Disaster Recovery Project Environmental Assessment

Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park (Hawai'i Volcanoes), a unit of the National Park Service has released the Hawai'i Volcanoes Disaster Recovery Project Environmental Assessment (EA) for review and comment. The EA describes one action alternative (the Proposed Action) and describes the No Action Alternative. The Proposed Action the National Park Service developed to address the purpose and need of the project includes:

• Deconstruction of the Geochemistry Annex (Annex), Jaggar Museum, and Okamura building in the Uēkahuna Bluff area.
• Repair of the existing comfort station in the Uēkahuna Bluff area.
• Repair and improvements to the overlook in the Uēkahuna Bluff area.
• Construction of a natural surface trail and associated post and cable barrier to connect the overlook to Crater Rim Trail in the Uēkahuna Bluff area.
• Removal and replacement of the existing water tanks in the Uēkahuna Bluff area.
• Deconstruction of non-historic National Park Service office space in the park research area and relocation of National Park Service offices to former USGS Pacific Island Ecosystems Research Center (PIERC-KFS) buildings.
• Improvements to the existing park entrance and realignment of Crater Rim Drive, including addition of a roundabout to improve safety.
• Construction of a new USGS field station by the historic ball field near Kilauea Military Camp (KMC).
• Construction of a replacement visitor center with restrooms and a covered interpretive lānai and exhibits in the KVC/headquarters administration area.
• Development of parking, utilities, and other site infrastructure to serve the facilities of the proposed action and improve traffic flow.
• Replacement of exhibits and waysides at the visitor center and Uēkahuna area.
• Convert visitor use portion of KVC/HQ to space for park programs, special events, and K-12 educational programming.
• Enhancement of the loop trail at the KVC area to connect the visitor center to other visitor use amenities and overlooks.

The EA was prepared compliance with NEPA to provide a decision-making framework that analyzes the proposed alternative to meet project objectives, evaluates potential issues and impacts to park resources and values, and identifies mitigation measures to lessen the degree or extent of these impacts. This EA will also ensure that park actions are consistent with federal laws, regulations, and National Park Service policies.

In February 2022, Hawai'i Volcanoes initiated the public scoping process to solicit public feedback proposed action. The park sent outreach letters on February 9, 2022, and accepted comments on the project from February 9 to March 11, 2020. Comments received were evaluated and adjustments were made to the Proposed Action based on those comments.

Hawai'i Volcanoes encourages public participation throughout the NEPA process.

Document Content:

01_Disaster_Recovery_EA_07-01-2022.pdf   (1.7 MB, PDF file) 02_Appendix_A_Proposed_Action_Figures.pdf   (2.8 MB, PDF file) 03_Appendix_B_Civic_Engagement_Report.pdf   (8.2 MB, PDF file) 04_Appendix_C_Scoping_Report.pdf   (4.6 MB, PDF file) 05_Appendix_D_Visual_Inventory_Impact_Assessment.pdf   (19.5 MB, PDF file) 06_Appendix_E_Programattic_Agreement.pdf   (4.4 MB, PDF file) https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/19519a65ac3d42bd825518909eebbdce    Disclaimer: Links within the above document(s) were valid as of the date published. Note: Some of the files may be in PDF format and can be viewed using the Adobe Acrobat Reader software. You may download a free copy of from Adobe Systems.