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Disaster Recovery Planning Public Scoping


Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park (Hawai'i Volcanoes), a unit of the National Park Service is proposing a project to repair and/or replace critical park infrastructure and U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)-operated facilities damaged during the 2018 eruption and summit collapse of Kīlauea volcano, as described on the project home page and in the civic engagement documents. The project will include plans for visitor service and administrative sites and addresses potential future use of the Uēkahuna bluff area.

Hawai'i Volcanoes is initiating the scoping process under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) to remove damaged buildings, and address the long-term operational and public use needs of the National Park Service.

An environmental assessment (EA) will be prepared in compliance with NEPA to provide a decision-making framework that analyzes the proposed alternatives 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 May 2020, Hawai'i Volcanoes initiated the civic engagement process to solicit public feedback on five site concepts that would best meet the needs of the park and the public. The park sent outreach letters on May 12, 2020, and accepted comments on the project from May 15 to June 15, 2020. The park and USGS evaluated feedback on the plan elements and five site design concepts. The proposed action was selected using comments received as part of civic engagement and a Value Based Decision-Making workshop in July 2020.

The proposed action the National Park Service developed to address the purpose and need of the project includes:
• Demolition of the Geochemistry Annex, Jaggar Museum, and Hawaiian Volcano Observatory in the Uēkahuna bluff area.
• Repair of the existing comfort station in the Uēkahuna bluff area.
• Repair and restore access to the overlook in the Uēkahuna bluff area.
• Construct natural surface trail and associated post and cable barrier to connect the expanded interpretive overlook to Crater Rim Trail in the Uēkahuna bluff area
• Removal and replacement of the existing water tanks in the Uēkahuna bluff area.
• Demolition 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 buildings.
• Enhancement of the loop trail at the Kīlauea Visitor Center (KVC) area to connect the visitor center to other visitor use amenities and overlooks.
• Renovation of the existing restroom building adjacent to KVC.
• Improvements to the existing park entrance and realignment of Crater Rim Drive, including addition of a roundabout to improve safety.
• Construct a new USGS field station by the historic ball field near Kilauea Military Camp.
• Construct a new visitor center with restrooms and a covered interpretive lanai and exhibits in the KVC administration area.
• Development of parking, utilities, and other site infrastructure to serve the facilities of the proposed action and improve traffic flow.

Due to COVID-19 and following Centers for Disease Control guidelines, the National Park Service and US Geological Survey are conducting two meetings virtually to maintain social distancing mitigations, and greatly appreciate your participation.
 
Comment Period: Closed        Feb 9, 2022 - Mar 11, 2022
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