KTIWG November 2022 Planning Meeting Notes

Kalaupapa Transition Interagency Working Group (KTIWG) Planning Meeting

Thursday, November 10, 2022
9:00 AM
MS Teams Meeting

1. Introductions

Agency	Participant name	Participant title
DHHL	Shelly Carreira Nancy McPherson	Land Agent, Planner
DLNR	Russell Sparks	Education Specialist, Division of Aquatic Resources (DAR)
DOH	Michael Casey Baron Chan Sara Beth Newell Kenneth Seamon Glenn Wasserman, MD Danette Wong-Tomiyasu	Planner, Hansen’s Disease Branch Chief, Hansen’s Disease Branch Administrative Officer, Hansen's Disease Branch Kalaupapa Administrator Chief, Comm. Disease & Pub. Health Nursing Division Deputy Director, Health Resources
DOT	Hannah Hays Brian Kamimoto Lynette Kawaoka Traci Lum Herman Tuiolosega	Airports Division, Planner Assistant Airport Superintendent Airports Division, Planner Airports Division, Planner Airports Division, Planner
Maui County	Stacy Crivello	Offie of the Mayor. Community Liaison
NPS	Nancy Holman George Turnbull	Superintendent, Kalaupapa National Historic Park Contractor
DOI/NHR

2. Review/Edit/Approve Group’s Previous Draft Meeting Notes

Meeting notes were reviewed prior to meeting and posted to NPS website:
https://www.nps.gov/kala/getinvolved/ktiwg-8-11-22.htm

3. Discussion - Updates from Transition Group

NPS – National Park Service

Park Website

The park website (www.nps.gov/kala) is currently being re-organized in order to make information more readily available to the public.

Public Engagement

The park has initiated formal 106 consultation with Native Hawaiian Organizations (NHOs) and consulting parties, as well as held public information meetings, on several topics including:

• October 24 –electrical grid rehabilitation.
  • Project is in last stages (pre-design) – expect to select contractor soon.
  • There will be one more opportunity for NHOs and the public to engage prior to final design. This will take place when the selected contractor completes the final design.
• October 26 – fence rehabilitation project.
  • This project is still in early stages.
• UPCOMING – Consultation and public meetings on the proposed fuel farm are expected to begin in Spring 2023

Information on all projects will always be available on PEPC website https://parkplanning.nps.gov/. Staff will continue to explore ways to upgrade/better use the Kalaupapa NHP website - https://www.nps.gov/kala/getinvolved/planning.htm - to communicate with the public about projects.

Reopening the Park

Three pieces are being worked on:

1. Working with DOH regarding COVID mitigations and impact on patient residents.
2. Awaiting a written Department of the Interior (DOI) solicitor opinion on how to permit tour operations and commercial services.
3. Awaiting further discussions with the R.W. Meyers Ltd regarding trail access across their property.

Building Workshop: Historic Structure Management

In August 2022, NPS hosted a meeting at the park with key partners (DHHL, DOH, Historic Hawaii Foundation) to re-engage in discussions regarding preservation of historic structures in the park. The meeting provided opportunities for partners to share thoughts and be on-site to see actual structures and preservation activities/techniques “on the ground”. It is anticipated that the group will continue discussion and efforts on a list of actions developed through the meeting.

Park Staffing

The park continues in its efforts to fill several critical vacancies. These include:

• Facilities Management Program Lead
• Deputy Superintendent
• Administrative Support Assistant
• Cultural Resources Program Lead

There are many barriers to recruit/retain staff, so the park is looking at “creative ways” to fill critical positions.

Kalaupapa Memorial

The park (and DOH) continue to work with Ka Ohana to fulfill the federal legislative mandate of Memorial construction. A project matrix was jointly developed in 2014 by NPS, Ka Ohana and DLNR that outlines all of the requirements for the project and has served as a “roadmap”. This document should guide the project’s progress going forward.

DOH – Department of Health

Visitor permits

DOH provided an update on visitor permit policies:

• Revised guidelines have been drafted for DOH Administrative review/approval but are not yet complete.
• “Service workers” performing important work can still be sponsored by government organizations to do work in Kalaupapa, but re-opening to public tours is not anticipated in near future.
• More visits from “political” groups might be anticipated.

Dr. Wasserman - Retirement

Glenn Wasserman (MD, MPH), the Department’s long-time Chief of the Communicable Disease & Public Health Nursing Division, announced that he will be retiring at the end of December 2022. About 7 years ago, Dr. Wasserman began organizing these regular transition discussions among the various government agencies that work in Kalaupapa. He expressed his appreciation for the positive environment that was created by all of the individuals and agencies that have participated during his tenure. His participation and insights will be greatly missed on many levels.

Regular meetings between DOH-DHHL in 2023

In addition to regularly scheduled quarterly Inter-Agency meetings, DHHL-DOH staff will be scheduling regular (probably quarterly) meetings to focus on necessary discussions regarding Kalaupapa. The first meeting was held in November 2021.

Mutual Aid Agreement – Adding NPS to Existing Agreement

A revised Mutual aid agreement involving DOH, NPS and Maui County remains at State Attorney General’s office for review. DOH understands that the upcoming change of Maui County Mayor may require further review and work with the new administration (including the new Corporation Counsel) since the draft Mutual Aid Agreement has not yet been signed.

Electrical System

A document related to NPS’ electrical grid rehabilitation project is also at the Attorney General’s office for review. This is a letter to HECO requesting that they consider taking over ownership of the system or agreeing to a long-term management agreement for the maintenance of the system. The letter would be signed by the DOH Director (DOH being the state agency assigned as “owner” of the system).

• NPS mentioned that it seems apparent from all of their recent interactions that HECO is not interested in assuming ownership, but that they will be discussing potential for a long-term management agreement.
• NPS estimates that several repairs to the system will likely need to be done over the coming two years. A big concern is how to maintain the system before the rehabilitation is complete with the upcoming project. The NPS is exploring options for a maintenance contract.
• Currently, NPS is managing repairs/diagnostics through contracted services with several vendors. There is a current situation in which NPS staff from Yosemite NPS will be onsite to assess the situation and help with some repairs.

Telephone Service

Problems continue with telephone landline service Settlement-wide. Hawaiian Telcom staff was in the Settlement this month to discuss at a community meeting. They have identified that a mismatch between topside system (digital technology) and Settlement system (analog technology) results in ongoing problems. A large-scale re-installation of communications equipment is likely to present issues of jurisdiction (Who owns? Who is customer?) and financing (How does DOH pay for services and repairs?). DHHL, NPS and DOH will need to coordinate on strategies for a longer-term solution.

CIP Funding

The Legislature approved funding for 3 projects that are anticipated to begin during this fiscal year. DOH’s ASO Capital Improvement Project Coordinator will be DOH lead working with DAGS to begin/complete the projects:

• Construction & Demolition (C&D) landfill closure.
  • This will fulfill response to a 2002 consent agreement mandating closures.
• Building renovations.
  • The bulk of this project is expected to address needed roof repairs at the care home and warehouse.
  • Depending on expenses for roofing repairs, excess funds (not expected to be a large amount) can be allocated to other required repairs on DOH-controlled assets.
• Underground storage tank assessment and removal plan to be prepared.
• Funding will be used to select a contractor to assess tanks, confirm the “as-built” construction (e.g., single wall vs. double wall) and confirm presence of “interstitial monitoring system.”
• Based on this assessment, the contractor will develop a plan for either a) needed upgrades, or b) tank removal in order to comply with:
  • Fed/State rules – EPA requirements state that tanks are required to have “interstitial monitoring” by 2028.
  • State law – tanks are not permitted/allowed to operate w/in 100 yds of shoreline by 2045.

In the coming 2023 Legislative session, the Branch is proposing two new CIP projects regarding Kalaupapa:

• Provide new cover for MSW landfill.
• Conduct lead/asbestos abatement of structures.

Kalaupapa Memorial

DOH, designated as the state agency to expend the Legislatively appropriated funds has requested:

• release of funds from Governor (not yet released/received).
• approval from SPO for use of sole source procurement method (not yet received).

DOH expects further review/questions from Budget & Finance before receiving approval to proceed with a contract process.

Once funds are released and sole source approval received, DOH will require update from Ka Ohana regarding specifics on their plans, budget and timelines for construction in order to figure out how to structure a sole source contract.

DHHL – Department of Hawaii Home Lands

Kalaupapa Beneficiary Working Group

Staff has been meeting with the beneficiary group re: General Lease with NPS and responding to their questions about lease terms. They will request approval from DOH to conduct in-person meetings at the Settlement with beneficiaries that are residents of Kalaupapa (prior to their meetings with beneficiaries topside). To date, DHHL consultations have not included discussions with beneficiaries that live in Kalaupapa. This is important in order to determine DHHL’s approach for further consultations.

• DOH reminded DHHL that revised visitor guidelines are currently being reviewed by DOH and review/approval is not yet complete, but likely will be soon.
• DHHL can request arrivals to participate in the next Community meeting (tentatively scheduled for Tuesday, December 13). If DOH approves revised visitor guidelines, DOH Kalaupapa Administration office can work with DHHL on approvals.

Telecommunications System in Kalaupapa

In light of the challenges DOH is having with Hawaiian Tel phone system, DHHL wants to remind that they are in ongoing discussions with Hawaiian Tel regarding statewide services for DHHL properties. DHHL is also aware that one of the ongoing challenges at Kalaupapa is uncertainty re: access to current utility pole and equipment located on Meyer property topside.

DOT – Department of Transportation

Request to Install Satellite Dish at Airport

An email request was submitted to the park by DOT earlier regarding review/comment on the potential installation of a satellite dish on the airport maintenance shed. The purpose is to improve internet connectivity for DOT staff at the airport.

• NPS Superintendent asked DOT to submit the installation plan to her office for review to determine what needs to be done and whether the State Historic Preservation Division (SHPD) needs to be consulted.

Update on NPS-DOT Cooperative Agreement

A question was asked by DOT staff regarding the status of the draft Cooperative Agreement between NPS and DOT. NPS responded that the draft agreement is under review by NPS staff in the Regional Office. DOH noted that its Cooperative Agreement with NPS is set to expire in 2024. NPS responded that the agreements are very similar, and the regional review of the DOT agreement should facilitate a quicker review of the DOH agreement.

Animal Control

Deer mitigation/animal control is an ongoing issue in the park. USDA is coordinating with NPS (through DOT) on deer mitigation survey efforts at the airport. NPS continues to manage animal control in the Settlement. The biggest challenge is that management of existing numbers of deer (and pigs) will likely require a large cull. This will result in a need to deal with a large number of carcasses. Field dressing would not work for a large quantity of carcasses and the old carcass pit is now closed as part of C&D landfill closure. The park is exploring other options.

DLNR – Department of Land and Natural Resources

Marine Resources Management

DLNR had no specific Kalaupapa updates but asked that if any future consultations are planned that might touch on marine resources, please include DLNR/Department of Aquatic Resources in the process if opportunity arises.

• DLNR is working closely with NPS staff on a planned lobster population assessment for summer 2023.
• DOT asked for further discussion at some point regarding how salt gathering near the airport will be regulated and how regulations will be enforced after transition.

COM – County of Maui

With the new Mayoral Administration, outgoing Mayor Victorino’s administration will encourage the new Mayor to stay involved with the Kalaupapa transition group as a means of staying informed about County/island of Molokai issues. NPS and DOH were encouraged to expedite processing of the revised Mutual Aid Agreement prior to the transition of Mayors. The new administration (Mayor and Corporation Counsel) will want to re-review the idea and details of Mutual Aid modification. This could cause additional delays or require starting all over.