[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 35 (Wednesday, February 22, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10880-10881]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-03622]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers


Notice of Intent To Prepare a General Reevaluation Report/
Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement for the Ala Wai Canal Flood 
Risk Management Study, Honolulu, HI

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

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 
1969 (NEPA), as amended, and pursuant to the Hawaii Revised Statutes 
(HRS) Chapter 343 (Hawaii Environmental Policy Act (HEPA)), the 
Pittsburgh District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) is preparing 
a draft General Reevaluation Report/Supplemental Environmental Impact 
Statement (GRR/SEIS) to evaluate the opportunities to reduce the risk 
to life, safety and economic damages from flooding throughout the Ala 
Wai Watershed in Oahu, Hawaii. The Ala Wai Canal Flood Risk Management 
Study was authorized under Section 209 of the Flood Control Act of 
1962. The study was completed in 2017 and resulted in a recommendation 
that was subsequently authorized for construction under Section 1401 of 
the Water Resources Development Act of 2018 (Authorized Project). The 
purpose of the GRR/SEIS is to reevaluate the Authorized Project and 
either confirm the Authorized Project or make a new recommendation that 
will include modifications to the Authorized Project. The non-Federal 
sponsor for this study is the City and County of Honolulu.

DATES: To ensure consideration, all comments concerning the scope of 
the GRR/SEIS, potential alternatives, and identification of relevant 
information and studies must be received by March 24, 2023.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments related to the GRR/SEIS by any of 
the following methods:

 Website: https://www.honolulu.gov/alawai/contact.html.
 Email: [email protected].
 Mail: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Honolulu District, 230 
Otake St. (Attn: POH-PPC, Ala Wai), Fort Shafter, HI 96858-5440.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information about this 
project, please visit https://www.honolulu.gov/alawai. You may also 
contact Shawna Herleth-King at 312-846-5407 or by email at: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    1. Background: The Corps-Honolulu District received the authority 
to conduct the Ala Wai Canal Flood Risk Management Study under Section 
209 of the Flood Control Act of 1962 (Public Law 84-874). The 
feasibility study's recommended plan consisted of six in-stream debris 
and detention basins of varying height in the upper reaches of the 
watershed, one standalone debris catchment structure, three multi-
purpose detention basins, floodwalls along the Ala Wai Canal averaging 
four feet in height and an earthen levee at the perimeter of an 
adjacent golf course averaging seven feet in height, two pump stations 
to reduce the threat of interior flooding, and a flood warning system. 
The feasibility study determined the technical, economic, 
environmental, and social feasibility of the recommended plan to reduce 
flood risk within the Ala Wai Canal watershed of Honolulu, Hawaii.
    Section 1401 of the Water Resources Development Act of 2018 (Public 
Law 115-270) authorized construction of the Ala Wai Canal Flood Risk 
Management Project, as described in the Chief's Report, (https://www.poh.usace.army.mil/Portals/10/docs/Civil%20Works%20Sponsor%20Letters/Tab%201%20Chiefs%20Report%20Ala%20Wai%20Chiefs%20Report%20SIGNED%20(003)
.pdf?ver=2018-09-14-171850-833), dated December 21, 2017, and the Ala 
Wai Canal Flood Risk Management Study, Oahu, Hawaii, Feasibility Study 
with Integrated Environmental Impact Statement, dated May 2017. The 
Federal Register notice (82 FR 24325, May 26, 2017) for the EIS being 
supplemented is available at https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2017-05-26/pdf/2017-10719.pdf. The record

[[Page 10881]]

of decision (ROD) was signed on September 18, 2018, initiating the next 
phase of the study, Preconstruction Engineering and Design (PED). In 
2020, an Engineering Documentation Report (EDR) provided the technical 
basis for modifications necessary to the Authorized Project. Subsequent 
analysis found that the modifications in the 2020 EDR were not cost 
effective and lacked the economic justification necessary for continued 
federal involvement. Acknowledging the need to reduce the risk to life, 
safety and economic damages from flooding throughout the Ala Wai 
Watershed in Oahu, Hawaii, the Corps is currently reevaluating the 
previously completed Ala Wai Canal Flood Risk Management Study in a 
GRR, using current planning criteria and policies. Since the GRR is 
reevaluating alternatives and could result in a new recommendation, 
NEPA documentation for the Ala Wai Canal Flood Risk Management Project 
will be updated.
    2. Proposed Action: The project is undergoing a GRR to (1) redefine 
the flood problems and risks in the Ala Wai Watershed by updating 
hydrology, physical, biological, and socioeconomic conditions; (2) 
reevaluate alternatives for reducing flood damages in the area; and (3) 
reaffirm the Federal interest by recommending a plan that is 
economically feasible. The results of this study will be presented in 
the GRR/SEIS. The formulation and evaluation of alternatives, benefits 
and costs, and implementation requirements will be presented in the 
GRR/SEIS.
    3. Alternatives: A number of project alternatives will be evaluated 
in the GRR/SEIS. In addition to the No Action alternative, other 
potential alternatives to reduce flood damages include a combination of 
the following components: Makiki District Park detention basin, Manoa 
Valley District Park detention basin, Ala Wai Golf Course detention 
basin, Kaimuki High School berm/floodwall, Kanaha floodwall, Woodlawn 
Bridge floodwall, Koali Road floodwall, and Ala Wai Canal floodwall.
    4. Scoping/Public Participation: The GRR/SEIS will be coordinated 
with Federal, State, and local government agencies; Native Hawaiian 
organizations; local stakeholders; special interest groups; and any 
other interested individuals and organizations. A 30-day scoping period 
for Federal, State, local agencies, and non-governmental organizations 
was held between August 9, 2021, through September 9, 2021, when the 
environmental document accompanying the GRR was anticipated to be a 
supplemental environmental assessment. The Corps held a public meeting 
to discuss the scope of the draft GRR and accompanying environmental 
documentation on November 10 and November 13, 2021. The virtual meeting 
dates and times were advertised in advance on the City and County of 
Honolulu's Ala Wai Study Flood Risk Management website (https://www.honolulu.gov/alawai/public-engagement.html). The purpose of these 
meetings was to involve local stakeholders and the public early in the 
study process. The meetings collected public input regarding the study 
scope, historic and current problems, and potential opportunities. 
Based on public feedback, additional virtual workshops/meetings were 
incorporated into the public engagement strategy for the study. To 
date, additional public engagement opportunities have occurred via 
virtual and/or in-person workshops/meetings held on January 20, 2022, 
April 1, 2022, April 8, 2022, April 14, 2022, April 22, 2022, July 26, 
2022, July 28, 2022, and December 13, 2022.
    Based on feedback from the public and the non-Federal sponsor, the 
environmental document being prepared to accompany the GRR is now 
anticipated to be a SEIS. Therefore, this notice of intent to prepare a 
GRR/SEIS is initiating a new 30-day public scoping period. Due to 
public workshops and meetings that have already occurred, no additional 
scoping meetings are planned at this time. All public comments received 
to date regarding the GRR/SEIS, either verbally or in writing, during 
prior meetings, workshops, and scoping periods will be considered by 
the Corps in the GRR/SEIS.
    5. Anticipated Impacts, Permits, and Authorization: The GRR/SEIS 
will analyze the full range of impacts, both beneficial and negative, 
of the alternatives. Potentially significant issues to be analyzed 
include impacts to water quality, biological resources, endangered and 
threatened species and their habitats, cultural resources, and visual 
resources. Other impacts that will be analyzed include geology, 
seismicity, and soils; surface water resources; hydrology and 
hydraulics; land use; recreation; hazardous and toxic waste; air 
quality; noise; traffic and transportation; public health and safety; 
public services and utilities; socioeconomics; and environmental 
justice. Anticipated permits and authorizations include water quality 
certification and Coastal Zone Consistency Determination. In addition, 
many other Federal, State, and local authorizations will be required 
for the Project. Applicable Federal laws include NEPA, the Endangered 
Species Act, Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act, Magnuson-Stevens 
Fishery Conservation and Management Act, Marine Mammal Protection Act, 
Coastal Zone Management Act, National Historic Preservation Act, and 
the Clean Water Act.
    6. Public Comment Availability: Comments received in response to 
this solicitation, including names and addresses of those who comment, 
will be part of the public record. Comments submitted anonymously will 
be accepted and considered. Before including your address, phone 
number, email address, or other personal identifying information in 
your comment, be advised that your entire comment--including your 
personal identifying information--may be made publicly available at any 
time. While you can ask us in your comment to withhold your personal 
identifying information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we 
will be able to do so.
    7. Study Schedule: The Draft GRR/SEIS is currently estimated to be 
available to the public in Summer 2023, with a 45-day public review and 
comment period following release of the draft document.

Kimberly A. Peeples,
Brigadier General, U.S. Army, Commander, Great Lakes and Ohio River 
Division.
[FR Doc. 2023-03622 Filed 2-21-23; 8:45 am]
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