EarthJustice says feds
inflated habitat cost

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By Diana Leone
dleone@starbulletin.com

Naming 437,300 acres of the Big Island as a "critical habitat" for endangered plant species could cost up to $72 million over a decade's time.

That is the estimate of a draft economic analysis the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced yesterday.

An attorney for the environmental group EarthJustice called the estimate "horrible," saying it was improperly calculated under the requirements of the Endangered Species Act and should have been much lower.

"They're lumping together the costs of protecting the (plant) species even if no critical habitat (for them) were designated," David Henkin said. "It's an inflated number."

Meanwhile, Paul Henson, field supervisor for the Hawaii Fish and Wildlife office, said in a prepared statement that "these draft economic analyses look at worst-case scenarios," and urged anyone affected by the proposed critical habitats to comment to the agency before it finalizes its plans.

EarthJustice sued Fish and Wildlife to force it to map out critical habitats for each of 255 plant species that are endangered in Hawaii, as required by the Endangered Species Act.

Public comment on the draft economic analysis will be received by the service until Jan. 17.

Fish and Wildlife's analysis predicted direct economic costs of $53.2 to $71.8 million over a 10-year period. The bulk of these costs would be project modifications needed to ensure survival of endangered plants because of:

>> Expanded military activity at Pohakuloa Training Area (up to $46 million).

>> Planned improvement of the Saddle Road (up to $8 million).

>> Three road construction projects north of Kailua-Kona (up to $15.8 million).

EarthJustice's Henkin said the majority of costs included in the analysis are for protecting the endangered plants, not for establishing critical habitats for them. Those are separate issues, he insisted.

The economic analysis for the Big Island and other information about critical-habitat issues on each Hawaiian island can be seen at pacific-islands.fws.gov or by calling the service at 541-3441.

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EarthJustice

Endangered Species Act

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service