Kaheawa Pastures Wind Energy Generation Facility, Habitat Conservation Plan
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KAHEAWA PASTURES WIND ENERGY GENERATION FACILITY Ó HABITAT CONSERVATION PLAN TMK NOS. 4-8-001: 001 AND 3-6-001: 014 UKUMEHAME, MAUI, HAWAI`I KAHEAWA WIND POWER, LLC JANUARY 2006 KAHEAWA PASTURES WIND ENERGY GENERATION FACILITY HABITAT CONSERVATION PLAN I. INTRODUCTION AND PROJECT OVERVIEW ........................................... 1 Summary..................................................................................................................... 1 Applicant History and Information............................................................................. 2 Regulatory Context..................................................................................................... 3 Endangered Species Act ........................................................................................ 3 Chapter 195D, Hawai`i Revised Statutes .............................................................. 5 National Environmental Policy Act....................................................................... 6 Chapter 343, Hawai`i Revised Statutes ................................................................. 6 Migratory Bird Treaty Act..................................................................................... 6 National Historic Preservation Act........................................................................ 7 Project Description ..................................................................................................... 8 II. DESCRIPTION OF HABITAT CONSERVATION PLAN ........................... 12 Purpose...................................................................................................................... 12 Scope and Term ........................................................................................................ 13 Surveys and Resources ............................................................................................. 14 Wind Energy and Wildlife........................................................................................ 15 III. ENVIRONMENTAL SETTING ....................................................................... 15 Location and Vicinity ............................................................................................... 15 Land Use Designations ............................................................................................. 16 Topography and Geology ......................................................................................... 16 Soils .......................................................................................................................... 17 Hydrology and Water Resources .............................................................................. 17 Terrestrial Flora ........................................................................................................ 18 Wildlife (Non-listed Species) ................................................................................... 19 Wildlife (Listed Species) .......................................................................................... 21 Hawaiian Petrel.................................................................................................... 21 Newell's Shearwater............................................................................................. 23 Nene..................................................................................................................... 24 Hawaiian Hoary Bat............................................................................................. 26 IV. BIOLOGICAL GOALS AND OBJECTIVES ................................................. 29 General...................................................................................................................... 29 Project Alternatives................................................................................................... 29 No-Action Alternative: “No Build” and Site Selection...................................... 29 Turbine Layout, Design and Size ........................................................................ 31 Minimization and Avoidance of Impacts.................................................................. 32 USFWS Guidelines.............................................................................................. 34 Ó i Ó V. ASSESSMENT OF POTENTIAL IMPACTS AND MITIGATION............. 39 Assessment of Potential Impacts to Listed Species.................................................. 39 Petrels and Shearwaters ....................................................................................... 40 Nene..................................................................................................................... 43 Hawaiian Hoary Bat............................................................................................. 47 Estimating the “Adjusted Take” ............................................................................... 48 Hawaiian Petrel.................................................................................................... 49 Newell’s Shearwater ........................................................................................... 51 Nene..................................................................................................................... 53 Hawaiian Hoary Bat............................................................................................. 55 Mitigation for Potential Impacts............................................................................... 56 Selection of Mitigation Measures........................................................................ 56 General................................................................................................................. 57 Petrels and Shearwaters ....................................................................................... 57 Nene..................................................................................................................... 61 Hawaiian Hoary Bat............................................................................................. 64 Accounting for Impacts and Mitigation.................................................................... 66 Example 1 ............................................................................................................ 67 Example 2 ............................................................................................................ 68 Example 3 ............................................................................................................ 69 VI. IMPLEMENTATION ........................................................................................ 70 HCP Administration ................................................................................................. 70 Monitoring and Reporting ........................................................................................ 70 Summary of Adaptive Management Program .......................................................... 72 Success Criteria......................................................................................................... 74 Funding ..................................................................................................................... 75 Changed Circumstances............................................................................................ 77 Unforeseen Circumstances and “No Surprises” Policy ............................................ 77 Permit Duration and Amendments ........................................................................... 78 Minor Amendments ............................................................................................. 79 Formal Amendments............................................................................................ 79 Renewal or Extension .......................................................................................... 79 Other Measures.................................................................................................... 79 VII. CONCLUSION ................................................................................................... 80 VIII. REFERENCES CITED.............................................................................. 80 Ó ii Ó FIGURES AND APPENDICES Figure 1………….………..….Preliminary Site Plan Figure 2……………………...GE 1.5 Wind Turbine Figure 3…………………….…Turbine Comparison Figure 4………………..Location of Nene Enclosure Figure 5………………..Maui County Wind Regime Appendix 1...........“Results of Endangered Bird and Bat Surveys....Summer 1999” (ABR) Appendix 2...................“Results of Endangered Bird and Bat Surveys…Fall 2004” (ABR) Appendix 3.........................................“Modeling Annual Seabird Use and Fatality” (ABR) Appendix 4……...............“Peer Review and Avian Risk of Collision Model” (Podolosky) Appendix 5..................................“Botanical Resources Survey…Primary Route” (Hobdy) Appendix 6................................“Botanical Resources Survey…Alternate Route” (Hobdy) Appendix 7..........................................................................Nene and Nest Survey Protocol Appendix 8....................................................Wildlife Education and Observation Program Appendix 9............................................................................................Monitoring Protocol Appendix 10…..............................................Mitigation and Adaptive Management Matrix Appendix 11..................................................................................................Funding