Rendering of the planned Feeds Research and Pilot Production Facility, courtesy Draft EA document
HILO, Hawaii – A Draft Environmental Assessment has been published for a new Feeds Research and Pilot Production Facility to be constructed at the University of Hawai‘i at Hilo’s Farm Laboratory at the Pana‘ewa Agricultural Park.
The Oceanic Institute of Hawai‘i Pacific University is proposing the facility, which will be the only one of its kind in the U.S. Pacific Region.
The document states there is a “provisional finding that there would be no significant environmental impacts” from the project.
From the document:
The Feeds Research and Pilot Production Facility (Feeds Facility) would be used to research and develop aquatic and terrestrial livestock feeds for Hawai‘i’s aquaculture and animal agriculture industries. The proposed Feeds Facility would explore the use of local ingredients and bi-products such as kukui nut, algae, coconut, as well as slaughterhouse and seafood processing wastes and other items to generate aquatic and terrestrial animal nutrition on a commercial-scale.
Beyond exploring local ingredient formulas, the proposed Feeds Facility would test production methods for commercial quantities using U.S. manufactured processing equipment. Such technology and products would also be used in demonstrations and exhibitions at the Facility. While the Feeds Facility would experiment and test the production of feeds at a “commercialscale,” it would not be a commercial facility. It would be a research facility operated by OI.
Funding for construction would primarily come from federal and state grants provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), the Hawai‘i State Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR), and the Hawai‘i State Department of Agriculture (HDA). Due to the involvement of federal funds, this project must comply with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). Due to the use of State funding and State land, this project must also comply with HRS Chapter 343, the Hawai‘i Environmental Policy Act (HEPA).Draft Draft Environmental Assessment
Map shows where the project would be situated in the Pana’ewa Ag Park.
by Big Island Video News
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STORY SUMMARY
HILO, Hawaii – A Draft Environmental Assessment has been published for a new Feeds Research and Pilot Production Facility to be constructed at the University of Hawai‘i at Hilo’s Farm Laboratory at the Pana‘ewa Agricultural Park. The Oceanic Institute of Hawai‘i Pacific University is proposing the facility, which will be the only one of its […]