Public input sought on EA for proposed USGS Facility in Hilo

The partial collapse of the Kilauea Caldera in 2018 did irreparable damage to the Jaggar Museum and also the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory. I have seen the cracks in their foundations myself, the 50+ collapse events and tens of thousands of earthquakes during the 2018 eruption took their toll. So USGS-HVO moved temporarily to Ironworks building in Hilo while a new building was designed. Now USGS-HVO is in the environment assessment phase of the project, and are looking to build a new facility mauka of UH Hilo. ------ USGS-HVO — Public input for the Environmental Assessment can be provided via email through March 28, 2023, or in person at an open house on March 15, 2023. Details provided below. Draft Assessment: https://files.hawaii.gov/dbedt/erp/Doc_Library/2023-02-23-HA-DEA-USGS-Hilo-Research-Facility.pdf The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) is proposing to construct a facility on 6.8 acres of State-owned land in Hilo. The USGS facility will replace the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO) whose existing buildings in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park were irreparably damaged by the 2018 Kīlauea eruption. The facility will also be the new home of the USGS Pacific Island Ecosystems Research Center (PIERC), currently located in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Because the project involves the use of State of Hawai‘i lands, an Environmental Assessment (EA) and Anticipated Finding of No Significant Impacts (AFONSI) has been prepared for the project in accordance with Hawai‘i Revised Statutes (HRS) Chapter 343 and Chapter 11-200.1 Hawai‘i Administrative Rules. The EA also meets the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act. ---- Review online through March 28, 2023 ---- The Draft EAAFONSI can be viewed or downloaded from the ERP website beginning today, February 23, 2023. Enter the following URL into your web browser and it will take you directly to the Draft EA-AFONSI and Appendices. https://files.hawaii.gov/dbedt/erp/Doc_Library/2023-02-23-HA-DEA-USGS-Hilo-Research-Facility.pdf If you wish to receive a CD copy, please submit a written request to USGS-Hilo-HVO-PIERC@hhf.com. Please send comments to: USGS-Hilo-HVO-PIERC@hhf.com, with a copy to the USGS at: jsizemore@usgs.gov As an alternative to email, comments postmarked by March 28, 2023, may be sent via USPS to Jordan D. Sizemore (contact info below). ---- Attend the open house on March 15, 2023 ---- USGS invites the public to an informal Open House on March 15, 2023, from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm, at USGS Hilo – Iron Works building located at 1266 Kamehameha Ave C, Hilo, HI 96720. USGS Science Center and Project Team members will be present to share more about the project and answer questions. Copies of the EA, exhibits with project illustrations, and information will be available for viewing and discussions. This is an informal opportunity for the public to discuss the project with USGS representatives and to learn more about the proposed building and the work USGS does.