Public Can Weigh In on Environmental Impact Statement For KIUC Habitat Conservation Plan

The public has a chance to weigh in on the environmental impact statement for Kauaʻi Island Utility Cooperative’s habitat conservation plan.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is conducting a public scoping period to assess the EIS. Comments must be received on or before July 8. There also will be an online public meeting from 5-7 p.m. June 28 to address the EIS.

KIUC has worked for several decades on a habitat conservation plan to address the impacts of its electric power systems and lighting infrastructures on threatened and endangered water birds and seabirds.

The proposed 30-year plan describes existing and future activities for which the utility co-op is seeking take coverage for and identifies how the utility co-op intends to avoid, minimize and mitigate the impacts to the federally threatened and endangered ʻuaʻu (Hawaiian petrel), ʻaʻo (Newell’s shearwater), ʻakēʻakē (band-rumped storm-petrel), nēnē (Hawaiian goose), koloa (Hawaiian duck), ʻalae keʻokeʻo (Hawaiian coot), ʻalae ʻula (Hawaiian gallinule), aeʻo (Hawaiian stilt) and honu (green sea turtle).

The online meeting will be conducted via Zoom. Those interested in attending can click here to register.

To request additional information or submit written comments online, click here and follow the instructions to submit testimony on Docket No. FWS–R1–ES–2022–0068.

Members of the public also can submit written comments and materials through the mail at: Public Comments Processing, Attn: Docket No. FWS-R1-ES-2022-0068, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Headquarters, MS: PRB/3W, 5275 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, Va. 22041-3803.

To be considered, comments must be received on or before July 8.

For more information, contact Koa Matsuoka with the Pacific Islands Fish and Wildlife Office at 808–792–9417 or by email at KIUCLongTermhcp@fws.gov, or visit the Pacific Islands Fish and Wildlife webpage.