Notice2023-03622
Notice of Intent To Prepare a General Reevaluation Report/Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement for the Ala Wai Canal Flood Risk Management Study, Honolulu, HI
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Published
February 22, 2023
Issuing agencies
Defense DepartmentEngineers Corps
Abstract
In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), as amended, and pursuant to the Hawaii Revised Statutes (HRS) Chapter 343 (Hawaii Environmental Policy Act (HEPA)), the Pittsburgh District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) is preparing a draft General Reevaluation Report/Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (GRR/SEIS) to evaluate the opportunities to reduce the risk to life, safety and economic damages from flooding throughout the Ala Wai Watershed in Oahu, Hawaii. The Ala Wai Canal Flood Risk Management Study was authorized under Section 209 of the Flood Control Act of 1962. The study was completed in 2017 and resulted in a recommendation that was subsequently authorized for construction under Section 1401 of the Water Resources Development Act of 2018 (Authorized Project). The purpose of the GRR/SEIS is to reevaluate the Authorized Project and either confirm the Authorized Project or make a new recommendation that will include modifications to the Authorized Project. The non-Federal sponsor for this study is the City and County of Honolulu.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 88 Issue 35 (Wednesday, February 22, 2023)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 35 (Wednesday, February 22, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10880-10881]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2023-03622]
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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers
Notice of Intent To Prepare a General Reevaluation Report/
Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement for the Ala Wai Canal Flood
Risk Management Study, Honolulu, HI
AGENCY: Department of the Army, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, DoD.
ACTION: Notice of intent.
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SUMMARY: In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of
1969 (NEPA), as amended, and pursuant to the Hawaii Revised Statutes
(HRS) Chapter 343 (Hawaii Environmental Policy Act (HEPA)), the
Pittsburgh District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) is preparing
a draft General Reevaluation Report/Supplemental Environmental Impact
Statement (GRR/SEIS) to evaluate the opportunities to reduce the risk
to life, safety and economic damages from flooding throughout the Ala
Wai Watershed in Oahu, Hawaii. The Ala Wai Canal Flood Risk Management
Study was authorized under Section 209 of the Flood Control Act of
1962. The study was completed in 2017 and resulted in a recommendation
that was subsequently authorized for construction under Section 1401 of
the Water Resources Development Act of 2018 (Authorized Project). The
purpose of the GRR/SEIS is to reevaluate the Authorized Project and
either confirm the Authorized Project or make a new recommendation that
will include modifications to the Authorized Project. The non-Federal
sponsor for this study is the City and County of Honolulu.
DATES: To ensure consideration, all comments concerning the scope of
the GRR/SEIS, potential alternatives, and identification of relevant
information and studies must be received by March 24, 2023.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments related to the GRR/SEIS by any of
the following methods:
<bullet> Website: <a href="https://www.honolulu.gov/alawai/contact.html">https://www.honolulu.gov/alawai/contact.html</a>.
<bullet> Email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#52333e3325333b123a3d3c3d3e273e277c353d24"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="11707d7066707851797e7f7e7d647d643f767e67">[email protected]</span></a>.
<bullet> Mail: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Honolulu District, 230
Otake St. (Attn: POH-PPC, Ala Wai), Fort Shafter, HI 96858-5440.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information about this
project, please visit <a href="https://www.honolulu.gov/alawai">https://www.honolulu.gov/alawai</a>. You may also
contact Shawna Herleth-King at 312-846-5407 or by email at:
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#1b68737a6c757a356835737e69777e6f73367072757c5b6e687a787e357a69766235767277"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="ff8c979e88919ed18cd1979a8d939a8b97d294969198bf8a8c9e9c9ad19e8d9286d1929693">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
1. Background: The Corps-Honolulu District received the authority
to conduct the Ala Wai Canal Flood Risk Management Study under Section
209 of the Flood Control Act of 1962 (Public Law 84-874). The
feasibility study's recommended plan consisted of six in-stream debris
and detention basins of varying height in the upper reaches of the
watershed, one standalone debris catchment structure, three multi-
purpose detention basins, floodwalls along the Ala Wai Canal averaging
four feet in height and an earthen levee at the perimeter of an
adjacent golf course averaging seven feet in height, two pump stations
to reduce the threat of interior flooding, and a flood warning system.
The feasibility study determined the technical, economic,
environmental, and social feasibility of the recommended plan to reduce
flood risk within the Ala Wai Canal watershed of Honolulu, Hawaii.
Section 1401 of the Water Resources Development Act of 2018 (Public
Law 115-270) authorized construction of the Ala Wai Canal Flood Risk
Management Project, as described in the Chief's Report, (<a href="https://www.poh.usace.army.mil/Portals/10/docs/Civil%20Works%20Sponsor%20Letters/Tab%201%20Chiefs%20Report%20Ala%20Wai%20Chiefs%20Report%20SIGNED%20">https://www.poh.usace.army.mil/Portals/10/docs/Civil%20Works%20Sponsor%20Letters/Tab%201%20Chiefs%20Report%20Ala%20Wai%20Chiefs%20Report%20SIGNED%20</a>(003)
.pdf?ver=2018-09-14-171850-833), dated December 21, 2017, and the Ala
Wai Canal Flood Risk Management Study, Oahu, Hawaii, Feasibility Study
with Integrated Environmental Impact Statement, dated May 2017. The
Federal Register notice (82 FR 24325, May 26, 2017) for the EIS being
supplemented is available at <a href="https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2017-05-26/pdf/2017-10719.pdf">https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2017-05-26/pdf/2017-10719.pdf</a>. The record
[[Page 10881]]
of decision (ROD) was signed on September 18, 2018, initiating the next
phase of the study, Preconstruction Engineering and Design (PED). In
2020, an Engineering Documentation Report (EDR) provided the technical
basis for modifications necessary to the Authorized Project. Subsequent
analysis found that the modifications in the 2020 EDR were not cost
effective and lacked the economic justification necessary for continued
federal involvement. Acknowledging the need to reduce the risk to life,
safety and economic damages from flooding throughout the Ala Wai
Watershed in Oahu, Hawaii, the Corps is currently reevaluating the
previously completed Ala Wai Canal Flood Risk Management Study in a
GRR, using current planning criteria and policies. Since the GRR is
reevaluating alternatives and could result in a new recommendation,
NEPA documentation for the Ala Wai Canal Flood Risk Management Project
will be updated.
2. Proposed Action: The project is undergoing a GRR to (1) redefine
the flood problems and risks in the Ala Wai Watershed by updating
hydrology, physical, biological, and socioeconomic conditions; (2)
reevaluate alternatives for reducing flood damages in the area; and (3)
reaffirm the Federal interest by recommending a plan that is
economically feasible. The results of this study will be presented in
the GRR/SEIS. The formulation and evaluation of alternatives, benefits
and costs, and implementation requirements will be presented in the
GRR/SEIS.
3. Alternatives: A number of project alternatives will be evaluated
in the GRR/SEIS. In addition to the No Action alternative, other
potential alternatives to reduce flood damages include a combination of
the following components: Makiki District Park detention basin, Manoa
Valley District Park detention basin, Ala Wai Golf Course detention
basin, Kaimuki High School berm/floodwall, Kanaha floodwall, Woodlawn
Bridge floodwall, Koali Road floodwall, and Ala Wai Canal floodwall.
4. Scoping/Public Participation: The GRR/SEIS will be coordinated
with Federal, State, and local government agencies; Native Hawaiian
organizations; local stakeholders; special interest groups; and any
other interested individuals and organizations. A 30-day scoping period
for Federal, State, local agencies, and non-governmental organizations
was held between August 9, 2021, through September 9, 2021, when the
environmental document accompanying the GRR was anticipated to be a
supplemental environmental assessment. The Corps held a public meeting
to discuss the scope of the draft GRR and accompanying environmental
documentation on November 10 and November 13, 2021. The virtual meeting
dates and times were advertised in advance on the City and County of
Honolulu's Ala Wai Study Flood Risk Management website (<a href="https://www.honolulu.gov/alawai/public-engagement.html">https://www.honolulu.gov/alawai/public-engagement.html</a>). The purpose of these
meetings was to involve local stakeholders and the public early in the
study process. The meetings collected public input regarding the study
scope, historic and current problems, and potential opportunities.
Based on public feedback, additional virtual workshops/meetings were
incorporated into the public engagement strategy for the study. To
date, additional public engagement opportunities have occurred via
virtual and/or in-person workshops/meetings held on January 20, 2022,
April 1, 2022, April 8, 2022, April 14, 2022, April 22, 2022, July 26,
2022, July 28, 2022, and December 13, 2022.
Based on feedback from the public and the non-Federal sponsor, the
environmental document being prepared to accompany the GRR is now
anticipated to be a SEIS. Therefore, this notice of intent to prepare a
GRR/SEIS is initiating a new 30-day public scoping period. Due to
public workshops and meetings that have already occurred, no additional
scoping meetings are planned at this time. All public comments received
to date regarding the GRR/SEIS, either verbally or in writing, during
prior meetings, workshops, and scoping periods will be considered by
the Corps in the GRR/SEIS.
5. Anticipated Impacts, Permits, and Authorization: The GRR/SEIS
will analyze the full range of impacts, both beneficial and negative,
of the alternatives. Potentially significant issues to be analyzed
include impacts to water quality, biological resources, endangered and
threatened species and their habitats, cultural resources, and visual
resources. Other impacts that will be analyzed include geology,
seismicity, and soils; surface water resources; hydrology and
hydraulics; land use; recreation; hazardous and toxic waste; air
quality; noise; traffic and transportation; public health and safety;
public services and utilities; socioeconomics; and environmental
justice. Anticipated permits and authorizations include water quality
certification and Coastal Zone Consistency Determination. In addition,
many other Federal, State, and local authorizations will be required
for the Project. Applicable Federal laws include NEPA, the Endangered
Species Act, Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act, Magnuson-Stevens
Fishery Conservation and Management Act, Marine Mammal Protection Act,
Coastal Zone Management Act, National Historic Preservation Act, and
the Clean Water Act.
6. Public Comment Availability: Comments received in response to
this solicitation, including names and addresses of those who comment,
will be part of the public record. Comments submitted anonymously will
be accepted and considered. Before including your address, phone
number, email address, or other personal identifying information in
your comment, be advised that your entire comment--including your
personal identifying information--may be made publicly available at any
time. While you can ask us in your comment to withhold your personal
identifying information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we
will be able to do so.
7. Study Schedule: The Draft GRR/SEIS is currently estimated to be
available to the public in Summer 2023, with a 45-day public review and
comment period following release of the draft document.
Kimberly A. Peeples,
Brigadier General, U.S. Army, Commander, Great Lakes and Ohio River
Division.
[FR Doc. 2023-03622 Filed 2-21-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3720-58-P
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