4724-DR-HI Public Notice 004

PUBLIC NOTICE
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
Notice of Availability of the Draft Environmental Assessment
For Alternative Temporary Transportable Housing Unit Group Site
Known as the Kaʻanapali Temporary Group Site
FEMA DR-4724-HI

 

Under the Aug. 10, 2023, major presidential disaster declaration for the Hawaiʻi wildfires and high winds (FEMA-DR-4724-HI), the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will construct a temporary group housing site for displaced individuals and families. In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, FEMA has prepared a draft environmental assessment for a proposed Alternative Temporary Transportable Unit (ATTHU) group housing site. FEMA hereby gives notice to the public of its intent to construct the Kaʻanapali Temporary Group Site.

The proposed action is in response to the wildfires and high winds in Maui County for the incident period beginning Aug. 8, 2023, and ending Sept. 30, 2023. The president approved the major disaster declaration Aug. 10.

The proposed action includes developing a 63-acre site for about 214 ATTHUs to be located at Kakaʻalaneo Drive, Lahaina, Hawaiʻi 96761 (Latitude: 20.940936; Longitude: -156.684149). Activities may include, where necessary, site clearing, grading, road construction, the placement of utilities (electricity, telephones, water, and sewer), and the transport and installation of housing units to the site. The group site, developed under FEMA’s Individuals and Households Program, is intended to be operational for up to 18 months and extended depending on the needs of the disaster.

The draft environmental assessment summarizes the purpose and need for the project, site selection process, alternatives considered, the no-action alternative, the affected environment, and potential environmental consequences of the project. It assesses the potential impacts of the proposed action on the human and natural environment. 

The draft environmental assessment was prepared in accordance with NEPA, the Council on Environmental Quality regulations implementing NEPA (40 Code of Federal Regulations Parts 1500–1508), FEMA’s Instruction 108-1-1 for implementing NEPA, the National Historic Preservation Act, Executive Order 11988 (‘Floodplain Management”), Executive Order 11990 (“Protection of Wetlands”), and the implementing regulations of FEMA. 

Additional detailed descriptions of the alternative proposed actions may be reviewed in the draft environmental assessment conducted by FEMA, which is available for public review at the FEMA website: https://www.fema.gov/emergency-managers/practitioners/environmental-historic/region. Printed copies are available for viewing or photocopying at the following location:

Lahaina Civic Center Gymnasium
1840 Honoapi‘ilani Highway
Lahaina, Hawai‘i 96761
8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday to Friday; 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday; closed Sundays

Due to the emergency nature of this action, the public comment period will be limited to seven days, ending Feb. 2, 2024. Written comments on the draft environmental assessment can be mailed or emailed to the contact listed below. If emailing, please remember to include “Temporary Housing Kaʻanapali Site” in the subject line. If no substantive comments are received by the conclusion of the comment period, the draft environmental assessment and associated Finding of No Significant Impact will become final and no additional public notice will be published. Substantive comments received will be addressed, as appropriate, in the Final Environmental Assessment/Finding of No Significant Impact, which will be posted to FEMA’s NEPA repository, concluding the NEPA review.

Mail comments to:

FEMA Region IX EHP
1111 Broadway, Suite 1200
Oakland, CA 94607-4052
Email: fema-rix-ehp-documents@fema.dhs.gov

 

FEMA works to ensure that information is accessible to all of our customers. If you are unable to access any information presented in the document, please contact us by email at: fema-rix-ehp-documents@fema.dhs.gov

 

All other questions regarding disaster assistance or the availability of emergency housing should be directed to the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362, or visit www.DisasterAssistance.gov.