COM 0865.001 1996-1998 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Draft Environmental Assessment June, 1998 Old Hilo Wastewater Treatment. nt Page 2 4.0 PROJECT OBJECTIVE AND NEED The County of Hawaii, Department of Public Works constructed a new wastewater treatment facility for Hilo, located approximately one mile east of the Hilo airport. The new facility replaces the prior facility located at Puhi Bay in Keaukaha (Figure 1 and 2). The prior facility, the Old Hilo WWTP, is proposed for conversion into an aquaculture center, Pacific Aquaculture and Coastal Resources Center (PACRC). This conversion will involve the demolition and removal of most of the old mechanical and electrical equipment on site, and the retention and renovation of most of the existing structures. This EA is principally concerned with the demolition and removal components of the total effort required. The conversion of the Old Hilo WWTP and the development of PACRC are proposed by the University of Hawaii at Hilo (UHH) and the University of Hawaii Sea Grant College Program (UHSGCP) in cooperation with the County of Hawaii (COH), the Aquaculture Development Program of the Department of Lands and Natural Resources (DLNR), the Department of Public Works and the local Hawaiian community. The primary goal of PACRC is to provide a focus for the sustainable development of entire Keaukaha coastline. The Keaukaha coastal area is located on the eastern side of island of Hawaii, stretching about eight (8) miles from Hilo Bay to Kings Landing. Since the closure of the last sugar plantation in 1996, economic activity in this area has been severely depressed with high unemployment rate. Although the area is rich of natural, human, cultural and educational resources, and various infrastructure, many of these resources are currently under utilized. One opportunity for the community to revitalize itself is provided by the decommissioning the Old Hilo WWTP and the development of PACRC. Joined with the abundant resources available in Keaukaha and its adjacent areas, PACRC will benefit the local communities. Furthermore, the technologies developed and tested at the PACRC can be applied to enhance the vitality of other coastal areas and communities. The development of PACRC will be accomplished through several phases with an approximate duration of seven (7) years. The conversion with basic renovation of the Old Hilo WWTP is the Phase 1. Most buildings and facilities at site will be converted with basic renovation into classrooms, laboratories, offices, hatchery facilities and aquaculture tanks. The subject property y will become the physical core of the PACRC, and serve as a teaching, research and demonstration facility for aquaculture and marine science programs of the University of Hawaii at Hilo (UHH) and the University of Hawaii Sea Grant extension program. In the remaining phases, the Center is expected to be expanded onto adjacent vacant land, and the Center's facilities and activities increased as funds become available. 5.0 GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PROPOSED ACTION 5.1 Technical Characteristics Details of the existing site layout are shown in Figure 3. The County of Hawaii will retain the land on which the new Pua Street pumping station is located, while the abandoned treatment plant site to the west of the pumping station will be relinquished for transfer to the University of