Koholalele Hamakua EA PBR Final TMK No. 4-2-005:001

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HAMAIWA LAND SALE: I<OHOLALELE FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT 4.3 NOISE Currently, the project site is undeveloped land. No significant noise is generated on site, and ambient noise in the area emanates from wind, wildlife, and traffic along Mamalahoa Highway. It is anticipated that land uses after the sale of the site will be consistent with current zoning and, therefore, consistent with current uses on adjacent properties. Potential Impacts and Mitigation Measures Before the sale of the lands, traffic on various access roads in the project vicinity will likely increase slightly as potential property purchasers inspect the site. This will cause minimal, short - term, intermittent increases in noise levels. The sale itself will have no long -term noise impacts on the project vicinity. Future land uses and activities, particularly construction, would have to comply with Chapter 11- 46, HAR, regarding Community Noise Control. 4.4 AIR QUALITY Air quality in Hawaii is among the best in the nation, and criteria pollutant levels remain well below state and federal ambient air quality standards. The State Department of Health, Clean Air Branch monitors the ambient air in Hawaii and has established a statewide system of monitoring stations whose primary purpose is ensuring that air quality standards are met. Hawaii Island is regularly affected by VOG from Mount Kilauea. Due to the prevailing northeast winds, the site is less likely to be affected by VOG than sites on the south or Kona coasts. However, Kona winds can circulate VOG up the Hamakua Coast in the site's vicinity. Generally, air quality is affected by regional and local climate together with the amount and type of human activity in any given location. Federal and state ambient air quality standards have been established to regulate six parameters: particulate matter, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide, ozone, and lead. No state or county air- quality monitoring stations exist in the vicinity of the site. Air quality in the vicinity of the site may be affected by pollutants from widely dispersed agricultural sources, such as concentrations of cattle and fugitive mists from infrequent spraying for agricultural pests. Other sources are emissions from occasional vehicular traffic on area roads and from farm machinery. Potential Impacts and Mitigation Measures There are no large, stationary sources of air pollutants and no major industries that would contribute to air pollution within, or in the vicinity of, the project area. The sale of the site involves no development or land alteration, and thus, will not affect air quality in the vicinity. WA