Barely had the ink dried on the revised, three-inch-thick draft environmental assessment on proposed improvements to Burns Field (Port Allen Airport) near Hanapepe before full-blown opposition to the plan resumed. The state Department of Transportation still proposes building as many
Barely had the ink dried on the revised, three-inch-thick draft environmental assessment on proposed improvements to Burns Field (Port Allen Airport) near Hanapepe before full-blown opposition to the plan resumed.
The state Department of Transportation still proposes building as many as four lease-lots for helicopter use (tenants would be allowed to construct their own hangars), two fixed-wing aircraft tie-down areas, runway lights for emergency nighttime use, other aprons and taxiways, and restrooms.
But the Kaua’i County General Plan adopted last year by the County Council asks the state to plan for the long-range decommissioning of the airport. The county also seeks redevelopment of Puolo Point near the county’s Salt Pond Park (where the airport is located) as a resource park.
The state was ordered by a state judge on Oahu to redo the environmental assessment last year after the court concluded that the DOT’s Airports Division had not examined fully enough the alternative of relocating all helicopter operators to Lihu’e Airport.
The new assessment, published last month, says the state cannot ban helicopters or other aviation uses from Port Allen as long as those users operate in a safe manner.
Federal funds used to build, operate and maintain the facility mandate the state not discriminate against any aeronautical use.
The Federal Aviation Administration states there “does not appear to be any justifiable environmental reasons to relocate these operations to Lihu’e Airport,” according to the assessment.
Currently, only Inter-Island Helicopters and Bali Hai Helicopter Tours regularly fly in and out of Port Allen Airport. There are 20 helicopter pads at Lihu’e Airport, and nine are vacant.
Inter-Island holds the contract to do search and rescue work for the county and wishes to continue operating out of Port Allen.
“The relocation of helicopter operations alternative is not feasible, and will not be considered further,” the assessment concludes.
Such a relocation “does not meet the purpose and need of the proposed project,” according to the assessment. The Airports Division says the improvements are needed for more efficient and safer aircraft operations at the facility, and to provide the capability of emergency nighttime operations as well.
While the state further contends that the major impact of the project will be grading of the site to do the construction, those opposed to the project are worried about increased air operations.
Opponents are claim that if four helicopter lease-lots are constructed, four companies will begin operating regularly out of the field. Companies other than those regularly using Burns Field have expressed interest in having operations there if the state allows for pads, hangars and possibly long-term leases.
The state’s position is that the airport has co-existed with other uses in the area for over 70 years, “and there is considerable support for continued use of Port Allen Airport” from the county and the Hanapepe community, for health, safety and economic reasons.
“At this point in time, the airport will continue to serve the flying public at Port Allen Airfield as part of the statewide system,” according to the assessment.
Closing the airport does not meet the purpose and need of the project, and that alternative won’t be considered further, the assessment continues.
While it is unlikely that public sentiment against the project as voiced during this public comment period will stall the project, it does require a Shoreline Management Area permit and other permits issued by the county, which require public hearings before the county Planning Commission.
Nearly a year ago, the commission closed a hearing on permits for the airport expansion, deciding to wait until the new environmental assessment is finalized before making a decision on permits necessary for the improvements.
Finalizing the assessment will likely take several months.
With four affirmative votes, the commission could reopen the public hearing on those permits.
During the hearing last year, attorneys for the state and saltmakers from the nearby salt pans agreed to limit issues regarding the proposed airport expansion to the potential for petroleum products to damage the pans, and the cultural importance of the area to Native Hawaiians.
A proposal for bypassing county approval processes for airport improvement projects like this one was rejected last month by the Legislature, upsetting supporters of the Port Allen project.
Those opposed to the project remain steadfast. Among them are Arius Hopman, a Hanapepe artist and small-business owner.
“Who is the Department of Transportation to force airport development on the citizens of Hawai’i when they don’t want it?” he said.
Hopman suggests a neutral consultant conduct a survey islandwide to see what people think about the airport expansion proposal.
“A win-win compromise would be for the state to deed Burns Field to the county, who would build just one hangar that it could lease out” to any helicopter company hired by the county for rescue missions, Hopman said.
Staff Writer Paul C. Curtis can be reached at mailto:pcurtis@pulitzer.net or 245-3681 (ext. 224).
