Maui Alien Species Action Plan – “ASAP”

2005 Pacific Aviation Directors Workshop“Enhancing Partnership in Aviation Safety &

Infrastructure Development”April 5, 2005

Lyle Wong, Hawaii Department of Agriculture

The ASAP

Has “standing”

Part of the FAA “Record of Decision” (ROD) approving the Maui EIS for Kahului Airport improvements

Federal & state agencies have an obligation to implement the plan under a signed MOU in the ROD

The ASAP is specific to Kahului Airport

The ASAP

List actions and activities to be accomplished prior to airport improvements.

Is “prescriptive” in obligating specific actions and activities

Can be changed based on pest risk assessment

Generally viewed as “onerous” by airlines

Chronology of Events

1982 HDOT completes Master Plan

1988/89 Airport development plan completed – Interisland and forecast overseas

1989 Environmental Assessment (EA) proposed

1991 Court stipulation – EIS required

1992 EIS completed - State approved Litigation

Chronology of Events

1993 New Kahului Airport Master PlanRunway extension, fuel storage,

others

1993 Dept. of Interior, National Parks asks to be cooperating agency in new EIS

1994 FAA denies DOI, NPS RequestEndangered Species Concerns

raised – purview DOI, Fish & Wildlife Service

Chronology of Events

1996 EIS draftedConcerns raised regarding

Federally listed endangered species

Biological Assessment Team (BAT) convened

Mitigation measures identified

1997 USFW issues a “No Jeopardy Biological Opinion” with mitigation

measures

Chronology of Events

1997 Federal and state agencies begin work on acceptable plan of action:Council of Environmental Quality (CEQ)FAADept. of Interior, National Park ServiceUSDAState Dept. of AgricultureState Dept. of Land and Natural

ResourcesPublic and private agencies

Chronology of Events

1998 FAA Judge approves EIS, incorporates MOU and ASAP in Record of

Decision

2000 Airlines give notice, will pull out of ASAP as unfairly identifying the airlines

as the problem

2000/01 Maui Pest Risk AssessmentFunded by FAA - $300,000

Chronology of Events

2005 Maui Planning Commission approves permits:

Alien Species Inspection FacilityAir cargo facility

Timeline: 1982 - 2005

Protecting Hawaii’s…Agricultural and horticultural industries

Animal and public health

Natural resources Environment

MRA Inspection Activities

Passenger surveillance at planeside Baggage surveillance and inspection on

ramp, staging, and baggage claim areas

Detector dog clearance of baggage in baggage claim

Cargo inspection

Flight Arrivals

Passenger Surveillance

Declaration forms are reviewed, andpassengers are watched upondeplaning.

Baggage Clearance

Incoming baggage is monitored,with agricultural items inspected.

Detector Dog Inspection

Detector dog teams search forundeclared fruits and other items.

Air Cargo Inspection

Inspectors check incomingcargo for pests.

Agricultural items include:

Interisland Air Inspection

Air carriers are monitored for the interisland movement ofagricultural items that may be harboring pests.

Findings (2000-2001):

During the seven 3 to 4 week blitzes between Sept 2000 to July 2001, a total of 1,897 commercial flights were inspected.

The risk of pest introduction through baggage, passengers, and aircraft cabins and holds was low.

Findings (2000-2001): Cargo was identified as a high risk

pathway for the entry of pests into Maui.

A total of 1,401 insect interceptions were made on agricultural commodities.

279 different species were intercepted, of which 125 were “NKO”

Maui Risk Assessment November 2003

The purpose was to evaluate new technology to increase efficiency.

Inspectors were trained on the new Invicta database.

Maui Risk Assessment May and July 2004

We continued to track the seasonality of pests and were able to quickly destroy infested commodities.

Maui Risk Assessment May and July 2004: Preliminary Findings:

Organically grown leafy greens continued to be a high risk commodity.

Maui Risk Assessment May and July 2004: Preliminary Findings:

From one box of organically grown red leaf lettuce:

Found about 30-35 different species of leafhoppers, aphids, lacewings, beetles, ants, thrips, plant bugs, loopers, spiders, and wasps, of which at least 18 “NKO”

Maui Risk Assessment May and July 2004: Preliminary Findings:

High Risk Commodities: Lettuce, Red leaf Lettuce, Green leaf Cabbage, kale Cabbage, chard Strawberries Wax flowers

Current status: Positions

9 DOT-funded Inspector positions, of which 5 is vacant.

Worked with Personnel Dept. to change the minimum qualifications which will open it up to more applicants.

Working with Maui Community College so required classes are available.

Worked with DHRD to develop media campaign for recruitment of people on Maui.

Current status: ASAP Inspection Building

Received approval from the Maui Department of Planning for the Special Management Area Permit for the construction of the Alien Species Inspection Facility and Interior Modifications to the Existing United and American Warehouse (cargo) Buildings.

Next Steps: HISC Prevention Projects

HDOA will be conducting statewide risk assessments for the Hawaii Invasive Species Council (HISC).

Next Steps: HISC Prevention Projects

Risk assessments will include:

Maritime studies to assess the pest risk on imported goods shipped via maritime vessels.

Risk assessment on a specific pest: Solenopsis invicta, red imported fire ant

Next Steps: HISC Prevention Projects

Risk assessment on imported goods from foreign countries

Risk assessment on propagative plant materials and cut-flowers

Risk assessment on pests moving between islands with emphasis on Coqui frog, nettle caterpillar and little fire ant

Interisland Movement of Pests will focus on:

Description of the pathway Treatments for shipping nursery products The merging of applied research with

practical applications Analysis of current regulatory system Linkage with federal, state, county

agencies and with private sectors to address the interisland pathway of pests.