Pa'auilo Final Enviromental Assessment

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PA`AUILO LANDS FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT 4.3 NOISE Currently, the project site is vacant, open land. No significant noise is generated on site, and ambient noise in the area emanates from wind, wildlife, and the infrequent traffic along the various access roads in the project vicinity. It is anticipated that land uses after the sale of the Pa`auilo Lands 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 lot buyers inspect the properties. 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 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 (CAB) 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 (CAB 2004). 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 Pa`auilo Lands. Air quality in the vicinity of the Pa`auilo Lands 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 Pa`auilo Lands involves no development or land alteration, and thus, will not affect air quality in the vicinity. 31