Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS) for Hawaiian Monk Seal Recovery Actions
Mailing List
If you would like to receive project updates and newsletters, please send an email to: monkseal@noaa.gov with "Subscribe" in the subject line.
Project Documents
Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center Permit Application
Draft Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement
Scoping Summary Report and Appendices [pdf]
Hawaiian Monk Seal
(Monachus schauinslandi)
Photo: NOAA Pacific Islands
Fisheries Science Center
Hawaiian Monk Seal
(Monachus schauinslandi)
Photo: NOAA Pacific Islands
Fisheries Science Center
Permit Application
The NOAA Fisheries Pacific Island Fisheries Science Center has applied for a Marine Mammal Protection Act/ Endangered Species Act permit to conduct scientific research and enhancement activities on endangered Hawaiian monk seals. The permit application is available for review and comment through April 15, 2013.
Community Meetings
NOAA Fisheries Service and Pacific Legacy, Inc., held a series of community meetings seeking community input on potential adverse effects to historic or traditional cultural properties (such as archaeological sites), as well as information on potential impacts to cultural resources and practices (such as fish ponds and fish pond operation) that may result from implementation of actions proposed in the Draft Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS) for Hawaiian Monk Seal Recovery.
The purpose of these meetings was to gather input and consult with interested parties for the preparation of a Cultural Impact Assessment and compliance with the National Historic Preservation Action Section 106 for the Hawaiian Monk Seal Recovery Actions PEIS. A list of meeting dates and times [pdf] is available on our website.
Comments on the Draft PEIS
The Draft Hawaiian Monk Seal Recovery Actions PEIS comment period closed on October 17, 2011.
A Comment Analysis Report will be available with the Final PEIS. Comments received after October 17 are not included in the Comment Analysis Report.
During the comment period, public hearings were held from September 12-17, 2011 to give the public an opportunity to comment on the Draft PEIS. Handouts at the hearings included:
- Comment sheet [pdf]
- FAQs [pdf]
- Open house insert [pdf]
- Overview and guidance packet [pdf]
- Summary impact table [pdf]
- Project newsletters (see below)
Project Newsletters
Two project newsletters have been published and are available online:
The second newsletter [pdf] was published in August 2011 and provides information about the:
- proposed action
- programmatic alternatives
- public hearings
The first project newsletter [pdf], distributed in October 2010, provides information about the:
- public scoping meetings
- purpose and need for the action
- PEIS process
Notice of Intent and Scoping
On October 1, 2010, NOAA Fisheries provided public notice that it is preparing a PEIS to assess the impacts of implementing specific management actions and administering a research and enhancement program to improve survival of Hawaiian monk seals. Please read the first newsletter [pdf] for more information regarding the PEIS process.
From October 21-26, 2010, NOAA Fisheries hosted public meetings on Oahu, Hawaii, Maui, Molokai, and Kauai. The scoping period ended on November 30, 2010 and 139 comments were received. These comments are summarized in the Scoping Summary Report [pdf].
Steps in the NEPA Process
More Information
- Hawaiian monk seal management
- Hawaiian monk seal research and enhancement
- Hawaiian monk seal species information
- National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)
Questions? Email: monkseal@noaa.gov.
Updated: March 1, 2013
