Arthropods & Botanical Inventory Assessment (TPD0905008)

Recommendation 5: Oil spills and other contaminating events have occurred at observatories in the past. While these spills have always been contained immediately and have not resulted in serious ecological damage, care should be taken to avoid any spills. The Project staff and contractors should follow Federal guidelines specifying the use and disposal of oil, gasoline, dangerous chemicals, and other substances used during observatory construction and maintenance.

Recommendation 6: Contractors should minimize the amount of on-site paints, thinners, and solvents. Painting and construction equipment should not be cleaned on-site. Contractors should keep a log of hazardous materials brought on-site and report spills immediately to a designated Project representative and the proper authorities.

Recommendation 7: Construction trash containers should be tightly covered to prevent construction wastes from being dispersed by wind.

Recommendation 8: Construction materials stored at the site should be covered with tarps, or anchored in place, and not be susceptible to movement by wind.

Recommendation 9: If construction materials and trash are blown into habitat, they should be collected with a minimum of disturbance.

Recommendation 10: Option 3, developing the existing 4-wheel drive road as the Access Way, should be avoided because it disturbs, displaces, and isolates portions of Wēkiu bug habitat. It would likely require mitigation measures similar to those suggested for the Outrigger Telescopes project, such as habitat restoration in the Pu‘u Hau‘oki. Option 2 crosses marginal Wēkiu bug habitat and would likely have no significant impact on Wēkiu bugs, but may entail some mitigation. The ideal option from a biological resources view is Option 1. It disturbs a minimal amount of only marginal habitat.

Introduction of non-indigenous arthropods and plants should be avaoided – Non-indigenous arthropods can be a threat to native species that reside at or near the summit. Ants are especially threatening and their introduction should be strictly prevented. Introduced plants can change the microhabitat conditions if they become established, thereby facilitating the establishment of other non-indigenous species.

Recommendation 11: Earthmoving equipment should be free of large deposits of soil, dirt and vegetation debris that may harbor alien arthropods and weed seeds.

1.            Pressure-wash and/or otherwise remove alien arthropods and weed seeds from equipment and materials before moving them from lower elevations and up the Maunakea Access Road. This cleaning should be done in baseyards in Hilo or Waimea before continuing up Saddle Road.

2.            Inspect large trucks, tractors, and other heavy equipment before proceeding up Maunakea Access Road from Hale Pōhaku. Clean and wash as necessary prior to proceeding up to the summit area.

Recommendation 12: All construction materials, crates, shipping containers, packaging material, and observatory equipment should be free of alien arthropods when delivered to the summit.

1.            Inspect shipping crates, containers, and packing materials before shipment to Hawai‘i

2.            Inspect construction materials before transport to the summit area

Recommendation 13: Outdoor trash receptacles should be provided for ready disposal of lunch bags and wrappers. These receptacles should be secured to the ground, have attached lids and plastic liners, and be collected frequently to reduce food availability for alien predators.

Recommendation 14: The construction site and staging areas should be monitored to detect new introductions of non-indigenous arthropod and plant species. New alien arthropod and plant introductions detected during monitoring should be eradicated immediately.

1.            Ant eradication

2.            Yellowjacket eradication

3.            Alien spider eradication

4.            Weed eradication

(Continued)