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Home My WebLink About2024-11-18 PL-CRC-2023-000007 HDOT Response to Comments for Waiaka Bridge JOSH GREEN,M.D. EDWIN H.SNIFFEN GOVERNOR `}.„ ' DIRECTOR KE KIA'AINA KA LUNA HO'OKELE DESIGN BRANCH,ROOM 688A Deputy Directors BRIDGE DESIGN SECTION,ROOM 611 R CADASTRAL DESIGN SECTION,ROOM 600 r �r " Na Hope Luna Ho'okele ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN SECTION, '�'� -y* .' DREANALEE K.KALILI ROOM 688A HIGHWAY DESIGN SECTION,ROOM 609 TAMMY L.LEE HYDRAULIC DESIGN SECTION,ROOM 636 CURT T.OTAGURO TECHNICAL DESIGN SECTION,ROOM 688 ROBIN K.SHISHIDO STATE OF HAWAII I KA MOKU`AINA'0 HAWAII DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION I KA`OIHANA ALAKAU IN REPLY REFER TO: 601 KAMOKILA BOULEVARD KAPOLEI, HAWAII 96707 HWY-DS 2.21422 November 18, 2024 Mr. Aaron Spielman, Chair Cultural Resources Commission County of Hawaii Planning Department Aupuni Center 101 Pauahi Street, Suite 3 Hilo, Hawaii 96720 Dear Mr. Spielman: Subject: National Historic Preservation Act Section 106 Consultation Kawaihae Road, Replacement of Waiaka Bridge and Realignment of Approaches Lalamilo and Keanuiomano Ahupuaa, South Kohala Moku, Hawaii Island Federal-Aid Project No. BR-NH-019-1(045) File No. PL-CRC-2023-000007 The Hawaii Department of Transportation (HDOT) acknowledges receipt of your letter dated September 22, 2023, in response to our invitation to participate in consultation for the Waiaka Bridge Replacement and Realignment of Approaches Project. As mentioned in our previous letter dated February 9, 2022, the proposed project is federally funded which would result in the project being a federal action and undertaking, as defined by Title 36 of the Code of Federal Regulations, §800.16(y). The HDOT originally sent a letter dated February 9, 2022 to the Hawaii County Planning Department. Mr. Kamuela Plunkett sent an email message to Mr. Andrew Hirano at the HDOT on March 24, 2022, acknowledging receipt of the February 9, 2022, letter as well as a March 21, 2022,phone conversation. In the County of Hawaii, Planning Department, Cultural Resources Commission's (CRC) September 22, 2023, response letter to HDOT, CRC requested a Section 106 consulting party status and provided the following written comments, shown in italics below. HDOT responses are underlined following each comment. Mr. Aaron Spielman, Chair HWY-DS 2.21422 November 18, 2024 Page 2 Comment 1. The CRC underscored the importance of and recommends having a cultural and archaeological monitor on site during field work and construction. The CRC makes the request of the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) to assign such a monitor as part of mitigative commitments. HDOT Response 1: HDOT will work with the SHPO to confirm on site cultural and archaeological monitoring requirements during construction. Comment 2. While the Waiaka bridge is not being rehabilitated in accordance with Secretary of Interior Standards, the CRC finds that the proposed reconstruction of the railing design as a treatment is sympathetic to the original bridge's railing design. The CRC also confirmed that Waiaka is the appropriate name of the bridge. HDOT Response 2: HDOT acknowledges the response regarding proposed design of the new concrete bridge railing and confirms that the new bridge will be named Waiaka Bridge. Comment 3. In addition to the proposed mitigative treatments (i.e., recovery and recordation), the CRC recommends that interpretative signage be considered as a mitigative treatment within the area of potential effect. Interpretative signage content may include Hawaiian etymology, historical, cultural understanding of the Waiaka stream and connected water courses, the ecosystems and biocultural resources they support, the landscape(s) that a pedestrian or passerby are visiting or viewing as they traverse the bridge, or other culturally or historically appropriate content as may be received from consulting or concurring parties, Native Hawaiian Organizations and/or Hawaiian descendants, or other individuals and organizations involved in the Section 106 process. HDOT Response 3: HDOT will incorporate interpretative signage specific in scope to only address the adverse effect to the Waiaka Bridge as part of the project construction contract documents. The interpretive signage will be prepared by a qualified professional in architectural history or historic architecture, in accordance with"Archeology and Historic Preservation: Secretary of the Interior's Standards and Guidelines [As Amended and Annotated]." The qualified professional will also have experience with the preparation of plans and specifications for the development of interpretive signs for bridge facilities. The interpretive signage will include historical context related to the Waiaka Bridge and relevant information documented. Comment 4. The CRC recommends that the internal area of the roundabout, approximately 1,520 square feet, be considered for landscaping treatment that includes native Mr. Aaron Spielman, Chair HWY-DS 2.21422 November 18, 2024 Page 3 groundcover and at least one native specimen tree. The approximately 1,520 square foot area could provide root zone for several different non-invasive tree species with diameters at breast height up to 12-14 inches. HDOT Response 4: HDOT will design the roundabout to be visually consistent with the surrounding environment. HDOT will evaluate CRC's requested landscaping treatments, in accordance with HDOT's landscape maintenance guidelines. Finally, as pertains to the above and in accordance with HRS 92-5.5, the CRC also moved and voted at the September 13, 2023, regular meeting, to form a Permitted Interaction Group (i.e., subcommittee)for the purpose of a site visit with HDOT project team. Specifically, as related to the proximity of the temporary bridge, rights of way, existing lava stone walls, and burial areas or riparian-related cultural resources. It was agreed that a site visit can be scheduled once initial surveying and markings are completed on-site at a date and time to be determined,prior to filing the National Environmental Policy Act CatEx and pending right of way establishment by HDOT. Please contact Hawaii County Cultural Resources staff at CRC@hawaiicounty.gov to coordinate and arrange the requested site visit with the subcommittee. Subsequent to the site visit, a (site visit) report will be developed and presented at a regular CRC meeting. Subsequent to that meeting, the CRC will hold a third meeting and may make additional recommendation(s) to the proposing agency or person for their consideration in execution of any action. HDOT Response 5: The HDOT will contact the CRC staff to coordinate and arrange the requested site visit with the subcommittee. We look forward to continuing consultation with you on this project. HDOT will contact your office to coordinate a site visit as noted above. Should you have any questions,please contact our Project Manager, Mr. Andrew Hirano, at(808) 692-7546, from our Design Branch, Technical Design Services Section or by email at andrew.j.hirano@hawaii.gov. Sincerely, HENRY KENNEDY Engineering Program Manager Design Branch