Waipi'o Lookout Draft Environmental Assessment

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Table 1.Project Area Scenic Resources Noted in General Plan Site Tax Map Key Abu ua`a or Region Waipi`o Valley Lookout 4-8-04:17 Lalakca Windward Valley System: 4-9-01 to 15 Waipi`o,Muliwai-Awini, - Muliwai to Awini; Waimanu - Waimanu Valley Area; - Waipi`o Valley Area Hi`ilawe Falls 4-9-09 I Waipi`o Portions of the Rice property,across the street from the Waipi`o Valley Lookout,have dramatic views of Waipi`o Valley, a portion of the windward Kohala Coast beyond, and the ocean(App. 5,Figures A&B). The purchase of the property would provide a setting for enhanced viewpoints and better management of the lookout,reducing the impact of parking,traffic and inappropriate uses on this scenic area_ Under the No Action Alternative,public management would not be possible,and the value of the site as a scenic resource might not be preserved. As the project involves no construction, air quality or noise levels would not be affected. 3.1.5 Hazardous Substances,Toxic Waste and Hazardous Conditions Environmental Setting, Impacts and Mitigation Measures In order to ascertain the potential for environmental issues to exist on or near the property, including the past releases of hazardous materials, a Phase I Environmental Site Assessment (ESA)was performed by DR Associates,which is contained in full in Appendix.4. Site reconnaissance,historical review,interviews, and record review resulted in the following conclusions: • With the exception of small oil spots on the concrete floor, stains in the floor of the stand- alone garage and debris on the property,this assessment found no evidence of a release of hazardous materials and/or petroleum products on the subject property. All clues indicate that staining on the soil floor of the stand-alone garage was moisture running down the hillside into the garage,but this is not confirmed. • No evidence of use or release of hazardous materials and/or petroleum products on adjacent parcels was found from site reconnaissance,interviews or public records.The earliest historical maps available show the subject property has been used for residential purposes since at least 1957. County records show that the house was built in 1948, and no there is no information that indicates any prior development. • Hamakua Sugar Company and its predecessors may have farmed sugarcane on the property,but no records of sugarcane use were located. The soils on the site may have a relatively high level of naturally occurring arsenic,as do many of the volcanic soils in Hawaii. In addition,the property's use for sugarcane cultivation may indicate that other arsenic-containing compounds were used. Arsenic is sometimes present in former sugar cane soils at levels that can require action if the land is proposed for certain uses. No 9 Environmental Assessment, Hawai`i County Purchase of Rice Property at Waipi`o Lookout