FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT (FONSI)
FOR
PALI KILO BEACH COTTAGES EXPANSION PROJECT
MARINE CORPS BASE HAWAII, KANEOHE BAY, OAHU, HAWAII
Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act, Marine Corps Base Hawaii hereby provides notice that a FONSI has been issued based on an Environmental Assessment (EA) for the proposed construction of new recreational cottages and an Efficiency Unit (EU) complex in the Pali Kilo district of Marine Corps Base Hawaii, Kaneohe Bay.
The project would increase the number of recreational lodging units to meet current and future demand, and promote the overall morale and welfare of the U.S. Department of Defense community due to high occupancy rates throughout the year resulting in long wait lists and having to frequently turn away guests. The proposed action would construct new recreational cottages and an EU complex (total of 49 units) within the 16.8-acre project site. The new cottages would be single-story, wood-framed buildings similar in character to the existing cottages and range in size from 950 square feet (single unit) to about 2,600 square feet (duplex unit). The EU complex would be constructed on a site with an existing building (Building 1180) used to store emergency generators and other portable equipment. That equipment would be relocated to a new facility in a vacant area of the base along D Street.
The EA determined that the project would not result in significant impacts on several environmental resources or infrastructure facilities. However, construction of some cottages along with a portion EU complex would have an adverse effect on some historic properties identified within the project’s area of potential effect. As part of its National Historic Preservation Act, Section 106 consultation with the State Historic Preservation Officer and other consulting parties, Marine Corps Base Hawaii decided to reduce the number of lodging units from 49 to 33 to avoid certain historic properties as a means of mitigating adverse effects. The U.S. National Marine Fisheries Service concurred with MCB Hawaii that the project is not likely to adversely affect federally threatened or endangered sea turtle species, the Hawaiian monk seal, or essential fish habitat because of mitigation measures which include implementation of best management practices during construction and long term conservation measures that address marine resources and shoreline recreation management (e.g. designating water craft launch areas, controlling vehicle access, extensive outreach and guest education efforts, etc.)
The FONSI and EA are available for download below.