LIHUE — The County of Kauai sees no reason to intervene with Hawaii Dairy Farms’ proposed $17.5 million, 582-acre dairy in Mahaulepu. On Friday, County Engineer Larry Dill responded in writing to concerns voiced by a group of local biologists
LIHUE — The County of Kauai sees no reason to intervene with Hawaii Dairy Farms’ proposed $17.5 million, 582-acre dairy in Mahaulepu.
On Friday, County Engineer Larry Dill responded in writing to concerns voiced by a group of local biologists and residents. The group recently requested that the county step in and reconsider any decisions it has made or permit exemptions it has granted to HDF.
“While the County supports this effort to establish a dairy farm on Kauai, we share your concerns that the appropriate safeguards will be in place to protect the environment,” he wrote. “To date, we are satisfied that the respective agencies are exercising the appropriate regulatory oversight to meet that objective, and the county continues to monitor the project.”
One of many accusations in their letter to Dill was that HDF started construction at the dairy site without securing proper permits.
Kauai County Ordinance Sec. 22-7.6(e) provides that the permit requirements of the Grading, Grubbing and Stockpiling Ordinance shall not apply to agricultural operations, including ranching, “managed in accordance with soil conservation practices acceptable to the applicable soil and water conservation district directors, and in accordance with an actively pursued comprehensive conservation plan that has been exempted by the County Engineer,” Dill outlined in his response.
After submitting the appropriate documents, HDF received an Ag Exemption from the County on March 18.
“Additionally, on April 3, 2014, without having received a complaint but because of concerns that had been raised by the community, the (Department of Public Works) inspected the site,” Dill wrote. “DPW found that any grubbing or grading work that had been done by that time did not surpass the thresholds established by the Grading Ordinance.”
And while significant clearing had already occurred on the property, Dill said clearing is not an activity regulated by the grading ordinance.
Other accusations included in the group’s letter to Dill were that HDF understated rainfall records, thus indicating a lower risk of waste runoff than actually exists, incorrectly reported the site’s soil type and its ability to handle waste and nutrient loads, and failed to include hydrological or drainage studies which confirm drainage in the area runs directly to the ocean.
“We, the undersigned, believe that HDF has amply demonstrated their disregard for the environment, willingness to play fast and loose with their facts, such that they cannot be entrusted with so precious an area,” Koloa resident Bridget Hammerquist and 14 others wrote.
The group also questions HDF’s claim of sustainability.
“Although HDF refers to its proposal as a ‘sustainable dairy farm,’ they acknowledge that at least 30 (percent) of the feed for the herd will be imported and that percentage increased if the highly invasive non-native kikuyu grass is not sufficient,” they wrote. “Milk is also to be processed off island, hardly a ‘sustainable’ scenario.”
On Friday, Hammerquist described Dill’s response as “sad” and “scary.”
“How do you deal with the fact that there are so many holes in their plan?” she said. “We really are trying hard. We want to help. We don’t want to hurt. We don’t want to harass. We just want to ask those questions.”
Dill wrote that the county relies on the U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resource Conservation Service and the West Kauai Soil and Water Conservation District “as experts in agriculture to ensure that responsible farming methods are employed to protect the environment.”
“The WK SWCD, with technical support from the County, reviewed and approved the Conservation Plan prepared by HDF with assistance from the NRCS,” Dill wrote. “The WK SWCD continues to monitor the project.”
Additionally, HDF’s Comprehensive Nutrient Management Plan will be reviewed by the state Department of Health prior to the start of dairy operations, according to Dill.
In a written statement Friday, Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr. said he has been briefed numerous times on the HDF operation and “strongly supports” the project.
“It is significant for the entire state as we work to reduce our dependency on imported food,” he said. “At the same time, I feel it is very important for the HDF team to address the concerns of the community and demonstrate that there are adequate environmental protections in place and that any negative impacts will be minimized or eliminated. As a community we have to work with our farmers and help create the solutions that will allow ag to flourish once again on Kauai.”
• Chris D’Angelo, environmental reporter, can be reached at 245-0441 or cdangelo@thegardenisland.com.
