The public will be able to comment on the state Department of Land & Natural Resources' Lahaina Small Boat Harbor ferry pier project environmental impact statement at a meeting scheduled March 12 at the West Maui Senior Center.

The meeting at 788 Pauoa St. is scheduled from 5:30-7 p.m.

"DLNR is proposing to build a new pier to provide a dedicated facility for the existing interisland ferry which serves the residents of Maui, Moloka'i and Lana'i," Laura H. Thielen, DLNR chairperson, said in a DLNR news release today.

Thielen added, "The current pier at the harbor serves many uses — commercial recreation, cruise ship tenders and the interisland ferry — as well as fueling station, sewage pump-out and fish crane. This new pier will serve the Lahaina-Kaunakakai commuter ferry service and the existing Lahaina ferry providing service to Manele, Lana'i. It will benefit the community with improved safety and operational efficiency."

The new pier will be built approximately 60 feet to the north of the existing pier at the Lahaina Small Boat Harbor, officials said. The new pier will be about 115 feet long and 35 feet wide, will rest on piles, and will be able to accommodate about 100 passengers. A low-rise, open-sided structure on the deck of the new pier is proposed to provide shade and shelter for pier users.

The project proposal call for: