Impact of proposed Molokai
plant habitat assessed

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Star-Bulletin staff

The public may now review a draft report on the economic impact of a critical-habitat designation on Molokai for 46 threatened and endangered plant species.

An informal public meeting to answer questions on the proposal and economic analysis is scheduled for 5 to 8 p.m. Aug. 26 at the Mitchell Pauole Center Hall, 90 Ainoa St., Kaunakakai.

A formal public hearing will be held on Molokai in September.

The draft economic analysis will help determine what is more beneficial -- excluding or including areas from critical-habitat designation.

According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, "Critical habitat refers to specific geographic areas that are essential for the conservation of a threatened or endangered species and which may require special management considerations."

With much of the 43,516 acres proposed for the critical-habitat designation being unsuitable for development and within the state's conservation district, the draft report indicates the proposal would have "modest" economic impacts.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service said the costs associated with critical-habitat designation over a 10-year period can range from $148,000 to $853,000 should federally related projects or activities be proposed there. Those costs would be paid by the federal agency proposing the activity.

"In the worst case, that (cost) represents about 0.03 percent of the total personal income generated in Maui County in 1999," the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service said yesterday in a news release.

The proposed designation represents about 26 percent of Molokai. Nearly half of that land is owned by the state, 1 percent is federal or county land and the rest is privately owned. About 33 percent of the land is state hunting grounds. The state is not expected to change its management of the hunting program, so only minor economic impacts are expected with the critical-habitat designation.

Anden Consulting in Honolulu developed the draft economic analysis for the Fish and Wildlife Service in accordance with an Endangered Species Act requirement.

The report and proposal may be viewed at http://pacificislands.fws.gov/wesa/endspindex.html. Obtain copies from the Fish and Wildlife Service's Honolulu office by calling 541-3441. Comments on the draft will be accepted until Sept. 11 to the Field Supervisor, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Pacific Islands Office, 300 Ala Moana, Room 3-122, Box 50088, Honolulu, HI 96850; or e-mail Molokai_Crirhab@r1.fws.gov.

Comments submitted earlier are part of the public record and will be fully considered in the final decision.