Rehabilitate the Unsafe and Failing Electrical System
Environmental Assessment
The National Park Service (NPS) is requesting your input on options to rehabilitate the unsafe and failing electrical system at Kalaupapa National Historical Park (the park) and the Kalaupapa Settlement (settlement), located on the island of Molokai in Hawai’i. The NPS is committed to fulfilling our responsibilities as a steward of this special landscape. Please join us in helping safeguard the future of this outstanding resource by participating in our planning process and attending our virtual public scoping meeting.
Background
The current electrical system at the park was installed in 1969 and is owned by State of Hawai’i Department of Health (HDOH) and the State of Hawaiʻi Department of Land and Natural Resources. The Maui Electrical Company’s (MECO) overhead power line follows the Kalaupapa trail and terminates at a 300kVA MECO-owned substation on the Kalaupapa peninsula. At this point, the existing overhead system is tied in and managed by the NPS. Power outages occur frequently within the park due to deteriorated transformers, worn and frayed transmission lines, and pole and insulator failures. Surges from the MECO-owned electrical system also result in loss of power. The park’s electrical system is outdated and inadequate, creating health and safety concerns for patient-residents, NPS and HDOH staff, and visitors. This project would rehabilitate the electrical system, bring it up to code standards, improve reliability, reduce deferred maintenance, and remove health and safety concerns. Upgrading the electrical lines would also result in a more efficient electrical system.
You’re Invited!
Purpose of and Need for Action
The purpose of taking action is to provide the park and its settlement with a reliable electrical system that is readily and easily serviceable and complies with federal regulations. Taking action is needed because the condition of the electrical system is substandard, inadequate, and presents risks to the park’s visitors, inhabitants, and structures. The existing electrical distribution components are at or near the end of their service life and rehabilitation is required to support existing facilities.
Proposed Alternatives
As part of the Environmental Assessment (EA), two preliminary alternatives have been developed by the park, including a no-action alternative and one action alternative.
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No-action Alternative
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The no-action alternative would not rehabilitate the unsafe and failing electrical system at the park and its settlement.
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Alternative 1: Rehabilitate Existing Electrical System
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This alternative would repair and upgrade the settlement's single and three phase overhead electrical system to a looped system and would connect the existing water pump house and back-up generator locations. Improvements would meet current industry standards and codes for MECO requirements, remove documented safety hazards, improve reliability, and reduce deferred maintenance. Within the existing electrical system alignment and settlement area this project would:
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Replace (110) power poles
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Upgrade (13) poles from single phase to three phase
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Upgrade insulators and attachment hardware for all poles
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Replace and upgrade 39,000 linear feet (LF) of overhead wire as needed
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Replace (2) pad mounted and (23) pole mounted transformers.
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A new alignment of 20 poles would be installed along Kamehameha Street to reduce potential impacts on cultural resources and documented archeological sites, as well as to facilitate access for maintenance of the poles.
To connect the water pump house and backup generator locations to the system:
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Install (2) new poles with cross arms, insulators, and hardware in existing pole locations near the east end of the settlement
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Place cable underground starting at the east end of the settlement adjacent to existing water line utility trench within the road corridor.
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Remove diesel generator, fuel tank, and backup power generation equipment and demolish existing structures down to existing concrete pads
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Install new power supply equipment and outlet to existing backup generator and pump house location at existing concrete pads.
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The Planning Process
This public comment period represents the first opportunity for you to be involved in the planning process. Once the NPS has gathered your input on the proposed action, preliminary alternatives, and potential impacts, the NPS anticipates moving on to the EA phase of the project. There will be additional opportunities for public involvement as the process moves forward. Important steps in the planning process are below.
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November – December 2020
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Public scoping period
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WE ARE HERE
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December 2020
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Virtual public scoping meeting
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January 2021
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Review/analyze public scoping comments
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February – March 2021
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Prepare internal draft EA
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April 2021
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Release EA
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April – May 2021
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Public comment period
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May 2021
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Review/analyze public comments on EA
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June 2021
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NPS decision
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How to Comment
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Submit comments electronically at the project website link below (preferred method).
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Submit written comments to the park’s headquarters in Kalaupapa, HI, by mail to:
Rehabilitate the Unsafe and Failing Electrical System EA
Superintendent Erika Stein Espaniola
P.O. Box 2222
Kalaupapa, HI 96742
The public comment period ends on December 30, 2020.
Note: Comments will not be accepted by fax, e-mail, or any other way than those specified above. Please also note that your entire comment—including personal identifying information such as your address, phone number, and e-mail address—may be made publicly available at any time. While you can ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so. Comments submitted by individuals or organizations on behalf of other individuals or organizations will not be accepted.
Project Website
For more information on this project or to submit public comments, please visit the project website at:https://parkplanning.nps.gov/KALA
