PD RECOMMENDATION REPORT (PL-SMA-2021-000003)

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will require compliance with the LUC Decision and Order for the project, which mandates an 800-foot no-building buffer from the highway and will require the installation of underground utilities. As a whole, these conditions should mitigate any project-related impact to visual resources. Coastal Ecosystems, Marine Resources: Marine waters located off the Waikoloa coastline in this area are classified as Class AA. The objective of the Class AA designation is to ensure these waters remain in their natural pristine state as nearly as possible with an absolute minimum ofpollution or alteration of water quality from any human-caused source or action. To that end a study was prepared by Marine Research Consultants, Inc. in June 2021,to examine the potential impact on valuable coastal ecosystems and resources. The study indicated that although Nitrates (NO3)were observed in the ocean waters fronting the project area, surveys of marine communities revealed a well-developed coral community. Similarly, the reef fish community off Waikoloa was observed to be typical of other sites along the majority of the Kona coast. This observation indicates that any nutrients that may occur in groundwater flux towards the ocean are either rapidly mixed with ocean water or is confined to a low salinity "lens" offshore. Continued monitoring of nearshore ocean water will ensure the current levels of Nitrate is not exceeded, and as discussed below, will potentially decrease in the future. Short-term impacts on the marine environment from construction projects in this area could potentially result from airborne dust and increased silt that collects in stormwater runoff directed towards the ocean. While impacts are possible it will be mitigated by the distance of the proposed development from the ocean, as well as the use of stormwater management techniques. These techniques include utilizing drywells/seepage pits which would entrain any fugitive dust or silt before reaching the ocean, directing excess stormwater into more permeable landscaped areas further reducing runoff, and the use of construction erosion controls such as, filter socks, coir fiber logs, and small retention basins. Long-term impacts on the marine environment could potentially occur from the use of fertilizer(nutrients) which can concentrate in groundwater flux towards the ocean. To understand these effects the applicant submitted an Assessment of the Potential Impact -7-