HomeMy WebLinkAbout2013-63 PCMC Progress Report 8Oct13Communication No. 2013 -63
Progress Report to PCDP - Action Committee
for its October 8, 2013 meeting
Subject: Proposed Emergency Room in Pahoa Area
Background
On the AC's high priority list is the development of "a centrally - located, 24 -hour, full- service
medical facility, with trauma care, in Puna." (PCDP, Managing Growth 3.3) . The Puna
Community Medical Center (PCMC), which started with an urgent care clinic in the Pahoa
Marketplace in Feb. 2009, is working on expanding the physical facility and the healthcare
services it provides, by requesting a long -term lease of a 5 -acre parcel of State land on Hwy
130. The development will be done in phases, with the first phase being a free - standing
emergency room, complete with x -ray and clinical lab. Because the parcel is zoned agriculture,
PCMC has been going through the environmental review process as mandated by HRS Ch. 343.
Update
The Draft Environmental Assessment and Anticipated Finding of No Significant Impact (DEA-
AFNSI) has been completed and turned over to DLNR, for submittal to the Office of
Environmental Quality Control (DOH) to be published in the Oct. 23rd issue of The
Environmental Notice. It includes both a Botanical and an Archaeological Survey. PCMC is
waiting for confirmation of a room in the Pahoa Neighborhood Facility for a scoping meeting, at
which the proposal will be presented to the community at large and comments taken. There is
a 30 -day comment period. All comments will be responded to and included in the Final EA.
Copies of the draft, in either bound form or on CD have already gone out to our legislators, the
Hawaii County Planning Dept., local community associations in the service area, and are
available for public perusal at the Pahoa and Kea'au public libraries (a copy for the
Mountainview Library is being given to Sharon today with the request that she hand - deliver it).
More copies will be mailed within the next two weeks to relevant agencies.
PCMC has raised a little over half the money for the Environmental Assessments (both draft and
final) through fundraising events and private donations. Another $7,500 is being sought.
Malama O Puna is doing the EA for cost (est. $11- 15,000) compared with the standard $30,000
it would be charged by a for - profit consultant.
Next Steps
We are confident that once the Final is completed we will be granted a FONSI (Finding of No
Significant Impact) and the 64 -year renewable lease - we are aiming for end of December 2013.
Once PCMC has the lease (= site control) we will be eligible for grants. Sen. Ruderman has
promised to help us get a State Grant -in -Aid and suggests we ask for at least $100,000. Since
the Architectural Plans and Permits alone are estimated at $78,000, we will include land
clearing and other initial costs in that grant proposal. We will also be requesting CDBG funding,
which is federal (HUD) and awards large amounts, about $300,000, for projects that meet
community revitalization goals. In addition, PCMC will apply to the Weinberg Foundation for
$50,000 for construction - they donated that amount for the urgent care clinic; and HMSA
Foundation has promised another $50,000 once the lease is secured. While this may seem like
a lot of money, the ER is estimated at $3.5 to 5 million, complete with furnishings, office and
medical equipment, septic system, building construction, medical supplies, etc.
Prognosis
We still have a long way to go, but we are moving forward on schedule.
Submitted by: Rene Siracusa
member, Action Committee
president, PCMC