News Release

For Immediate Release
April 24, 2017

BWS Seeks Stakeholder Feedback for Preparation of Haiku Stairs Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)

Water Agency Committed to an Open and Transparent EIS Process

HONOLULU – The Honolulu Board of Water Supply (BWS) will be publishing an Environmental Impact Statement Preparation Notice (EISPN) for Haiku Stairs to request public comments that will then be used to prepare the Draft EIS.

The EISPN was prepared by BWS consultant G70 and will be published in the April 23 issue of the Environmental Notice of the State Office of Environmental and Quality Control. It will also be available for download on the BWS's website at boardofwatersupply.com/community/haiku-stairs. Comments on the EISPN will be accepted in writing only at haikustairs@g70.design. All comments are due by Tuesday, May 23. 

The Draft EIS will explore one proposed action and three alternatives to Haiku Stairs: removing the stairs entirely (proposed action), providing legal access to and from the stairs and improving it for public use, transferring it to another government agency, and taking no action.

Due to the complex nature of this project, the BWS and their consultant will ensure that: 

• The EIS process is conducted in an open and transparent manner;
• Options will be evaluated for public benefits versus costs associated with each one; and
• The safety of the public and the BWS's liability and ability to protect the public in each scenario will be carefully analyzed.

"Although the BWS's preference is to remove or transfer the stairs to a government agency to protect the public and eliminate liability to BWS and to our rate payers, it is also important to be open and listen to what the community has to say about these alternatives," said BWS Manager and Chief Engineer Ernest Lau.

"The BWS is committed to evaluating each alternative thoroughly and providing an accessible process for public comment through small-group and public meetings with various agencies, landowners, community organizations, and individuals with an interest in this project," Lau said. "The BWS's mission is to provide Oahu residents with a safe, dependable, and affordable water supply. Managing Haiku Stairs draws BWS staff, financial, and other resources away from our core mission to efficiently and effectively meet the water demaid of our customers."

For more information about the ESIPN, please contact Jeffrey Overton of G70 at 523-5866.

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Contact:

Kathleen Elliott-Pahinui
Information Officer
Honolulu Board of Water Supply
Phone: (808) 748-5319