Kapulena Hamakua EA PBR Final TMK No. 4-7-005 and 006

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KAPULENA AGRICULTURAL PARK FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT ironwood trees may be required to clear land for grazing; 3) After an initial period of grazing activities, these makai lands generally below the 1,300 - foot elevation will be made available for more intensive agricultural production activities, and will be divided up into one- to five -acre sites for use in public or private agricultural operations. Cattle will be moved off of these makai lands as the more intensive agricultural demand for these lands warrant. 4) For the balance of the lands in the mauka portion above the 1,300 -foot elevation, initial grazing activities under the cooperative pilot project with the Hamakua Farm Bureau will take place on approximately 300 acres between the County of Hawai'i's quarry operation and the 2,000 -foot elevation (portion of TMK 3 -4 -7- 006:018 and 3 -4 -7- 006:001); 5) Grazing will be expanded into additional areas of the Kapulena Lands under a permit from the County to the Hamakua Farm Bureau or through other permits or leases as the lands are prepared and infrastructure becomes available. Long term, the mauka lands generally above the 1,300 -foot elevation will be used to establish and operate a cooperative project to demonstrate best practices for increasing the per -acre production of grass -fed beef. This project may also include silviculture activities to demonstrate business models that combine silviculture and pasture activities. Expanding the grazing operations will necessitate removal of the ironwood forest in phases under the supervision of the Natural Resources Conservation Service and the Hamakua Soil and Water Conservation District. 6) The educational component of the project will include a partnership with the Center for Agricultural Success (CACS), a new entity being planned by the University of Hawaii College of Agriculture and Forestry. The center will conduct training on both the Kapulena Lands and in classroom space elsewhere. The facilities required to be developed for CACS' educational purposes will be located on the makai portion of the site below the 1,300 -foot elevation. Educational facilities will include sheds, a shop, an office; and a clearing -house facility for processing produce. 7) An industrial -scale facility for converting ironwood trees into bio- charcoal was considered for this site. However, concerns relating to noise and air quality will require additional investigation. Thus, pilot -scale bio - charcoal experimentation may occur at the site with the expectation that a new or supplemental Environmental Assessment will be required to commence an industrial -scale bio - charcoal facility. The infrastructure improvements to support this plan include: • Fencing; • Clearing and surface treatment of existing roads to agricultural standards; • Installation of pumping equipment to access water from the Lower Hamakua Ditch for operations at the lower elevations; • Water source development such as a well, reservoir or large -scale water catchment systems at higher elevations. All of the above improvements are anticipated to occur onsite. This EA does not cover any offsite improvements. The County will not permit any farm dwellings. 2.4 PHASING AND TIMING OF ACTION Fencing and clearing of existing roads will occur immediately. The initial pilot grazing project is planned to commence in early 2011. The installation of infrastructure, expanded agricultural use, and the construction of the training facility will phase in over a projected 10 -year period. 2 -2