Thursday, March 28, 2024
Hawai'i Free Press

Current Articles | Archives

Thursday, November 17, 2016
Kahuku: How Many Birds Will Windfarm be Allowed to Kill?
By News Release @ 4:08 PM :: 3826 Views

Public Comment Period Re-Opening for Environmental Impact Statement and Habitat Conservation Plan for Na Pua Makani Wind Project

News Release from USFWS, November 15, 2016

HONOLULU, Hawaii – The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) is re-opening a 30-day public comment period on the proposed Na Pua Makani Wind Project near Kahuku, Hawai’i. The Service has concluded that additional opportunity for public input on the Supplemental Final Environmental Impact Statement would benefit the plan’s development. The Supplemental Final Environmental Impact Statement includes a modified option of a project design with fewer, but larger, wind turbines.

Na Pua Makani Power Partners applied for an incidental take permit that would, if approved by the Service, authorize limited unintentional killing of listed species caused by the construction and operation of the applicant’s Na Pua Makani Wind Project for production of wind-generated electrical energy on 707 acres of public and private lands near Kahuku on the island of Oahu. The proposed project would construct up to nine wind turbines generating up to 25 megawatts of renewable wind-generated electrical energy. The 21-year permit would authorize limited take of the threatened Newell’s shearwater, and the endangered Hawaiian stilt, Hawaiian coot, Hawaiian moorhen, Hawaiian duck, Hawaiian goose, and Hawaiian hoary bat.

In accordance with the Endangered Species Act requirements for an incidental take permit, Na Pua Makani Power Partners prepared a habitat conservation plan to minimize and mitigate the impacts of incidental take likely to be caused by the project. To offset anticipated take, potential mitigation measures on Oahu include:

  • funding research to support effective management of Newell’s shearwaters;
  • fencing and predator control to conserve the Hawaiian goose at James Campbell National Wildlife Refuge;
  • a combination of bat research, and native forest restoration and management to increase Hawaiian hoary bat habitat;
  • acoustic surveys to document occupancy of the affected area by the Hawaiian hoary bat; and
  • fencing and public education opportunities at Hamakua Marsh to benefit conservation of the Hawaiian stilt, Hawaiian coot, Hawaiian moorhen and the Hawaiian duck.

The public is invited to submit comments by December 17, 2016 on the supplemental Environmental Impact Statement and Habitat Conservation Plan Comments may be submitted in the following ways:

  • E-Mail: NaPuaMakanihcp@fws.gov.
  • U.S. Mail: Na Pua Makani Comments, c/o Pacific Islands Fish and Wildlife Office, Rm 3-122, 300 Ala Moana Blvd., Honolulu, HI, 96850

Copies of the supplemental Environmental Impact Statement and the Habitat Conservation Plan may be downloaded at www.fws.gov/pacificislands or can be requested by calling (808) 792-9400.

PDF: Federal Register notice


The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is working with others to conserve, protect, and enhance fish, wildlife, plants, and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. We are both a leader and trusted partner in fish and wildlife conservation, known for our scientific excellence, stewardship of lands and natural resources, dedicated professionals, and commitment to public service. For more information on our work and the people who make it happen, visit www.fws.gov.

For more information on our work and the people who make it happen, visit http://www.fws.gov/pacific/. Connect with our Facebook page, follow our tweets, watch our YouTube Channel and download photos from our Flickr page.

RELATED: Opposition grows over proposed floating wind farm off Kaena Point

Links

TEXT "follow HawaiiFreePress" to 40404

Register to Vote

2aHawaii

808 Silent Majority

Aloha Pregnancy Care Center

AntiPlanner

Antonio Gramsci Reading List

A Place for Women in Waipio

Ballotpedia Hawaii

Broken Trust

Build More Hawaiian Homes Working Group

Christian Homeschoolers of Hawaii

Cliff Slater's Second Opinion

DVids Hawaii

FIRE

Fix Oahu!

Frontline: The Fixers

Genetic Literacy Project

Grassroot Institute

Habele.org

Hawaii Aquarium Fish Report

Hawaii Aviation Preservation Society

Hawaii Catholic TV

Hawaii Christian Coalition

Hawaii Cigar Association

Hawaii ConCon Info

Hawaii Debt Clock

Hawaii Defense Foundation

Hawaii Family Forum

Hawaii Farmers and Ranchers United

Hawaii Farmer's Daughter

Hawaii Federalist Society

Hawaii Federation of Republican Women

Hawaii History Blog

Hawaii Homeschool Association

Hawaii Jihadi Trial

Hawaii Legal News

Hawaii Legal Short-Term Rental Alliance

Hawaii Matters

Hawaii's Partnership for Appropriate & Compassionate Care

Hawaii Public Charter School Network

Hawaii Rifle Association

Hawaii Shippers Council

Hawaii Smokers Alliance

Hawaii State Data Lab

Hawaii Together

HIEC.Coop

HiFiCo

Hiram Fong Papers

Homeschool Legal Defense Hawaii

Honolulu Moms for Liberty

Honolulu Navy League

Honolulu Traffic

House Minority Blog

Imua TMT

Inouye-Kwock, NYT 1992

Inside the Nature Conservancy

Inverse Condemnation

Investigative Project on Terrorism

July 4 in Hawaii

Kakaako Cares

Keep Hawaii's Heroes

Land and Power in Hawaii

Legislative Committee Analysis Tool

Lessons in Firearm Education

Lingle Years

Managed Care Matters -- Hawaii

Malama Pregnancy Center of Maui

MentalIllnessPolicy.org

Military Home Educators' Network Oahu

Missile Defense Advocacy

MIS Veterans Hawaii

NAMI Hawaii

Natatorium.org

National Christian Foundation Hawaii

National Parents Org Hawaii

NFIB Hawaii News

No GMO Means No Aloha

Not Dead Yet, Hawaii

NRA-ILA Hawaii

Oahu Alternative Transport

Obookiah

OHA Lies

Opt Out Today

OurFutureHawaii.com

Patients Rights Council Hawaii

PEACE Hawaii

People vs Machine

Practical Policy Institute of Hawaii

Pritchett Cartoons

Pro-GMO Hawaii

P.U.E.O.

RailRipoff.com

Rental by Owner Awareness Assn

ReRoute the Rail

Research Institute for Hawaii USA

Rick Hamada Show

RJ Rummel

Robotics Organizing Committee

School Choice in Hawaii

SenatorFong.com

Sink the Jones Act

Statehood for Guam

Talking Tax

Tax Foundation of Hawaii

The Real Hanabusa

Time Out Honolulu

Trustee Akina KWO Columns

UCC Truths

US Tax Foundation Hawaii Info

VAREP Honolulu

Waagey.org

West Maui Taxpayers Association

What Natalie Thinks

Whole Life Hawaii

Yes2TMT