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STATE OF HAWAII
DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES
DIVISION OF FORESTRY AND WILDLIFE

Date: August 4, 2016
Time: 5:30 p.m.
Place: Hawai’i Gateway Energy Center, Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawai’i, 73-4485 Kahilihili Street, Kailua-Kona, Hawai’i Island

The Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DOFAW), State of Hawai’i, pursuant to Chapter 195D, Hawai’i Revised Statutes, will hold public hearings to receive testimony on the Draft Habitat Conservation Plans (HCPs). The HCPs, once approved, will result in issuance of an Incidental Take License (ITL) for each facility from the Board of Land and Natural Resources for take of endangered animals associated with the HCP operations.

Tawhiri Power LLC (Tawhiri), the Pakini Nui project proponent, operates an existing 21-megawatt wind energy facility at South Point with 14 turbines and associated powerlines. The facility has not previously operated under an HCP and associated ITL. Tawhiri has now prepared an HCP and is requesting a 20-year ITL. As of March 2016 two endangered Hawaiian hoary bat (Lasiurus cinereus semotus) fatalities have been observed at the facility. Tawhiri has determined that the incidental take (a legal term including, but not limited to, any type of harm or harassment) of four endangered species could occur from continued facility operation: Hawaiian hoary bat, Hawaiian petrel (Pterodroma sandwichensis), Band-rumped storm petrel (Oceanodroma castro), and Hawaiian goose (Nene; Branta sandvicensis). Low wind speed curtailment will be employed as a minimization measure. Mitigation for the Hawaiian hoary bat will consist of habitat improvement at the Kahuku Unit of Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park (HAVO) and associated bat monitoring to evaluate the improvement. Mitigation for the Hawaiian petrel and Band-rumped storm petrel will consist of a monetary contribution toward maintenance of a cat-proof fence around a petrel nesting colony at HAVO, along with predator control. Mitigation for Nene is contribution of funding to DOFAW for recovery of the species. All mitigation measures were developed to provide a net ecological benefit to the species.

Lalamilo Wind Company LLC (Lalamilo), the project proponent, has prepared an HCP and is requesting an associated 20-year Incidental Take License to operate a wind energy facility. The facility has a net generating capacity of 3.3 megawatts and includes five turbines with associated powerlines. Lalamilo has determined that incidental take of two endangered species could occur as a result of wind energy operations: Hawaiian hoary bat and Hawaiian petrel. Mitigation for these two species will include the same actions as described above for Pakini Nui, although with a different level of effort commensurate with take.

Copies of the draft HCPs are available for review at the Division of Forestry and Wildlife office in Honolulu and as a link provided in the Office of Environmental Quality Control’s June 8, 2016 issue of the Environmental Notice. Copies will also be available at the public hearing.

The appointed Hearing Officer will be Jim Cogswell, DOFAW Wildlife Manager or a substitution as needed to conduct the public hearing. If you desire to attend the hearing and require auxiliary aids (taped materials or sign language interpreter) please contact the Division of Forestry and Wildlife, 1151 Punchbowl Street, Room 325, Honolulu, HI 96813; (808) 587-0166. If you are unable to attend the hearing and wish to provide testimony, please send comments to the aforementioned address, attention Kate Cullison or send to katherine.cullison@hawaii.gov. Comments should be received by August 8, 2016.

Done at Honolulu this _____ day of July, 2016.

___________________________________________
Suzanne D. Case, Chairperson
Department of Land and Natural Resources
(SA898716 7/29/16)~