[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 222 (Thursday, November 18, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 67622-67624]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-25591]



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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Transit Administration


Preparation of Environmental Impact Statement for the Lahaina 
Small Boat Harbor Ferry Pier in Maui County, HI

AGENCY: Federal Transit Administration (FTA), Department of 
Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement 
(EIS).

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SUMMARY: The Federal Transit Administration and the State of Hawaii, 
Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) intend to jointly 
prepare an Environmental Impact Statement on a proposal by DLNR to 
build an additional ferry pier next to the existing pier in the Lahaina 
Small Boat Harbor, within the boundaries of the Lahaina National 
Historic Landmark District on the west coast of the island of Maui, 
Hawaii. The proposed project would include construction of an 
additional pier and to dredge the harbor. The existing ferry facility 
at times is unable to load or unload inter-island ferry passengers in a 
timely manner due to ship traffic and related onshore activities. The 
proposed project is intended to improve existing operating conditions 
at the harbor by alleviating ship traffic and harbor congestion.
    The EIS will be prepared to satisfy the requirements of the 
National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA). FTA and DLNR seek 
public and interagency input on the scope of the NEPA EIS for the 
project, including the alternatives to be considered and the 
environmental impacts to be evaluated.

DATES: Scoping Comments Due Date: Written comments on the scope of the 
NEPA review, including the alternatives to be considered and the 
related impacts to be assessed, should be received no later than 
January 7, 2005. Written comments should be sent to the DLNR Project 
Manager at the address given below in ADDRESSES.
    Scoping Meeting Date: A public scoping meeting and open house will 
be held at 6 p.m. on December 8, 2004 at the Lahaina Intermediate 
School, cafeteria, located at 871 Lahainaluna Road, in the Town of 
Lahaina. Oral and written comments may be given at the scoping meeting, 
and a stenographer will record oral comments. The formal scoping 
meeting will be preceded by an open house from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. 
allowing the public to discuss the EIS scope and proposed project 
informally with DLNR staff and project consultant team. The meeting 
location is accessible to people with disabilities. Persons with 
special needs should call DLNR at (808) 587-0230 at least 72 hours 
prior to the scoping meeting.

ADDRESSES: Written comments should be sent to State of Hawaii, 
Department of Land and Natural Resources, Attention: Eric Hirano, Chief 
Engineer, Engineering Division, P.O. Box 373, Honolulu, Hawaii, 96809. 
Phone: (808) 587-0230. Fax: (808) 587-0283. E-mail: 
[email protected]. If you wish to be placed on the mailing list 
to receive further information as the EIS study develops, contact Eric 
Hirano at the address listed above. Please specify the mailing list for 
the Lahaina Small Boat Harbor Ferry Pier Environmental Impact 
Statement. Copies of the scoping information packet which includes 
rough sketches of the various alternatives under consideration can also 
be obtained by contacting Eric Hirano as indicated above.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Donna Turchie, Federal Transit 
Administration, 201 Mission Street, Suite 2210, San Francisco, CA 
94105. Phone: (415) 744-2737. Fax: (415) 794-2726.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Scoping

    The FTA and DLNR invite all interested individuals and 
organizations, and federal, state, and local agencies to comment on the 
scope of the EIS. During the scoping process, comments should focus on 
proposing alternatives that may be less costly or have less 
environmental impacts while achieving similar transportation 
objectives, and on identifying specific social, economic, or 
environmental issues to be evaluated. At this time, comments should not 
focus on a preference for a particular alternative. Additional 
opportunities for public participation will be announced through 
mailings, notices, advertisements, and press releases.
    FTA must also comply with other environmental requirements, such as 
Section 4(f) of the Department of Transportation Act (49 U.S.C. 303) 
and Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act and Title VI 
of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, that apply to Federal actions.

II. Description of Study Area

    The proposed ferry pier improvements are located in the Lahaina 
Small Boat Harbor, within the boundaries of the Lahaina National 
Historic Landmark District, an area listed on the National Register of 
Historic Places, on the west coast of the island of Maui, Hawaii.
    The project area is located within the limits of the Special 
Management Area for the island of Maui and is also situated within the 
boundaries of Historic District No. 1, one of two County Historic 
districts in the town of Lahaina.
    Coastal waters to the south of the proposed ferry pier are occupied 
by the existing pier and the Lahaina Small Boat Harbor, while waters to 
the north are undeveloped. Approximately 100 feet to the west of the 
existing pier lies the seaward end of the harbor's breakwater. 
Paralleling the shoreline, the breakwater is located about 200 feet 
from shore and is nearly 1,000 feet in length.
    The project area is situated along the western extent of Lahaina's 
business district. Numerous retail stores and services are located 
along Front Street, the major venue for commercial activity in Lahaina 
Town. The Lahaina Public Library, and the historic Pioneer Inn, as well 
as other historic sites such as the Hauola Stone, the Brick Palace, the 
Old Fort, the Lahaina Courthouse, and the Banyan Tree are located in 
the vicinity of the proposed project.

III. Purpose and Need

    The existing pier at Lahaina Small Boat Harbor is about 66 feet in 
width and 120 feet in length. The approximately 8,000 square foot pier 
contains a harbor master's office, a ferry kiosk, and diesel fuel 
dispensing and sewage pumping facilities. The existing pier is used for 
loading and unloading passengers onto recreational and commercial 
vessels, including cruise ship tenders (i.e., shuttle craft) and inter-
island ferry vessels. The pier provides berthing for the Carthaginian 
II, a replica of a whaling ship which serves as a floating museum. The 
pier is also used by surfers to gain access to nearby surf spots.
    Since the late 1980s, inter-island ferry service between Lanai and 
Maui, as well as Molokai and Maui, has been provided by private 
operators. Presently, the Lahaina/Lanai ferry schedules five daily 
round trips between the Lahaina and Manele Small Boat Harbors. The 
Molokai/Maui ferry schedules two round trips a day between the Lahaina 
Small Boat Harbor and the Kaunakakai Harbor on Mondays through 
Saturdays. On Sundays, the Molokai/Maui ferry makes a one way trip from 
Molokai to Maui. At times, the inter-island ferry vessels are unable to 
load or unload their passengers in a timely manner due to ship traffic 
and related onshore activities.
    The Lahaina Small Boat Harbor contains 100 berths for recreational 
and commercial craft. Presently, there are 59

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individuals on the waiting list for berths at the harbor. On ``Boat 
Days'', when cruise ships are in port, the harbor is one of the busiest 
in the State. On these days, the activity level at the existing pier is 
heightened by the additional traffic generated by cruise ship tenders. 
``Boat Day'' conditions are further constrained when there are military 
vessels or two or more cruise ships in port. During normal conditions, 
routine refueling and sewage pump-out activities at the pier add to 
vessel traffic congestion. The proposed project is intended to improve 
existing operating conditions at the Lahaina Small Boat Harbor by 
alleviating ship traffic and harbor congestion.

IV. Alternatives

    During the project's preliminary conceptual development process, 
use and operational factors were examined with regard to the proposed 
ferry pier and comfort station improvements. This evaluation included 
an examination of existing harbor facilities and activities with regard 
to current ferry and cruise ship operations and comfort station use, as 
well as the provision of a new berthing area for the replacement vessel 
for the Carthaginian II and for surfer access to the nearby ``Harbor'' 
and ``Breakwall'' surf spots. Preliminary conceptual plans for the 
proposed project were presented at a stakeholders' meeting on April 8, 
2004.
    In light of the foregoing conceptual plan development by DLNR, FTA 
proposes to evaluate the following alternatives in the EIS:
    1. Future No Build Alternative--This alternative would maintain 
present physical conditions and existing operating policies as ship 
traffic at the Lahaina Small Boat Harbor grows.
    2. Initial Ferry Pier Alternative--This alternative sited the new 
pier about 60 feet to the north of the existing pier. The proposed pier 
would consist of a concrete and sheet pile system structure that would 
be 48 feet in width and nearly 146 feet in length. A ramp (25 ft. width 
x 53 ft. length) would provide pedestrian access between the shoreline 
and the new ferry pier. New dredging will be required to widen existing 
entrance channel and create additional berthing areas.
    3. Initial Ferry Pier with Multi-Purpose Pier Alternative--The 
multi-purpose pier (15 ft. width x 90 ft. length) presented at the 
stakeholders' meeting would provide a berthing area for the 
Carthaginian II or its replacement vessel and provide surfer access to 
nearby surf breaks. The multi-purpose pier would be secured by concrete 
pilings and contain a floating, molded composite deck. A concrete 
walkway and gangway ramp (8 ft. width x 60 ft. length) would link the 
multi-purpose pier with the initial ferry pier as presented in 
alternative 2, at a point about 24 to 30 feet from the shoreline. At 
its nearest point, the multi-purpose pier would lie approximately 60 
feet from the Hauola Stone (a historic site). New dredging will be 
required to widen existing entrance channel and create berthing areas.
    4. Initial Ferry Pier with Building Alternative--A two-story 
building (32 feet in height) was proposed as a possible addition to the 
new ferry pier. The ground level of the building would include about 
4,500 square feet of open area for passenger arrivals and departures, 
while the second level would contain a total floor area of 
approximately 2,970 square feet which would include public restrooms, a 
janitor's closet, a wrap-around deck and 1,175 square feet of area for 
office and concession space. Stairs and an elevator would provide 
pedestrian access between levels. New dredging will be required to 
widen existing entrance channel and create additional berthing areas.
    5. Modified Ferry Pier Alternative--Based upon comments received 
during the stakeholders' meeting, DLNR re-evaluated and modified their 
conceptual plans for the ferry pier. The DLNR's modified plan proposes 
a new ferry pier 35 feet wide and 116 feet long, a concrete walkway 16 
feet wide and 60 feet long with safety railings that will connect to 
the existing pier, a shade structure on the new ferry pier, a small 
floating platform with a moveable gangway, and dredging to widen the 
entrance channel and berthing area to accommodate docking of two 
vessels (one on each side of the new pier) up to 101 feet in length 
with a beam of 24 feet. A low-rise, open-sided roofed structure, which 
would cover a portion of the existing pier is currently being evaluated 
by the DLNR for inclusion as a project component.
    Any additional reasonable alternatives that emerge from the scoping 
process will also be considered. The formulation of preferred and 
alternative design schemes is an iterative process and will need to 
consider various factors including, but not limited to the following:
     The location of historic sites in the area and potential 
proximity impacts to those sites.
     The location of existing facilities in the area, such as 
the Pioneer Inn, the Lahaina Public Library, and King Kamehameha III 
Elementary School, and potential use impacts to these facilities.
     Existing baseline conditions and potential impacts to 
marine life, water quality, and littoral processes.
     Surrounding structures and uses in the area and potential 
impacts to vehicle and pedestrian traffic, open space areas, ocean and 
mountain views, and lateral views along the shoreline.

V. Probable Effects

    The EIS will evaluate and fully disclose the environmental 
consequences of building Lahaina Small Boat Harbor Ferry Pier 
Improvements in advance of any decision by FTA to commit financial or 
other resources toward the implementation of a particular alternative. 
The EIS will examine the socio-economic and environmental impacts of 
the alternatives. In addition, it will discuss actions to reduce or 
eliminate any adverse impacts.
    Environmental issues to be analyzed in the EIS include: near-shore 
marine environmental impacts, flora and fauna impacts, air quality 
impacts, noise impacts, scenic and open space impacts, as well as 
impacts to the socio-economic environment and public services. Impacts 
to infrastructure will also be assessed including changes to roadway 
levels of service; impacts on surrounding land use, including 
consistency of proposed improvements with local plans and policies; and 
potential impacts to historic and cultural resources. Cumulative and 
growth-inducing impacts will be examined. Impacts will be evaluated for 
both the temporary construction period and for the long-term operation 
of the alternatives. Measures to mitigate any adverse impacts will be 
identified.
    To ensure that all significant issues related to this proposed 
action are identified and addressed, scoping comments and suggestions 
are invited from all interested parties. Comments should be directed to 
the DLNR as noted in the ADDRESSES section above.

VI. FTA Procedures

    The EIS is being prepared in accordance with the National 
Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), its implementing regulations 
by the Council on Environmental Quality (40 CFR parts 1500-1508), and 
with the FTA/Federal Highway Administration's ``Environmental Impact 
and Related Procedures'' (23 CFR part 771). In accordance with FTA 
policy, the NEPA process will also address the requirements of other 
applicable environmental laws, regulations and executive orders, such 
as the National

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Historic Preservation Act of 1966, Section 4(f) of the U.S. Department 
of Transportation Act, and Executive Orders on Environmental 
Stewardship and Transportation Infrastructure Project Reviews, 
Environmental Justice, Floodplain Management, and Protection of 
Wetlands.
    Upon completion, the Draft EIS will be distributed for public and 
agency review and comment. A public hearing on the Draft EIS will be 
held within the study area. Based on the Draft EIS and the public and 
agency comments received, FTA and DLNR may further refine and analyze 
the alternatives in the Final EIS.

    Issued on: November 10, 2004.
Leslie T. Rogers,
Regional Administrator.
[FR Doc. 04-25591 Filed 11-17-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-57-P