NOTICE OF APPLICATION FOR VARIANCE
Community Noise Control
Variance Application
The State of Hawaii, Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR), P.O. BOX 373, Honolulu, Hawaii, 96809, has applied to the Department of Health for a noise variance from Hawaii Administrative Rules (HAR), Chapter 11-46-6(a), which states, “General Prohibition. Without a permit or variance issued pursuant to section 11-46-7 or 11-46-8, no person within the State shall operate, from any premises or land owned, rented, leased, occupied, or controlled by that person, any excessive noise source.”
DLNR proposes to undertake the Ala Wai Canal Dredging and Improvements Project in Waikiki, Oahu, Hawaii, to remove accumulated silt and sediments, improve protection of nearshore State marine waters and aquatic life, improve public health and safety, and decrease the potential for property damage from flooding. The principal areas of work will include most of the Ala Wai Canal from Ainakea Way to the Ala Moana Boulevard Bridge and a portion of the Manoa-Palolo Drainage Canal (MPDC) from its confluence with the Ala Wai Canal to the Date Street Bridge. Project work will include maintenance dredging, repairs to the Ala Wai Canal walls and stairs, and removal of up to four existing Hawaiian Electric Company cables and twelve concrete slabs with the dredging of the Ala Wai Canal. To minimize the impacts of the project and ensure the safety of public and construction personnel, DLNR plans to conduct the maintenance dredging operations at night when recreational activities within and surrounding the Ala Wai Canal are expected to be at their lowest.
The period of construction requested for coverage, pursuant to HAR § 11-46-7(j)(1-3), includes the following:
Mondays through Fridays: 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Saturdays: 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Sundays and Holidays: 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Construction activities will be temporarily modified and/or stopped during special events that involve the use of the Ala Wai Canal, e.g., regattas or other related water-based activities. These periods of temporary work stoppage will be determined by the DLNR by consulting with area canoe/kayak clubs and organizations following the selection of the contractor.
Construction activities are anticipated to commence in late 2018 and last one-year.
The Department of Health will retain and consider all written comments received not later than thirty (30) days after the date of this notice. If the comments received warrant it, the Department of Health may hold a public hearing, after at least thirty (30) days public notice, on the variance application. The final decision will be made on the basis of the application, related documents, written comments, and the public hearing, if any.
Written comments and requests for information or inspection of the variance application and related documents should be directed to: Indoor and Radiological Health Branch, Noise Section, 99-945 Halawa Valley Street, Aiea, Hawaii 96701, telephone (808) 586-4700.
(SA1123539 8/13/18)
