Statement about Temporary Withdrawal of Final EIS from Determination

News Release from Hawaii Dairy Farms, February 21, 2017

After consulting with the state Office of Environmental Quality Control (OEQC) regarding its interpretation of the administrative rules pertaining to the preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement, Hawai‘i Dairy Farms has withdrawn its Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) from consideration by the Department of Health.  Under the Hawai‘i Administrative Rules, an applicant can withdraw its FEIS prior to determination and resubmit, which restarts the clock for the Department of Health’s review.

“Hawaii Dairy Farms decided to withdraw its Final Environmental Impact Statement from consideration by the Department of Health to allow time to provide additional responses to comments per the new guidance received regarding the Office of Environmental Quality Control’s interpretation of the administrative rules,” said Amy Hennessey, APR, Director of Communications for Hawaii Dairy Farms.

A new FEIS will be submitted when the consulting team feels it has been able to adequately respond to all comments per OEQC’s guidance.  Given the indeterminate timing on the resubmittal, Hawaii Dairy Farms is also withdrawing its NPDES Stormwater Construction Permit application and will resubmit it when the EIS determination process has been completed.

About Hawaii Dairy Farms

Hawaii Dairy Farms will be the state’s first pasture-based dairy farm, located on 557 acres in Mahaulepu, Kauai.  At the committed herd size of 699 mature dairy cows, it will produce roughly 1.5 million gallons of fresh milk annually, enough to meet the needs of approximately 60,000 people. To learn more, please visit www.HawaiiDairyFarms.com.

PDF: Hawaii Dairy Farms withdraws final EIS for Kauai dairy project