Posted on: Friday, December 27, 2002

O'ahu plant protection may dent economy $1M

By Curtis Lum
Advertiser Staff Writer

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service estimates that its proposed designation of critical habitat for 99 plant species on O'ahu could result in "minor economic impacts" of between $308,000 and $1.1 million over a 10-year period.

The federal agency yesterday released a draft analysis of the potential effects and benefits of the critical habitat designation for the 99 plant species. The report focused on costs related to the requirement that federal agencies consult with Fish and Wildlife whenever they propose a project that may destroy or diminish the value of critical habitat for the survival and recovery of endangered species.

Critical habitat refers to areas essential for the conservation of rare species that may require special management. A designation does not set up a preserve or refuge.

Fish and Wildlife initially proposed setting aside 111,364 acres on 24 sites on O'ahu to preserve threatened and endangered plants. But because many of the locations are not suitable for habitation, the agency said it will exclude a yet-to-be determined amount of land from the final plan.

These areas include portions of Schofield Barracks in Wahiawa, the Harold L. Lyon Arboretum in Manoa, the Air Force satellite tracking facility on Mount Ka'ala, the Turtle Bay golf courses and some Kahuku residential and commercial land, the service said.

The draft predicts only "minor direct economic costs" because about 90 percent of the acreage is within the state Conservation District, which limits opportunities for development or other activities. Nearly 29 percent of the acreage is owned by the state, 14 percent by the federal government and 51 percent by private landowners.

Most of the direct costs identified in the draft report are related to construction of communications facilities at Palehua, Koko Head, Diamond Head and other locations on O'ahu. These facilities require federal permits, which trigger consultation with Fish and Wildlife, the report stated.

By comparison, Fish and Wildlife estimates that a proposal to designate nearly 4,000 acres around Kaua'i's Po'ipu resort as critical habitat for two cave creatures could cost an estimated $742 million to $1.9 billion over 18 years. The two creatures — a blind spider and shrimp-like cave amphipod — live in areas where the land is planned or usable for development.

Under the Endangered Species Act, the Fish and Wildlife Service may exclude areas from critical habitat designation if the benefits of excluding the areas are greater than the benefits of including them, unless the exclusion would result in the extinction of the species.

The draft economic report did cite one possible indirect casualty of the proposed critical habitat designation on O'ahu.

A private refuse collector has proposed a 100-acre landfill on agricultural land in Kunia. Although no federal permits are required, the report said, state and city officials may decide not to allow the project because it would be in a critical habitat area.

The report estimates that it would cost about $1 million and result in a two-year delay to find an alternate landfill location and prepare new environmental reports.

Copies of the O'ahu draft economic analysis are available at pacificislands.fws.gov or by calling Fish and Wildlife's Honolulu office at 541-3441.