NOTICE OF PROPOSED NOISE VARIANCE PERMIT
FOR HAWAIIAN ELECTRIC UTILTY TOWER MAINTENANCE
April 12, 2019
The State Department of Health (DOH) tentatively proposes to issue a Noise Variance permit to allow overhead electric utility maintenance construction activities along the H-1 Freeway, subject to special conditions to:
Henkels & McCoy, Inc.
2130 Lauwiliwili Street
Kapolei, Hawaii 96707
The proposed permit for the construction will expire five (2.5) months from the date of issuance. The project areas are at the intersections of H-1 Freeway and Paiwa Street in Waipahu, Kamehameha Highway and Waihona Street in Pearl City, Kamehameha Highway and Waiawa Road in Pearl City, and below the H-2 Freeway in Waipio.
The proposed project consists of replacing critical framing and wire hardware on Hawaiian Electric Company’s utility poles to ensure the electric system continues to operate at its optimal capacity across the Island of Oahu.
Henkels & McCoy requests to perform construction activities during night hours between the hours of 9:00pm and 4:00am.
Given the nature of the high highway traffic volume (over 2,000 vehicles per hour) in the proposed project areas, the anticipated sound level to be experienced 50 feet from the edge of the roadway during the hours of 7 AM to 10 PM is 70-80 dBA while the level to be experienced between the hours of 10 PM and 7 AM is 63-75 dBA. Additionally, the tools and equipment which Henkels & McCoy Inc. intends to utilize during the construction can generate 45-90dBA of noise at a given moment during operation, which is comparable (+/- 15dBA) to the present noise being generated by the highway traffic.
Given the nighttime adherence levels set by the Department of Health (DOH) are 50dBA in commercial zones and 45 dBA in residential zones, strict adherence to the DOH property line limits in the immediate construction areas will not be as critical in most cases as the background noise levels in the nighttime hours are currently exceeding the standards. If the project construction work is scheduled and performed during the requested variance period, the issues to arise shall be minimal. If any issues arise throughout the construction work, the contractor will quickly address through its onsite person in charge (POC).
Persons wishing to comment upon or object to the proposed Noise Variance Application or to request a public hearing, should submit their comments or requests in writing no later than 30 calendar days after the date of this notice, either through E-mail at webmail@doh.hawaii.gov addressed to James Toma or by mail to 2130 Lauwiliwili Street Kapolei, Hawaii 96707 addressed to Dorothy Changelo. Copies of the proposed Noise Variance Application, and other information are available for public inspection, Monday through Friday (excluding holidays) from 7:45 a.m. until 4:30 p.m., at the Department of Health (DOH) Radiation and Noise Branch office located at 99-945 Halawa Valley Street Aiea, HI 96701.
For more information or if you have special needs due to disability that will aid you in inspecting and/or commenting on the Noise Variance Permit and related information, please contact Dorothy Changelo at the above address or (808) 455-1310 Ext. 353 (Voice) at least seven (7) calendar days before the comment deadline.
All written comments and requests received on time will be considered. If DOH determines that there is significant public interest, a public hearing may be held after at least 30 calendar days of public notice. If DOH’s position is substantially unchanged after considering all timely written comments and all oral comments at any public hearing that may be held, then the DOH will issue the Noise Variance Permit and this action will be final.
(SA1190137 4/12/19)
