HONOLULU — The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is holding a public scoping period to assess an Environmental Impact Statement of the Kauaʻi Island Utility Cooperative’s habitat conservation plan. The KIUC is seeking an incidental take permit that will address ongoing take of federally listed species that are subject to existing and future incidental contact of power lines, obstruction from facility lights, streetlights, and nighttime lighting, as well as the implementation of the habitat conservation plan strategy. The Service will also hold a virtual public meeting to address the EIS.
The KIUC, which provides electricity to the island of Kauaʻi, has been working for several decades on a HCP to address the impacts of its electric power systems and lighting infrastructures on threatened and endangered water and seabirds. While a short-term HCP has been utilized in the past, the proposed long-term HCP, which will cover 30 years, describes existing and future activities for which KIUC is seeking take coverage for 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 HCP identifies how KIUC intends to avoid, minimize, and mitigate to the maximum extent practicable the impacts of the taking on the covered species.
The Service will hold one virtual public scoping meeting during the scoping period on:
- June 28, 2022, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
- Those interested in attending the virtual public scoping meeting can do so through through our Events Page.
To request additional information or submit written comments, please use one of the following methods.
- You may submit written comments through our website: https://www.regulations.gov
- Follow the instructions for submitting comments on Docket No. FWS–R1–ES–2022–0068.
- You may submit written comments and materials through the mail:
- 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.
For further information contact: Koa Matsuoka, Pacific Islands Fish and Wildlife Office, at 808–792–9417 or by email at KIUCLongTermhcp@fws.gov. You can also visit our Pacific Islands Fish and Wildlife Office webpage for more information.
In order to be considered, comments must be received on or before July 8. All comments and materials received will become part of the public record associated with this action. The USFWS will accept comments received or postmarked on or before July 8.
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The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service works with others to conserve, protect, and enhance fish, wildlife, plants, and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. For more information, visit www.fws.gov/pacificislands, or connect with us through any of these social media channels at https://www.facebook.com/PacificIslandsFWS, www.flickr.com/photos/usfwspacific/, https://medium.com/usfwspacificislands or www.twitter.com/USFWSPacific.
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