[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 77 (Monday, April 22, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19544-19545]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-9793]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Natural Resources Conservation Service


Lahaina Watershed, Maui County, HI

AGENCY: Natural Resources Conservation Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to Council on Environmental Quality regulations (40 
CFR parts 15001508) implementing the procedural provisions National 
Environmental Policy Act, the Department of Agriculture, Natural 
Resources Conservation Service (USDA, NRCS) gives notice that an 
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is being prepared for a proposed 
flood prevention project in the Lahaina Watershed, Maui County, Hawaii.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kenneth M. Kaneshiro, State 
Conservationist, Natural Resources Conservation Service, 300 Ala Moana 
Blvd., Room 4118, Honolulu, Hawaii, 96850, telephone: (808) 5412600 
ext. 100.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This federally-assisted action was supported 
by an Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact 
published in July 1992. No implementation actions were taken at that 
time due to funding constraints. Recent reevaluation of the project 
finds

[[Page 19545]]

a changed project setting and indicates that the project may cause 
significant impacts to the environment. As a result, Kenneth M. 
Kaneshiro, State Conservationist, has determined that the preparation 
and review of an environmental impact statement is needed for this 
project.
    The project will be implemented under authority of the Watershed 
Protection and Flood Prevention Act (Pub. L. 83-566), as amended, for 
the purpose of flood prevention. Sponsoring local organizations (SLO) 
are the County of Maui, Department of Public Works and Waste Management 
and the West Maui Soil and Water Conservation District.
    Alternatives under consideration include a floodwater diversion 
channel that starts south of Lahainaluna Road and extends to Kauaula 
Stream. The proposed project also includes the construction of an inlet 
basin, three (3) sediment basins, a debris basin at Kauaula Stream 
leading to an outlet at Puamana channel and a second outlet to the 
south with an additional sediment basin. Other alternatives to meet the 
objectives of the flood prevention project will be formulated and 
evaluated.
    A draft environmental impact statement will be prepared and 
circulated for review by agencies and the public. The Natural Resources 
Conservation Service invites participation and consultation of agencies 
and individuals that have special expertise, legal jurisdiction, or 
interest in the preparation of the draft environmental impact 
statement. All written and verbal comments received in response to this 
Notice of Intent will be considered in determination of the scope of 
the environmental impact statement. The SLOs will be issuing an 
Environmental Impact Statement Preparation Notice (EISPN) pursuant to 
Hawaii Revised Status (HRS) Chapter 343 and have already begun a public 
participation process in the affected community, including public 
meetings and compilation of a list of interested organizations and 
agencies. This Notice of Intent will be mailed, along with background 
information on the Lahaina Watershed, to organizations and agencies on 
the SLO mailing list. The Notice of Intent will also be published in a 
local newspaper and in the Office of Environmental Quality Control's 
Environmental Notice. To the extent practicable, NEPA and HRS 343 
requirements will be coordinated in the preparation of the EIS 
document. Due to earlier public scoping meetings held during the 
federal EA process and ongoing efforts by the SLOs to keep the public 
informed of this project, a public meeting for the expressed purpose to 
determine the scope of the evaluation of the project will not be held.
    Please provide comments to Kenneth M. Kaneshiro, State 
Conservationist, at the above address or telephone.

(This activity is listed in the Catalogue of Federal Domestic 
Assistance under No. 10.904--Watershed Protection and Flood 
Prevention--and is subject to the provisions of Executive Order 
12372 which requires intergovernmental consultation with state and 
local officials.)
    Dated: April 12, 2002.
Kenneth M. Kaneshiro,
State Conservationist.
[FR Doc. 02-9793 Filed 4-19-02; 8:45 am]
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