AGENCY ACTIONS SECTION 343-5(B), HRS PUBLICATION FORM (FEBRUARY 2013 REVISION) Project Name: New Master Lease for the Mauna Kea Science Reserve and Related Facilities and Easements Island: Hawai‘i District: Hāmākua TMK: 4-4-015:009 (Mauna Kea Science Reserve), 4-4-015:012 (Halepōhaku Mid-Level Facility), and 4-4-015:001 por. (Mauna Kea Access Road Easement) Permits: Issuance of New Leases for the Mauna Kea Science Reserve, or a portion of it, and Halepōhaku Mid-Level Facility and amendment of the Grant of Easement for the Mauna Kea Access Road. Proposing/Determination Agency: University of Hawai‘i at Hilo 200 W. Kawili Street Hilo, Hawai‘i 96720 Donald Stranley (808) 932-7348 Accepting Authority: Governor of the State of Hawai‘i 415 South Beretania Street #5 Honolulu, Hawaii 96813 (808) 586-0034 Consultant: Planning Solutions, Inc. 210 Ward Avenue, Suite 330 Honolulu, Hawai‘i 96814 Status (check one only): __DEA-AFNSI Submit the proposing agency notice of determination/transmittal on agency letterhead, a hard copy of DEA, a completed OEQC publication form, along with an electronic word processing summary and a PDF copy (you may send both summary and PDF to [email protected]); a 30-day comment period ensues upon publication in the periodic bulletin. __FEA-FONSI Submit the proposing agency notice of determination/transmittal on agency letterhead, a hard copy of the FEA, an OEQC publication form, along with an electronic word processing summary and a PDF copy (send both summary and PDF to [email protected]); no comment period ensues upon publication in the periodic bulletin. __FEA-EISPN Submit the proposing agency notice of determination/transmittal on agency letterhead, a hard copy of the FEA, an OEQC publication form, along with an electronic word processing summary and PDF copy (you may send both summary and PDF to [email protected]); a 30-day consultation period ensues upon publication in the periodic bulletin. _Act 172-12 EISPN Submit the proposing agency notice of determination on agency letterhead, an OEQC publication form, and an electronic word processing summary (you may send the summary to [email protected]). NO environmental assessment is required and a 30-day consultation period upon publication in the periodic bulletin. __DEIS The proposing agency simultaneously transmits to both the OEQC and the accepting authority, a hard copy of the DEIS, a completed OEQC publication form, a distribution list, along with an electronic word processing summary and PDF copy of the DEIS (you may send both the summary and PDF to [email protected]); a 45-day comment period ensues upon publication in the periodic bulletin. __FEIS The proposing agency simultaneously transmits to both the OEQC and the accepting authority, a hard copy of the FEIS, a completed OEQC publication form, a distribution list, along with an electronic word processing summary and PDF copy of the FEIS (you may send both the summary and PDF to [email protected]); no comment period ensues upon publication in the periodic bulletin. __ Section 11-200-23 Determination The accepting authority simultaneously transmits its determination of acceptance or nonacceptance (pursuant to Section 11-200-23, HAR) of the FEIS to both OEQC and the proposing agency. No comment period ensues upon publication in the periodic bulletin. __Section 11-200-27 Determination The accepting authority simultaneously transmits its notice to both the proposing agency and the OEQC that it has reviewed (pursuant to Section 11-200-27, HAR) the previously accepted FEIS and determines that a supplemental EIS is not required. No EA is required and no comment period ensues upon publication in the periodic bulletin. __Withdrawal (explain) Summary: The University of Hawai‘i (UH) leases the 11,288-acre Mauna Kea Science Reserve (MKSR) under general lease S-4191, which expires on December 31, 2033, and the 19-acre Halepōhaku mid-level facility under general lease S-5529, which expires in 2041. In addition, UH holds non-exclusive Easement S-4697 for the Mauna Kea Access Road between the two leased properties, the leased area is roughly 71 acres and the easement expires on December 31, 2033. The two leased properties plus a 400-yard wide corridor on either side of the Mauna Kea Access Road, excluding areas within the adjacent Natural Area Reserve (NAR), make up the UH Management Area on Maunakea. UH is seeking to replace both of its existing leases with new leases well before they expire and to extend the term of the road easement. UH is seeking a new Master Lease for two principal reasons. The first is to incorporate into the Master Lease the new Comprehensive Management Plan (CMP) objectives. The second is to provide an adequate planning horizon for ongoing and future scientific activity, something that is increasingly difficult as the remaining term of the existing Master Lease becomes shorter. The Environmental Impact Statement Preparation Notice (EISPN) discusses a “No Action Alternative,” an action alternative under which UH leases the same areas it currently leases, and an action alternative under which UH leases a reduced land area. These three alternatives and potentially additional alternatives advanced by stakeholders during the EISPN review period will be evaluated in the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS). The EISPN outlines the kinds of potential adverse and beneficial impacts that are likely to result from the alternatives being considered. These potential impacts and others identified by stakeholders during the review of the EISPN will be evaluated in the DEIS. Environmental Assessment/Environmental Impact Statement Preparation Notice (EISPN) NEW MASTER LEASES FOR MAUNA KEA SCIENCE RESERVE & RELATED FACILITIES & EASEMENTS PROPOSING AGENCY: UNIVERSITY OF HAWAI`I AT HILO This Environmental Document was Prepared Pursuant to Chapter 343, Hawai`i Revised Statutes, and Chapter 200 of Title 11, Hawai`i Administrative Rules, Department of Health, Environmental Impact Statement Rules. DECEMBER 2014 EIS PREPARATION NOTICE MAUNA KEA SCIENCE RESERVE MASTER LEASES TABLE OF CONTENTS TABLE OF CONTENTS 1 PURPOSE AND NEED .............................................................................................................. 1-1 1.1 INTRODUCTION AND OVERVIEW .................................................................................................................1-1 1.1.1 Existing University of Hawai`i Property on Maunakea ........................................................................1-1 1.1.2 Request for New Master Leases and Related Easement ........................................................................1-3 1.2 OBJECTIVES OF THE PROPOSED ACTION ....................................................................................................1-3 1.3 PURPOSE OF THIS DOCUMENT ....................................................................................................................1-3 2 ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED ........................................................................................... 2-1 2.1 INTRODUCTION ...........................................................................................................................................2-1 2.1.1 Background ...........................................................................................................................................2-1 2.1.2 Overview of Alternatives the EIS Will Address ...................................................................................2-1 2.2 ALTERNATIVE 1: NO ACTION ALTERNATIVE ..............................................................................................2-2 2.2.1 Astronomical Facility Operations over Remainder of Existing Leases .................................................2-2 2.2.2 Decommissioning of Astronomical Facilities within the MKSR ..........................................................2-2 2.2.3 Support Facility Operations and Decommissioning Over Remainder of Existing Leases ....................2-4 2.2.4 UH Management Activities over Remainder of Existing Lease ...........................................................2-4 2.2.5 Post-2033 DLNR Management of Surrendered Land ...........................................................................2-5 2.3 ALTERNATIVE 2: NEW MASTER LEASE FOR EXISTING LEASE AREA ..........................................................2-6 2.3.1 Potential Astronomy Operations under New Master Lease ..................................................................2-7 2.3.2 Potential Halepōhaku Use under New Master Lease ............................................................................2-8 2.3.3 Management Activities: Alternative 2 ..................................................................................................2-9 2.4 ALTERNATIVE 3: NEW MASTER LEASE FOR A REDUCED LEASE AREA .......................................................2-9 2.4.1 UH Management Area Management Activities: Alternative 3 ...........................................................2-11 2.4.2 DLNR Management of Land Returned to DLNR under Alternative 3 ...............................................2-11 2.5 ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED BUT NOT ANALYZED IN DETAIL .................................................................2-11 2.5.1 Delay Request for New Master Lease .................................................................................................2-11 2.5.2 Astronomical Facilities in a different Location in Hawai`i