HomeMy WebLinkAbout2014-35 DLNR re CER Location #36 WILLIAM J.AILA,JR.
NEIL ABERCROMBIE , .•�• •••� BOARD of LAND A NATURAL RESOURCES
;�" _ _ b_ COMMISSION ON WATER RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
GOVERNOR OF HAWAII = � 9 5 •.
JESSE K.SOUKI
FIRST DEPUTY
1 and Na -
p� �`(r WILLIAM M.TAM
-Ole� " ie R T= , s.• .; DEPUTY DIRECTOR-WATER
'•., ��.q AQUATIC RESOURCES
4Ga''•••.. .. (�• BOATING AND OCEAN RECREATION
H '0•fp° BUREAU OF CONVEYANCES
COMMISSION ON WATER RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
CONSERVATION AND COASTAL LANDS
STATE OF HAWAII CONSERVATION AND RESOURCES ENFORCEMENT
ENGINEERING
FORESTRY AND WILDLIFE
.rte of H �� DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES KAiOOLAwE�IU ;EoMMlssloN
LAND
POST OFFICE BOX 621 STATE PARKS
HONOLULU,HAWAII 96809
Communication No. 2014-35
May 22, 2014
To: Marlene Hapai, Chairperson, Puna Community Development Plan (PCDP)
Connectivity and Emergency Response Subcommittee
FROM: William Aila Jr., Chairperson
Department of Land and Natural Resources
RE: Communication No. 2014-26 Emergency Response Subcommittee of the Puna
Community Development Plan Connectivity Report on Prioritized Connectivity
Locations, May 2014
The Department of Land and Natural Resources would like to comment on the proposed
Connectivity Location #36 for Volcano Village—Wright Road to Stainback. The Department is
concerned that road construction and traffic would damage or destroy many of the sensitive
natural and cultural resources along the planned route. This would be inconsistent with County,
State, and Federal plans and designations for this area.
This proposed road would bisect the Pu`u Maka`ala Natural Area Reserve, managed by the
Department's Division of Forestry and Wildlife. Natural Area Reserves are established by
Hawaii Revised Statutes § 195 to preserve in perpetuity specific land and water areas which
support communities, as relatively unmodified as possible, of the natural flora and fauna, as well
as geological sites, of Hawaii. The Natural Area Reserves System Commission (HRS §195-6)
advises the Board of Land and Natural Resources on the management of the Natural Area
Reserves. The Board recently approved a management plan to protect the natural resources of the
NAR. This plan to protect these resources is consistent with the following County plans:
Puna Community Mentions Pu`u Maka`ala NAR and discusses the importance of preserving
Development Plan native forests and species.
(2008)
County of Hawai`i 8.2(c) Protect and promote the prudent use of Hawaii's unique, fragile, and
General Plan (2005) significant environmental and natural resources. 8.2 (d) Protect rare or
endangered species and habitats native to Hawai`i. 8.3 (b) Encourage a
program of collection and dissemination of basic data concerning natural
resources. 8.3 (e) Encourage an overall conservation ethic in the use of
Hawai`i resources by protecting, preserving, and conserving the critical and
significant natural resources of the County. 8•.3 (o) Encourage the continued
identification and inclusion of unique wildlife habitat areas of native Hawaiian
flora and fauna with the NABS.
-992151
Additionally, Pu'u Maka'ala NAR contains fifteen species of federally listed endangered plants
and eight bird species. Federally designated critical habitat for seven endangered plants recovery
habitat for three bird species exists in the NAR. Pu'u Maka'ala may also be considered as a
potential future release site for captively-raised Hawaiian crow, or 'alaI5(Corvus hawaiiensis).
The proposed road goes through the Protective and General Subzones of the Conservation
District, regulated by Hawaii Revised Statutes §183C. The objective of the Protective subzone is
to protect valuable natural and cultural resources in designated areas such as restricted
watersheds, marine, plant, and wildlife sanctuaries, significant historic, archaeological,
geological, and volcanological features and-sites, and other designated unique areas. The
objective of the General subzone is to designate open space where specific conservation uses
may not be defined,but where urban use would be premature.
Please respond regarding whether the committee is intending on further exploring construction of
this road. If you have any questions regarding the Natural Area Reserve,please contact Nick
Agorastos,Natural Area Reserves System Hawaii Manager, at(808) 974-4380 or
Nicholas.R.A&orastos@hawai
Respectfully yours,
W]ILLLkM J. AELA,JR.
,Chairperson
Cc: Patti Pinto,Chair, Puna Community Development Plan Action Committee
Duane Kanuha,Planning Director, Hawaii County
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