Intent To Prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Ala Wai Canal Project, Honolulu, Oahu, HI, 57339-57340 [E8-23221]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
• Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers
• Engineers Corps

[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 192 (Thursday, October 2, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 57339-57340]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-23221]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers


Intent To Prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the 
Proposed Ala Wai Canal Project, Honolulu, Oahu, HI

AGENCY: Department of the Army, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), 
DoD.

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to Section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental 
Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and 
the State of Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) 
gives notice that an Environmental Impact Statement is being prepared 
for the Ala Wai Canal Project, City and County of Honolulu, HI. This 
effort is a multi-purpose project being proposed under Section 209 of 
the Flood Control Act of 1962 (Pub. L. 87-874) and will incorporate 
both flood hazard reduction and ecosystem

[[Page 57340]]

restoration components into a single, comprehensive strategy.

DATES: In order to be considered in the Draft EIS (DEIS), comments and 
suggestions should be received no later than 30 days after publication 
of this notice in the Federal Register .

ADDRESSES: Send written comments to U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 
Honolulu District, ATTN: Cindy S. Barger, Project Manager, Civil and 
Public Works Branch (CEPOH-PP-C), Room 311, Building 230, Fort Shafter, 
HI 96858-5440.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions or comments concerning the 
proposed action should be addressed to Ms. Cindy S. Barger, Project 
Manager, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Honolulu District, Civil and 
Public Works Branch, Building 230, Fort Shafter, HI 96858-5440, 
Telephone: (808) 438-6940, E-mail: Cindy.S.Barger@poh01.usace.army.mil, 
or Mr. Carty Chang, Project Planning and Management Branch Chief, State 
of Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources, Engineering 
Division, 1151 Punchbowl Street, Room 221, Honolulu, HI 96813, 
telephone (808) 587-0227, E-mail: carty.s.chang@hawaii.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A preliminary assessment of this federally 
funded action indicates that the project may cause significant impacts 
on the environment. As a result, it has been determined that the 
preparation and review of an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is 
needed for this project. The EIS and Feasibility Study for the Ala Wai 
Canal Project are being conducted concurrently. The EIS will evaluate 
potential impacts to the natural, physical, and human environment as a 
result of implementing any of the proposed alternatives that are 
developed by this project.
    This project will be implemented under Section 209 of the Flood 
Control Act of 1962 (Pub. L. 87-874), for the purpose of flood 
mitigation and ecosystem restoration in the Ala Wai Canal Watershed, 
which consists of the sub-watersheds of Makiki, Manoa, Palolo, and 
Waikiki. The USACE will work with the affected community and the 
sponsoring local organization, the State of Hawaii Department of Land 
and Natural Resources, to develop an acceptable plan to address the 
flood and ecosystem problems.
    The 11,069-acre Ala Wai Canal Watershed is located in the southern 
portion of the island of Oahu. The Watershed is highly urbanized, with 
approximately 1,746 structures within the designated 100-year 
floodplain. There is a high potential for massive flood damage to the 
densely populated and economically critical area of Waikiki and the 
adjacent neighborhoods of McCully and Moiliili. Additionally, flooding 
frequently occurs in lower Makiki and recently in the central Manoa 
Valley, causing damages to businesses, homes, and academic facilities. 
There is also significant environmental degradation of the streams and 
waterways, including heavy sedimentation, poor water quality, lack of 
habitat for native species, and a prevalence of alien species.
    Goals of the Ala Wai Canal Project are to (1) Protect the entire 
Ala Wai Canal Watershed from the 100-year flood event, (2) improve the 
migratory pathway for native amphidromous species, (3) reduce sediment 
buildup in the streams and Ala Wai Canal, (4) enhance the physical 
quality of existing aquatic habitat for native species, and (5) improve 
water quality. Anticipated significant issues identified to date and to 
be addressed in the EIS include: (1) Impacts on flooding, (2) impacts 
on stream hydraulics, (3) impacts on fish and wildlife resources and 
habitats, (4) impacts on recreation and recreational facilities, and 
(5) other impacts identified by the Public, agencies, or USACE studies.
    A full range of possible programs and actions will be considered in 
order to meet the project goals. Currently under consideration are 
dredging, detention basins, flood walls, debris basins and other debris 
management actions, bridge modification, flood-proofing structures 
within the flood plain, diversion of flood waters, flood warning 
systems, widening of channels, acquisition of properties within the 
floodplain, maintenance easements, and a drainage district. Ecosystem 
restoration measures currently under consideration include low-flow 
channels, creating more natural stream channels, constructed wetlands, 
trash separators, sediment interceptors, daylighting the stream, 
increasing or decreasing shade as necessary, reducing the pig 
population, and stream bank stabilization. As hydrologic, hydraulic, 
and biological analyses are performed and stakeholder consultations are 
conducted, additional concepts may be developed.
    Evaluation of all of the alternatives will take into account 
minimization of adverse impacts to social resources, economics, 
aesthetics, recreation, historic and cultural resources, and native 
species habitat. Flood hazard reduction alternatives will additionally 
take into account a cost-benefit analysis and ability to complement 
ecosystem restoration measures. Evaluation of the ecosystem restoration 
alternatives will be based on the areas of habitat they create, 
improve, or provide access to, as well as their ability to complement 
flood hazard reduction measures.
    A DEIS will be prepared and circulated for review by agencies and 
the public. The USACE and DLNR invite participation and consultation of 
agencies and individuals that have special expertise, legal 
jurisdiction, or interest in the preparation of the DEIS. The DLNR will 
be issuing a state-level Environmental Impact Statement Preparation 
Notice (EISPN) pursuant to Hawaii Revised Statutes (HRS) Chapter 343. 
All written and verbal comments received in response to this Notice of 
Intent and the State EISPN will be considered when determining the 
scope of the EIS. To the extent practicable, NEPA and HRS 343 
requirements will be coordinated in the preparation of the EIS 
document.
    A public scoping meeting will be held on Tuesday, October 21, 2008 
at the Washington Middle School Cafeteria at 1633 South King Street, 
Honolulu, HI 96826, from 6:30 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. to determine the 
scope of analysis of the proposed action. The scoping meeting will also 
be announced in local media. Interested parties are encouraged to 
express their views during the scoping process and throughout the 
development of the alternatives and EIS. To be most helpful, comments 
should clearly describe specific environmental topics or issues which 
the commenter believes the document should address. Further information 
on the proposed action or the scoping meeting may be obtained from 
Cindy S. Barger, Project Manager, at (see ADDRESSES). The DEIS should 
be available for public review in early 2010, subject to the receipt of 
federal funding.

Brenda S. Bowen,
Army Federal Register Liaison Officer.
 [FR Doc. E8-23221 Filed 10-1-08; 8:45 am]
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