NOTICE OF PROPOSED
SECTION 401 WATER QUALITY CERTIFICATION
BY THE
HAWAII STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
WQC File No. WQC0958
DOCKET NO. WQC0958
September 13, 2018
The Hawaii State Department of Health (DOH) proposes to issue a Section 401 Water Quality Certification (WQC), which includes conditions and requirements, to the U.S. Army Garrison Hawaii (USAG-HI) for the application of the Department of the Army (DA) permit under DA File No. POH-2018-35 to be issued under the authorization of Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899 (RHA, 33 U.S.C. 403) and Section 404 of the Clean Water Act (CWA, 33 U.S.C. 1344) for the “Emergency Repair of Seawall at the Pililaau (Waianae) Army Recreational Center” project.
The owner information is as follows:
Owner:
U.S. Army Garrison Hawaii
947 Wright Avenue
Schofield Barracks, Hawaii 96857-5013
Contact: Mr. Kent K. Watase
Phone: (808) 656-3056
Fax No.: (808) 656-6471
E-mail: Kent.K.Watase.civ@mail.mil
USAG-HI is proposing to construct a new 677 ft. long concrete rubble masonry seawall behind an existing damaged seawall, demolish and remove the existing damaged concrete rubble masonry seawall, connect the new seawall to an existing boulder revetment at the north end; connect to an existing intact seawall at the south end, demolish and reconstruct approximately 600 linear feet of concrete sidewalk remove and dispose of two mature coconut trees, plant four coconut seedlings, relocate two mature coconut trees, remove and dispose of two wood utility poles, and temporarily relocate minor onsite elements including twelve existing area lights, picnic tables and benches, BBQ stands, and trash can enclosures at the Pililaau Army Recreation Center located at TMK: (1) 8 5 001:008 and 009 in Waianae, Oahu.
Best Management Practices (BMPs) measures are proposed to ensure that the proposed construction activities associated with this project will not adversely impact the water quality of Pokai Bay. An Applicable Monitoring and Assessment Plan (AMAP) is also prepared to verify/ensure the adequacy of the BMPs measures implemented.
The receiving State water, Pokai Bay, located on the Island of Oahu, is classified by the DOH as a “Class A, Marine Embayment” and is listed in the “2016 STATE OF HAWAII WATER QUALITY MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT REPORT” as not having attained compliance with water quality standards for nitrate+nitrite nitrogen, ammonium nitrogen, turbidity, and chorophyll a. According to the report, it has been identified as a Category 2 (some uses attained), 3 (not enough data to evaluate) and 5 (at least one use not attained) waterbody and is assigned a low priority for Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) development.
Based on an evaluation of the Section 401 WQC Application, the supporting information, which are relevant to water quality considerations, and when all requirements and conditions contained in this proposed Section 401 WQC are fully complied with, there is reasonable assurance that the discharges resulting from the proposed construction activities will be conducted in a manner which will not violate the applicable water quality standards (WQS) and will comply with the applicable provisions of CWA, Sections 301, 302, 303, 306, and 307.
The proposed Section 401 WQC shall become effective on the issuance date of the Section 401 WQC. This Section 401 WQC shall expire two (2) years from the issuance date of the Section 401 WQC, or the TMDL implementation Plan for Pokai Bay is established by the DOH and approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), or until the applicable WQS are revised or modified, or DA NWP 3 (File No. POH-2018-35) is modified, revoked, suspended, or expired, or when the project related construction activities are completed, whichever is earlier. If the applicable WQS is revised or modified, before the proposed expiration date, and such that the activity complies with the revisions or modifications to the WQS, the determination of waiving the notification requirements shall continue to be valid until the Section 401 WQC expires.
Persons wishing to comment upon or object to the proposed determinations or request a public hearing should submit their comments or request in writing no later than 30 calendar days from the date of this notice either in person or by mail, to:
State of Hawaii
Department of Health
Clean Water Branch
2827Waimano Home Road #225
Pearl City, Hawaii 96782
Copies of the proposed Section 401 WQC and other information on file are available for public inspection, Monday through Friday (excluding holidays) from 7:45 a.m. until 4:15 p.m., at the DOH office address shown above and on the WPC Viewer located at: http://eha-web.doh.hawaii.gov/wpc-viewer/. Copies may be bought. The proposed Section 401 WQC also available on the Internet at: http://health.hawaii.gov/cwb/site-map/home/public-notices-and-updates and on the WPC Viewer located at: http://eha-web.doh.hawaii.gov/wpc-viewer/. For more information or if you have special needs due to disability that will aid you in inspecting and/or commenting on the public notice permit and related information, please contact Mr. Darryl Lum, Supervisor of the Engineering Section, at the above address or (808) 586-4309 (Voice) at least seven (7) calendar days before the comment deadline. For those who use a TTY/TDD, please call through Sprint Relay Hawaii, at 1-711 or 1-877-447-5991.
All written comments and requests received on time will be considered. If the DOH determines that there is significant public interest, a public hearing may be held after at least 30 calendar days of public notice.
If the DOH’s position is substantially unchanged, after considering all timely written comments and all oral comments at any public hearing that may be held, the DOH will issue or deny the Section 401 WQC, as appropriate, and this action will be final.
Please notify anyone you know who would be interested in this matter.
BRUCE S. ANDERSON, Ph.D.
Director of Health
(SA1132279 9/13/18)
