NOTICE OF SECTION 401 WATER QUALITY CERTIFICATION APPLICATION AND CLEAN WATER BRANCH TENTATIVE DETERMINATION FOR THE
CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW BOAT RAMP AND REPAIR TO AN EXISTING
BOAT RAMP AT KIKIAOLA SMALL BOAT HARBOR, FILE NO. WQC1098
DOCKET NO. WQC1098
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD
July 24, 2025 – August 22, 2025
The Hawaii Department of Health (DOH), Clean Water Branch (CWB) tentatively recommends to the Director of Health (Director) to issue a Clean Water Act (CWA), Section 401 Water Quality Certification (WQC) to regulate and impose water pollution control requirements on the construction of a new boat ramp, repair to an existing boat ramp, and construct two (2) new floating docks at Kikiaola Small Boat Harbor (SBH), Island of Kauai, Hawaii. The project will be subject to compliance with applicable requirements authorized under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act (CWA, 33 U.S.C. 1344).
The Applicant’s information is as follows:
Applicant: State of Hawaii, Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR), Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation (DOBOR)
Contact: Mr. Finn McCall, Chief of Engineering Branch
4 Sand Island Access Road, Honolulu, Hawaii 96819
Phone: (808) 587-3250
E-mail: finn.d.mccall@hawaii.gov
The DLNR-DOBOR proposes constructing a new boat ramp, performing a minor repair to an existing boat ramp, and construct two (2) new floating docks located within the Kikiaola SBH. The project aims to improve harbor operations, increase resiliency against sea level rise, and expand access to offshore recreational resources along the western and southwestern shores of Kauai. The project is needed because the limited capacity of the existing facilities can result in substantial wait times for those wishing to access the nearby offshore recreational resources. The project will not increase the number of boats launching from Kikiaola SBH because a DLNR-issued permit is needed to use the boat ramp, and the DLNR will not be increasing the number of permits available. The discharge activity is primarily the placement of materials necessary to build the proposed boat ramp and minor repairs to the existing boat ramp. It will include the placement of backfill, precast concrete, cast-in-place underwater concrete, and other inert materials. The dredge spoils will be dewatered in a nearby area and managed to prevent runoff and the dewatered effluent from flowing into state surface waters. The other potential discharge is stormwater runoff from the adjacent upland work area. Best Management Practices (BMPs) will be implemented and functional before any discharge activities occur.
The receiving State water, Kikiaola SBH, is classified by the DOH as “Marine Water, Class A, Embayment.” It is the objective of Class A waters that their use for recreational purposes and aesthetic enjoyment be protected. Any other use shall be
permitted as long as it is compatible with the protection and propagation of fish, shellfish, and wildlife, and with recreation in and on these waters.
Based on an evaluation of the Section 401 WQC Application, the supporting information, which is relevant to water quality considerations, and when all applicable requirements contained in Hawaii Revised Statutes (HRS), Chapter 342D; Hawaii Administrative Rules (HAR), Chapters 11-53 and 11-54 are fully complied with, there is a reasonable assurance that the discharges resulting from the proposed construction activities will be conducted in a manner which will not violate the applicable water quality standards and will comply with the applicable provisions of CWA, Sections 301, 302, 303, 306, and 307.
Copies of the application and other information on file are available for public inspection, Monday through Friday (excluding holidays) from 7:45 a.m. until 4:15 p.m., at the DOH Clean Water Branch office located at 2827 Waimano Home Road, Room 225, Pearl City, Hawaii 96782. The application and other information is also available online at:
https://health.hawaii.gov/cwb/clean-water-branch-home-page/public-notices-and-updates/.
Persons wishing to comment upon the tentative determination or request a public hearing should submit their comments or request in writing no later than 30 calendar days from the date of this notice either through E-mail at cleanwaterbranch@doh.hawaii.gov or by mail to P.O. Box 3378, Honolulu, Hawaii 96801-3378.
For more information or if you have special needs due to disability that will aid you in inspecting and/or commenting on the public notice Section 401 WQC and related information, please contact Mr. Reef Migita, Supervisor of the Engineering Section, at the above address or (808) 586-4309 (Voice) as soon as possible before the end of the comment period. For those who use a TTY/TDD, please call Sprint Relay Hawaii, at 1-711 or 1-877-447-5991.
All written comments and requests received on time will be considered. If the Director determines that there is a significant public interest, a public hearing may be held after at least 30 calendar days of public notice.
Please notify anyone you know who would be interested in this matter.
DARRYL LUM, P.E.
Clean Water Branch Chief
(SA1499097 7/24/25)
