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

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KAPULENA AGRICULTURAL PARK FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT PROJECT PROFILE Project Name: Kapulena Agricultural Park Location: Kapulena, Hamakua District, Hawaii TMK: (3) 4 -7- 005:001, 002 & 003 (3) 4 -7- 006:001, 005, 006, 007, 010, 018, 020 Landowner: County of Hawai `i Proposing Agency: County of Hawaii, Department of Finance Accepting Authority: Mayor or designee, County of Hawai `i Existing Use: Fallow former sugarcane land overgrown with Guinea grass, ironwood trees, and other invasive weeds Proposed Action: Development and lease (or permit) of County lands as an agricultural park Land Use Designations: State Land Use District: Agriculture Hawaii County Zoning: A -40a County General Plan: Important Agricultural Lands Alternatives Considered: Hawai `i County has considered four alternatives: no action, selling, exchanging, or leasing. Based on the lack of response to the Pa`auilo land sales, selling is not a viable alternative at this time. In lieu of selling or exchanging, the County has decided to forego generating revenues as a primary objective and instead to use this County asset to pursue community objectives in terms of promoting agriculture. Summary of Major Impacts and Mitigation Measures: The endangered Hawaiian hoary bat has been detected at this site. Measures to avoid impacts to the bat, as well as the Hawaiian hawk include limiting tree clearing to months outside these species' nesting season. One archaeological feature at this site is proposed to be avoided by any new activity. The feature may be the remnants of a heiau or the feature may also be a historic sugarcane structure used for the loading or processing cane. This feature is recommended to be avoided until additional archaeological testing can be accomplished to ascertain its origins. Based on soil characteristics, topography, and rainfall, the site is suitable for agriculture, but not as suitable in the upper portion of