Draft Environmental Assessment Issuance of Commercial Aquarium Permits for the Island of O'ahu March 13, 2018 Applicant Name
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Draft Environmental Assessment Issuance of Commercial Aquarium Permits for the Island of O’ahu March 13, 2018 Applicant Name: Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council (PIJAC) Address: 1615 Duke St., #100 Alexandria, VA 22314 Phone: 202.452.1525 Approving Agency Hawai'i Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of Aquatic Resources 1151 Punchbowl Street, Room 330 Honolulu, HI 96813-3088 APPLICANT PUBLICATION FORM Project Name: Issuance of Commercial Aquarium Permits for the Island of O’ahu Project Short Name: DEA O’ahu Commercial Aquarium Permits HRS §343-5 Trigger(s): Trigger 1 (use of state lands) and Trigger 2 (use of conservation districts) Island(s): O’ahu Judicial District(s): Honolulu, Ewa, Waianae, Waialua, Koolauloa, Koolaupoko TMK(s): Fishing areas around O’ahu identified in Figure 1 Permit(s)/Approval(s): Aquarium Fishing Permits issued pursuant to HRS §188-31, Commercial Marine License issued pursuant to HRS 189-2,3 Approving Agency: Department of Land and Natural Resources Contact Name, Email, David Sakoda, [email protected], 808-587-0104,1151 Punchbowl Street, Room Telephone, Address 330, Honolulu, HI 96813 Applicant: Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council (PIJAC) on behalf of fishers Contact Name, Email, Jim Lynch; [email protected]; 206.370-6587; 925 Fourth Ave., Suite 2900 Seattle, Telephone, Address WA 98104 Consultant: Stantec Consulting Services Inc Contact Name, Email, Terry VanDeWalle; [email protected]; (319) 334-3755; 2300 Swan Lake Telephone, Address Blvd., Suite 202, Independence, IA 50644 Status (select one) Submittal Requirements _XX_ DEA-AFNSI Submit 1) the approving agency notice of determination/transmittal letter on agency letterhead, 2) this completed OEQC publication form as a Word file, 3) a hard copy of the DEA, and 4) a searchable PDF of the DEA; a 30-day comment period follows from the date of publication in the Notice. ____ FEA-FONSI Submit 1) the approving agency notice of determination/transmittal letter on agency letterhead, 2) this completed OEQC publication form as a Word file, 3) a hard copy of the FEA, and 4) a searchable PDF of the FEA; no comment period follows from publication in the Notice. ____ FEA-EISPN Submit 1) the approving agency notice of determination/transmittal letter on agency letterhead, 2) this completed OEQC publication form as a Word file, 3) a hard copy of the FEA, and 4) a searchable PDF of the FEA; a 30-day comment period follows from the date of publication in the Notice. ____ Act 172-12 Submit 1) the approving agency notice of determination letter on agency EISPN (“Direct to letterhead and 2) this completed OEQC publication form as a Word file; no EA is EIS”) required and a 30-day comment period follows from the date of publication in the Notice. ____ DEIS Submit 1) a transmittal letter to the OEQC and to the approving agency, 2) this completed OEQC publication form as a Word file, 3) a hard copy of the DEIS, 4) a searchable PDF of the DEIS, and 5) a searchable PDF of the distribution list; a 45-day comment period follows from the date of publication in the Notice. ____ FEIS Submit 1) a transmittal letter to the OEQC and to the approving agency, 2) this completed OEQC publication form as a Word file, 3) a hard copy of the FEIS, 4) a searchable PDF of the FEIS, and 5) a searchable PDF of the distribution list; no comment period follows from publication in the Notice. ___ FEIS Acceptance The approving agency simultaneously transmits to both the OEQC and the Determination applicant a letter of its determination of acceptance or nonacceptance (pursuant to Section 11-200-23, HAR) of the FEIS; no comment period ensues upon publication in the Notice. ____ FEIS Statutory The approving agency simultaneously transmits to both the OEQC and the Acceptance applicant a notice that it did not make a timely determination on the acceptance or nonacceptance of the applicant's FEIS under Section 343-5(c), HRS, and therefore the applicant’s FEIS is deemed accepted as a matter of law. ____ Supplemental The approving agency simultaneously transmits its notice to both the applicant EIS and the OEQC that it has reviewed (pursuant to Section 11-200-27, HAR) the Determination previously accepted FEIS and determines that a supplemental EIS is or is not required; no EA is required and no comment period ensues upon publication in the Notice. ____ Withdrawal Identify the specific document(s) to withdraw and explain in the project summary section. ____ Other Contact the OEQC if your action is not one of the above items. Project Summary The purpose of the Applicant’s action is to ensure that commercial aquarium fish collection allows for the lawful, responsible, and sustainable commercial collection of various fish species from nearshore habitats. The objective of the proposed action is to create a program under the Department of Land and Natural Resources which helps to facilitate the permitting process for commercial aquarium collection permits for the island of O’ahu. The need for the Applicant’s action is to continue commercial aquarium fishers’ livelihoods in compliance with all applicable laws, rules, and regulations pertaining to the industry. Project Summary Project Name: Issuance of Commercial Aquarium Permits for the Island of O’ahu Proposed Action: Lawful, responsible, and sustainable commercial collection of various aquarium fish species from nearshore habitats pursuant to Aquarium Fishing Permits issued under HRS §188-31. Applicant: Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council (PIJAC) on behalf of Hawai’i fishers Applicant Contact: Jim Lynch, KL Gates LLP, 206-370-6587 Approving Agency: Department of Land and Natural Resources Project Location: Throughout the nearshore region (to 3 nautical miles from shore) of the island of O’ahu except in those areas already designated as no collection areas such as Marine Life Conservation Districts. Land Use Classification: N/A Land Area: N/A NON-MLCDs Tax Map Key: N/A State Land District: N/A Land Owner: State of Hawai’i Permits Required: Aquarium Fishing Permits issued under HRS §188-31. EA Trigger: Trigger 1 (use of state lands) and Trigger 2 (use of conservation districts) Anticipated Determination: Finding of No Significant Impact Table of Contents EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ............................................................................................................ I ABBREVIATIONS .....................................................................................................................III 1.0 INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................ 1 1.1 BACKGROUND .............................................................................................................. 1 1.1.1 Status of Aquarium Permits ............................................................................ 2 1.2 REGULATORY BACKGROUND .................................................................................... 4 1.2.1 Hawai’i Revised Statute (HRS) 188-31 ........................................................... 4 1.2.2 Hawai’i Environmental Policy Act ................................................................... 4 1.2.3 Hawai’i Administrative Rule §13-77 - O’ahu Aquarium Life Management ..................................................................................................7 1.2.4 Coral/Live Rock Damage ............................................................................... 8 2.0 PURPOSE AND NEED .................................................................................................. 9 2.1 PURPOSE FOR APPLICANT’S ACTION ....................................................................... 9 2.2 NEED FOR APPLICANT’S ACTION ............................................................................... 9 2.3 PURPOSE FOR APPROVING AGENCY’S (DLNR) ACTION ......................................... 9 2.4 NEED FOR APPROVING AGENCY’S (DLNR) ACTION................................................. 9 2.5 SCOPE OF ANALYSIS .................................................................................................10 2.5.1 Resources Evaluated and Dismissed from Further Consideration ................ 10 2.5.2 Resources Retained for Further Analysis ..................................................... 10 3.0 ALTERNATIVES ...........................................................................................................11 3.1 NO ACTION ALTERNATIVE .........................................................................................12 3.2 PREFERRED ALTERNATIVE .......................................................................................12 4.0 AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT ........................................................................................12 4.1 SOCIOECONOMIC RESOURCES ................................................................................13 4.1.1 Socioeconomic Aspects of the Commercial Aquarium Fishery ..................... 15 4.2 CULTURAL RESOURCES ............................................................................................17 4.2.1 Cultural Aspects of the Commercial Aquarium Fishery ................................. 18 4.3 PHYSICAL RESOURCES .............................................................................................19 4.3.1 Climate ......................................................................................................... 19 4.3.2 Physical Aspects of the Commercial Aquarium Fishery ................................ 21 4.4 BIOLOGICAL