USACE, City and County of Honolulu invite public comment on Ala Wai Canal Flood Risk Management Study
News Release from Army Corps of Engineers April 12, 2023
HONOLULU, (April 12, 2023) — The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and the City and County of Honolulu (CCH) invite public comment on the preparation of the Ala Wai Canal Flood Risk Management General Re-evaluation Study (Ala Wai FRM GR), Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) now through May 8, 2023.
The Ala Wai FRM GR study is looking at ways to reduce physical and economic damages due to riverine flooding and to enhance life safety and community resilience throughout the entire Ala Wai watershed.
Community involvement is crucial to ensuring the success of the Ala Wai FRM GR Study as it enters its next critical phase. To maximize community involvement, USACE in partnership with the CCH, will hold a virtual public meeting, Monday, April 24, at 5:30 p.m. to present the prospective plan, answer questions, and accept oral comments.
Comments can also be submitted at any time by U.S. Mail, Email or online through May 8, 2023:
ONLINE: www.honolulu.gov/alawai/contact.html
EMAIL: alawai@honolulu.gov
(Please include “NOI” in the subject line of emails for comments on this notice.)
U.S. Mail: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Honolulu District, 230 Otake St. (Attn: POH-PPC, Ala Wai), Fort Shafter, HI 96858-5440
The virtual meeting format will include an overview of the project, the NEPA/HEPA processes, and present the results of the plan formulation process to-date, including development, evaluation, and comparison of the final array of alternatives. The presentation will be available to view online by April 17. Interested parties are encouraged to view the presentation prior to the meeting. To download, visit: www.honolulu.gov/AlaWai
To attend the meeting go to: https://usace1.webex.com/meet/AlaWai
Access Webex through a web browser (there is no need to download the Webex app).
For the most reliable audio, select “Call Me” and input your telephone number.
Audio-only access is also available at: 1 (844) 800-2712
Use access code: 1992 62 9020
This virtual meeting will be recorded and posted to the project website.
More information about the Ala Wai FRM GR Study can be found at the project website, to include recordings of all previous virtual public meetings and a link to subscribe to the project mailing list: www.honolulu.gov/AlaWai
NEXT STEPS: In late May, a Notice of Availability of the Draft Report will be published in the Federal Register initiating an additional comment period on the specific aspects of the Tentatively Selected Plan (TSP). In June, USACE in partnership with CCH will conduct in-person and virtual workshops to discuss the TSP. After completion of the final report in late 2023 or early 2024, there will be another opportunity for the public to discuss and provide feedback on the final recommendation by USACE. In addition to the public meetings and workshops, the public can engage the study team via several online mechanisms available 24/7.
The SEIS will be prepared in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act and the Hawai‘i Environmental Policy Act. A notice of intent was published in the Federal Register to announce the Army’s preparation of the SEIS and to begin the NEPA scoping period. An SEIS preparation notice has also been published in the state Office of Environmental Quality Control’s publication, The Environmental Notice, to begin the HEPA scoping period.
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