Makaha Ridge approximately once every two years during the estimated 5-year test period. The sites would be returned to their original condition at the end of the testing period. Tests would involve using targets of opportunity such as aircraft and floating jammers. Facility support buildings could be constructed on the southern part of PMRF-Main Base within a 0.4-hectare 1-acre area south of the existing Hawaii Air National Guard facility. If the program does not build on base, personnel would occupy existing office space there and possibly in Waimea at the West Kauai Technology and Visitor Center.