2020-04-08-KA-DEA-Implementing
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SUZANNE D. CASE CRAlltPERSON DAVIDY.IGE BOARD OF UNO AND NATURAL RESOURCES GOVERNOR OF HAW All COMMISSION ON WATER RESOURCE MANAGEMENT APR ~ 2020 ROBERT K. MASUDA FIRST DEPUTY M. KALEO MANUEL OEPtrl'Y DIRECTOR · WA'rnR AQUATIC RESOURCES BOATINO AND OCEAN RECREATION BUREAU OF CONVEYANCES COMMISSION ON WATER RESOURCE MANAGEMENT STATE OF HAWAII CONSERVATION AND COASTAL LANDS CONSERVATION AND RESOURCES ENFORCEMENT DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES l!NOINEERINO FORESTRY AND Wll.DUFE DIVISION OF FORESTRY AND WILDLIFE HISTORIC PRESERVATION KAHOOLAWE ISLAND RESER VB COMMtSSfON 1151 PUNCHBOWL STREET, ROOM 325 LAND HONOLULU, HAWAII 96813 STA'mPARKS March 30, 2020 Director Office of Environmental Quality Control Department of Health, State of Hawaii 235 S. Beretania Street, Room 702 Honolulu, HI 96813 Dear Director, With this letter, the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources hereby transmits the Draft Environmental Assessment and Anticipated Finding of No Significant Impact (DEA AFONSI) for the Kauai Seabird Habitat Conservation Plan for publication in the April 8, 2020 Environmental Notice. We are submitting the electronic version of the OEQC Publication Form and a PDF formatted electronic copy of the DEA-AFONSI through the online submission platform and electronic mail to your office. Ifthere are any questions, please contact Kate Cullison at (808) 223-0459 or Katherine.cullison@hawaii. gov Sincerely, ~~Q .l~ SUZANNE D. CASE Chairperson From: [email protected] To: HI Office of Environmental Quality Control Subject: New online submission for The Environmental Notice Date: Tuesday, March 31, 2020 12:22:48 PM Action Name Draft Environmental Assessment; Kauai Seabird Habitat Conservation Plan Type of Document/Determination Draft environmental assessment and anticipated finding of no significant impact (DEA-AFNSI) HRS §343-5(a) Trigger(s) (1) Propose the use of state or county lands or the use of state or county funds (2) Propose any use within any land classified as a conservation district Judicial district Kauaʻi - multiple districts Tax Map Key(s) (TMK(s)) All Action type Agency Other required permits and approvals Incidental Take License, DLNR lease Proposing/determining agency Department of Land and Natural Resources Agency contact name Katherine Cullison Agency contact email (for info about the action) [email protected] Email address or URL for receiving comments [email protected] Agency contact phone (808) 223-0459 Agency address 1151 Punchbowl Street #325 Honolulu, HI 96813 United States Map It Was this submittal prepared by a consultant? No Action summary The proposed action is for the implementation of the Kauai Seabird Habitat Conservation Plan in conjunction with Hawaiʻi DLNR issuing Incidental Take Licenses to Applicants that obtain authorization for incidental take of Newell’s shearwater (‘a‘o), Hawaiian petrel (‘ua‘u), and band-rumped storm-petrel (‘akē‘akē) caused by nighttime lighting. Under the Plan, minimization measures emphasize reducing the amount of artificial, night-time light that shines upward and reducing the light output/intensity. Mitigation activities include creating and managing a Seabird Preserve & conducting predator control to reduce depredation on nearby seabird colonies. The proposed Seabird Preserve comprises ~ 5 acres along the Nā Pali Coast 4,000 feet above sea level, on Conservation District land owned by the State and managed State Parks (por. 5-9-001:016 (Kōkeʻe State Park-Resource subzone) and por. 5-9- 001:001 (Nāpali Coast State Wilderness Park-Protective subzone)). Reasons supporting determination See Appendix C (10.3) page 127. Attached documents (signed agency letter & EA/EIS) OEQC-KSHCP-Pub-Form.pdf OEQC-CoverLtr-DRAFT-EA-and-DEA-AFONSI-for-the-Kauai-Seabird-HCP-signed.pdf KSHCPDEA_HI-FINAL.pdf Authorized individual Katherine Cullison Authorization The above named authorized individual hereby certifies that he/she has the authority to make this submission. Draft Environmental Assessment addressing Effects of Implementing the Kaua‘i Seabird Habitat Conservation Plan under Associated Applications for Incidental Take Permits/Licenses April 2020 HRS Chapter 343 Document prepared for Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of Forestry and Wildlife State of Hawai‘i 1. Contents List of Tables ......................................................................................................................................... 3 List of Figures........................................................................................................................................ 3 List of Acronyms ................................................................................................................................... 1 Introduction .......................................................................................................................................... 2 1. Purpose and Need ......................................................................................................................3 1.1. Purpose and Need of Action .................................................................................................... 3 1.2. Authority for Action and Authorities Governing the Action .................................................... 4 1.2.1. Authorizing Federal Laws, Executive Orders, and Supporting Agency Guidelines ............. 4 1.2.2. Applicable Hawaiʻi State Laws and Supporting Agency Regulations .................................. 5 1.3. Purpose of this Analysis .......................................................................................................... 6 1.4. Resource Areas to be Analyzed ............................................................................................... 6 1.5 Permit Issuance Criteria.................................................................................................................. 7 2. Alternatives ...............................................................................................................................9 2.1. Alternatives Development ....................................................................................................... 9 2.2. Scoping and Public Involvement ............................................................................................. 9 2.3. Alternatives Being Considered .............................................................................................. 11 2.4. Alternative A: No-Action Alternative .................................................................................... 11 2.5. Alternative B: Proposed Action Alternative (implementation of the proposed KSHCP) ...... 13 2.5.1. KSHCP Conservation Strategy ........................................................................................... 14 2.5.2. Covered Activities ............................................................................................................. 14 2.5.3. KSHCP Avoidance and Minimization Measures ................................................................ 15 2.5.4. KSHCP Mitigation Measures ............................................................................................. 16 2.5.5. Actions related to the Honu.............................................................................................. 19 2.5.6. Cost to Implement the KSHCP .......................................................................................... 20 2.6. Alternative C: Translocation ................................................................................................. 22 2.6.1. Summary ........................................................................................................................... 22 2.6.2. Conservation Measures to Mitigate for Authorized Incidental Take ............................... 22 2.6.3. Cost of Translocation ........................................................................................................ 24 2.7. Alternatives Considered but not Analyzed in Detail ............................................................. 24 2.7.1. Achieving Zero Incidental Take ......................................................................................... 24 2.7.2. Different-Sized Fence Enclosure Alternative .................................................................... 25 3. Affected Environment .............................................................................................................. 26 3.1. Location................................................................................................................................. 26 3.2. Covered Species: ʻAʻo, ʻUaʻu, and ʻAkēʻakē ........................................................................ 27 3.2.1. ‘A‘o, or Newell’s Shearwater ............................................................................................ 27 3.2.2. The ʻuaʻu, or Hawaiian petrel ........................................................................................... 30 3.2.3. The ʻakēʻakē or band-rumped storm-petrel ..................................................................... 32 3.3. Other Federally Listed Species & Critical Habitat ............................................................... 34 3.3.1. Designated Critical Habitat ............................................................................................... 34 3.3.2. Listed Mammals ................................................................................................................ 35 3.3.3