PD BACKGROUND REPORT (PL-SPP-2022-000012)

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6. US Soil Survey: Papai extremely stony muck (rPAE) The project site soil is classified as Papai extremely stony muck (rPAE), a well-drained, thin (i.e., less than 10 inches thick) extremely stony organic soil overlying Va lava bedrock. These soils are found at elevations ranging from sea level to 1,000 feet and receive between 90 to 150 inches of annual rainfall. Permeability is rapid, runoff is slow, and the erosion hazard is slight for this soil. Areas with this soil are mostly covered in woodland, with some small areas used for pasture, orchards, and truck crops. The Natural Resources Conservation Service classifies it as a class Vlls soil, meaning it has very severe limitations for use for cultivation, and is therefore only useful as pastureland, wildlife or woodland. 7. FIRM: Zone X The entire project site is designed within Zone "X" - determined to be outside the 500- year flood plain. There are no known drainageways traversing through the Project Site. 8. Flora/Fauna Resources A walk-through biological survey of the entire Project Site was performed over the course of five days in April and July 2019. These surveys found that approximately 85% of the Project Site has been disturbed in the past through surface quarrying, stockpiling, roads and other activities. Most of this disturbed area is dominated by a dozen or so non-native trees such as Albizia, strawberry guava, gunpower tree and false kamani, among a few others. The dense canopy of non-native trees results in a sparse understory of mostly invasive tree seedlings. Overall, no listed, candidate or proposed endangered plant species were found. During three visits in April 2019, only non-native bird species were observed within the Project Site, such as abundant Japanese white-eyes, common mynahs, northern cardinals and various finches and doves. The only native bird observed was the Hawaiian hawk flying above the Project Site. These surveys, as detailed in the EA, concluded that it is "...unlikely that many other species of native forest birds would be expected to use the Project Site due to its low elevation, alien vegetation and lack of adequate forest resources. However, it is not inconceivable that Hawai`i `amakihi (Hemignathus virens) are sometimes present, as some populations of this native honeycreeper appear to have adapted to the mosquito-borne diseases of the Hawaiian lowlands. The common migratory shorebird Pacific golden-plover(Pluvialis fulva), which is often seen inland in grassy areas, may occasionally be present." In summary, the studies found no rare, threatened or endangered species of plants or animals or their habitats within the Project Site. However, in order to avoid impacts to the endangered Hawaiian hawk and the Hawaiian hoary bat, the Applicant will refrain from activities within the Project Site that will disturb or remove shrubs or trees taller than 15 feet between June 1 and September 15, when Hawaiian hoary bats may be sensitive to disturbance. If land clearing occurs between the months of March and September, inclusive, a pre-construction hawk nest 9 Page