Public can comment now on second draft of Kauaʻi Island Utility Cooperative Habitat Conservation Plan

A 60-day comment period is now open for the public to weigh in on the second draft of Kauaʻi Island Utility Cooperative’s Habitat Conservation Plan.

Kauaʻi Island Utility Cooperative is seeking authorization from U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Hawaiʻi Department of Land and Natural Resources for incidental take, which refers to the unintentional killing or harming of protected wildlife species during lawful activities.

Authorization is required because some infrastructures necessary for utility operations — such as aerial power lines and streetlights — are known to result in the incidental take of certain state and federally protected species.

The plan outlines the cooperative’s strategy to minimize and mitigate adverse effects on threatened and endangered species.

Comment period for the second draft ends Oct. 22. Comments also can be submitted on the the draft environmental impact statement prepared by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, with the 45-day public comment period ending Oct. 7.

The draft environmental impact statement analyzes the potential impacts on the human environment of issuing incidental take authorizations and implementing the Habitat Conservation Plan.

Members of the public also can comment on the second draft of the Habitat Conservation Plan through the Federal Register , which also published the draft environmental impact statement. That comment period ends Oct. 21.

The second draft was revised to address comments already received from the public and Endangered Species Recovery Committee.

A public meeting is slated for 6:15 to 7:30 p.m. Sept. 16 at Kauaʻi Philippine Cultural Center in Līhuʻe, during which oral testimony will be accepted on both draft documents.

Prior to the public meeting, an informal open house is planned from 5 to 6 p.m. — prior to the public meeting — to provide information and answer questions about both.

The second draft of the Habitat Conservation Plan and the draft environmental impact statement — along with instructions for submitting comments — are available online at the following links:

• Second Draft Habitat Conservation Plan Volume I of II.
• Second Draft Habitat Conservation Plan Volume II of II.
• Draft Environmental Impact Statement.
• Video of the Habitat Conservation Plan scoping meeting on June 28, 2022.

Comments on the conservation Plan and the environmental impact statement can be submitted through the state or federal agencies already listed as well as directly to Kaua‘i Island Utility Cooperative.

Here are additional ways to make sure your comments are received:

Comments through federal government:

• Docket number: FWS-R1-ES-2022-0068
• Mail: Public Comment 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

*Also can be submitted online.

Comments on second draft of the Habitat Conservation Plan:

• Email: dofaw.hcp@hawaii.gov
• Mail: Hawai‘i Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of Forestry and Wildlife, Attn: Habitat Conservation Planning, 1151 Punchbowl St., Room 325, Honolulu 96813

Comments on the draft environmental impact statement:

• Email: hcp@kiuc.coop
• Mail: Ms. Dawn Huff, Kaua‘i Island Utility Cooperative; 4463 Pahe‘e St.; Suite 1; Līhu‘e 96766-2000

Comments must be received or postmarked no later than Oct. 22.