B08_-_ATT_9_-_PMNM-2022-001_Seawall_Repair_Memo_To-File_0001.pdf

United States Department of the Interior

FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE

Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument 300 Ala Moana Blvd., Room 5-307

Box 50167 Honolulu, Hawaii 96850

January 22, 2021

Memorandum

To: File

From: Tammy Summers, Acting Refuge Manager, Midway Atoll National Wildlife

Refuge/Battle of Midway National Memorial

Subject: Henderson Field Runway Safety Area Seawall Repairs [2021-2025]

Pursuant to the provisions of the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument Permit, I approve the activity listed below on the Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge and the Battle of Midway National Memorial and concur with the Conservation and Management activity under the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument Permit issued to the Co-Trustees starting with 2021-001 for the next 5 years from January 22, 2021 to December 31, 2025:

1. U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE STAFF COVERED BY ACTIVITIES

DESCRIBED:

Midway Atoll NWR: Pamela Repp, Stephen Barclay, Tim Clark, Joseph Latsha, and Jonathan Plissner.

Refuges and Monuments: Jared Underwood, Amanda Boyd, Daniel Link, Cindy Rehkemper, Lee Ann Woodward, Kauoa Fraiola, Elyse Sachs, Amanda Pollock and LouAnn Speulda-Drews.

2. COLLABORATING USFWS CONTRACTORS COVERED BY ACTIVITIES

DESCRIBED:

Project onsite surveys and construction management: Brenna Hughes, and To Be Determined (TBD) P.N.D. Engineers, Inc.

Project Implementation: Defense Base Services, Inc. and TBD subcontractors.

Transportation Services: Century Aviation, ICM, HRG, and TBD, if any.

3. PROJECT PURPOSE OF ACTIVITIES DESCRIBED:

PMNM-2021-001

USFWS-NWRS ACTIVITIES UNDER PAPAHĀNAUMOKUĀKEA MANAGERS PERMIT

The Service and FAA are proposing to repair sections of the failed metal sheet pile seawall using armor rock on Sand Island, Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge to maintain functionality of Henderson Field Airport as an emergency runway for all twin-engine commercial jets traversing the Pacific. If the repair of the seawall is not made in the very near future, there is a risk that ocean waters may continue to remove sand and material away the island and the runway, essentially making Henderson Airfield unavailable for emergency landings.

The implementation plan will include PIFWO-recommended practices for protection of sensitive terrestrial species including albatross (Phoebastria) and Bonin petrel (Pterodroma hypoleuca); and marine species, including green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas) and Hawaiian monk seals (Monachus schauinslandi), which are occasionally seen offshore of the seawall. Coral translocation will occur prior to each repair effort. Impacts to other marine resources are anticipated to be no more than temporary displacement during construction. The administrative record will include a detailed biological assessment, which is still under review.

4. APPLICABLE MONUMENT MANAGEMENT PLAN ACTIVITIES:

Strategies to Achieve the Desired Outcome

• CFO-1: Conduct necessary site planning and infrastructure improvements to increase safety and enhance Monument field operations capacity over the life of the plan.

• CFO-2: Enhance interagency planning and coordination for field operations in support of Monument protection and management, and develop protocols and processes that will be utilized throughout the life of the plan.

• CFO-5: Rehabilitate critical utility systems and ailing structures and facilities at Midway Atoll within 5 to 15 years.

5. APPLICABLE PERMITTED ACTIVITY DESCRIPTION FROM CO-TRUSTEE

PERMIT PMNM-2016-001:

ENTRANCE

The permittees, their designated agency staff, contractors, and Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge residents necessary for permitted activities may enter Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument. All personnel must be identified and information provided to the Monument permit coordinators prior to each entry into the Monument. The permittees shall ensure that all personnel assigned to conduct conservation and management activities authorized under this permit are fully qualified to perform in the assigned role(s) and shall be limited to the scope of action set forth in this permit and all other applicable policies, protocols, permits, and regulations.

OPERATIONS

Operating field stations of the National Wildlife Refuge System (NWRS) and the State of Hawaii Kure Atoll State Wildlife Sanctuary, necessary for meeting mission and purposes of refuges and the Monument in support of on-site management and resource conservation including by not limited to:

a. Maintaining and repairing/replacing facilities and their components (e.g., carpentry, electrical, plumbing, welding, general construction);

b. Building and other facilities deconstruction and reconstruction;

c. Maintaining airport and airstrips, including improvements such as runway lighting replacement, taxiway maintenance (including repaving, and painting/marking);

Supporting and re-supplying field camps and field stations, including but not limited to, delivery and removal of supplies, people, waste, and/or assets necessary for operations.

Operating vessels to provide access for conservation and management activities. Authorized vessel operations shall include, but are not limited to:

a. Operating small boats for vessel maintenance and proficiency;

b. Anchoring of the authorized vessels on sandy substrate only, and all anchors must be lowered into place;

c. Discharging gray water outside of all Special Preservation Areas and the Midway Atoll

Special Management Area.

d. Discharging biodegradable solid waste associated with galley operations restricted to 3 nautical miles (ground to 1 inch in diameter) and 12 nautical miles (unground) outside of all Special Preservation Areas and the Midway Atoll Special Management Area.

Operating aircraft and airfields, including necessary maintenance and use of airfields and runways at Midway Atoll and Tern Island, French Frigate Shoals.

Conducting on-site reviews and operational evaluations including, but not limited to:

a. On-site reviews by management and congressional personnel;

b. Agency site visits and meetings for management planning and programmatic assessments; and

c. On-site management and safety reviews to gauge implementation and effectiveness of

Monument management and programs.

6. AREAS PROPOSED TO ACCESS:

Primary access to the Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge and Battle of Midway National Memorial.

If approved by the Refuge Manager, any islands within the Hawaiian Islands National Wildlife Refuge, if there is a need for support of a field station.

7. DATES PROPOSED TO ACCESS MIDWAY ATOLL NATIONAL WILDLIFE

REFUGE / PMNM:

Between January 22, 2021 to December 31, 2025:

Access aboard a USFWS maritime vessel:

• One barge deployment between August 1 to November 15, 2021;

• Two deployments per year within dates approved by the Refuge Manager for each project year;

Access aboard USFWS chartered aircraft:

• Approved personnel to access between August 1 and November 15 of each year.

8. PROPOSED ACTIVITIES – Sketch map if available (continue on another sheet if necessary):

Repairs to the seawall that protects the Henderson Field Runway Safety Area are expected to continue for the next 10 years. Attached is the programmatic permit project description, entitled as “Long Term Seawall Maintenance Program”. This program provides further details of the project.

Maps, if any, will be provided in approved work plans and federal permits per year until December 31, 2025.

9. TRANSPORTATION PLAN:

Access aboard a USFWS chartered maritime vessel:

• One deployment [up to 20 days] between August 1 to November 15, 2021 to deliver supplies and specialized heavy equipment and gear; followed by

• Up to two deployments [up to 20 days each] per year to resupply the project, and to deliver specialized heavy equipment and gear to support the project within dates approved by the Refuge Manager for each project year;

• Each deployment may include the transfer of aviation fuel in approved IMOs, and other needed supplies, gear and food, aboard the vessel to resupply the refuge;

• Each deployment will include a PMNM Compliance Information Sheet to list personnel, gear, hazmat; including the completion of rat inspection, hull inspection, and VMS verification; this assignment may be assigned to a contractor project manager;

• Each deployment above with a barge may utilize ballast water within the Midway Harbor, and discharge this water in the same location, in order to manipulate the trim and stability of the barge to execute offloading and loading of cargo, equipment, and supplies. The activity may occur for each deployment only with the same barge vessel, and must be approved by the PMNM hull inspector (NOAA or the State of Hawaii).

• Ballast water from any deployments listed above will not be discharged within any Special Preservation Areas or the Midway Atoll Special Management Area within the PMNM.

• Each deployment above may include returning household trash, recycling materials, collected marine debris, hazmat waste, and other industrial waste to Honolulu, Hawaii or other designated areas within the United States.

Access aboard USFWS chartered aircraft:

• TBD contractors and subcontractors to access the refuge between August 1-

November 15, 2021 to transfer and stage supplies and equipment from the vessel docked at the refuge to designated areas approved by the Refuge Manager;

• TBD contractors and subcontractors to access the refuge within dates approved by the Refuge Manager for each year to transfer and stage supplies and equipment from the vessel docked at the refuge to designated areas approved by the Refuge Manager;

• TBD Contractors and subcontractors approved by the Refuge Manager to access and complete the project directly on the refuge between August 1 and October 30.

• USFWS managers, scientists, and supporting staff to monitor the project;

• MMB and other federal agency personnel to observe the project;

• Approved MMB Resource Monitor(s) assigned to the project;

10. METHODS TO BE USED:

Attached is the programmatic permit project description, entitled as “Long Term Seawall Maintenance Program”. This program provides further details of the methods to be used. Once approved, the following additional documents to authorize the repair the seawall could be provided for the duration of this memo:

• Updated project plans;

• United States Army Corps of Engineers permits;

• USFWS/FAA NEPA review documents;

• Endangered Species Act, Section 7 consultations;

• Essential Fish Habitat Assessments;

• FWCA assessments

• NHPA Section 106 Historic Consultations

• Any additional documents, or permits, other than described above that authorizes this activity until December 31, 2025.

All supplies, armor rock, specialized heavy equipment, gear, hazmat, would be shipped from Hawaii, Alaska, Washington, Oregon or California to the PMNM aboard USFWS chartered maritime vessels that have undergone all PMNM vessel requirements, which are:

• Compliance Information Sheet

• De-Rat Certification for each deployment

• Hull Inspection

• VMS Verification by NOAA OLE

• PMNM Pre-Access Briefings at Midway Atoll NWR

If the above materials are to be shipped to Midway Atoll from other locations within the United States, that information will be provided on the Compliance Information Sheet for each deployment. All above materials will be staged on the refuge as approved by the Refuge Manager; and all unused supplies, equipment, and recycling materials will be removed from the refuge with approval by the Refuge Manager.

All personnel involved with the overall project shall abide by the terms and stipulations of each Co-Trustee permit, including all assigned Best Management Practices, and reporting requirements of the Co-Trustee permit. All personnel will receive PMNM Pre- Access Briefings, and the Midway Atoll NWR and Battle of Midway National Memorial Briefings before commencing work on the project.

11. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

This original five-year [expires on December 31, 2025] Memo-To-File (original memo) is an appendix to the Conservation and Management Permit #PMNM-2021- 001 issued to the Co-Trustees. This memo authorizes the activities to initiate the repair of the seawall at Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge.

This original memo includes projected deployments for access into the PMNM and project outcomes to complete the activity at Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge.

As such, subsequent memos to this original memo will be provided by the Service to document future project activities described herein to be covered under a future Co- Trustee permit. Subsequent memos would be brief and would provide any updates by the Refuge Manager. The first subsequent memo would be issued in 2022 and the last in 2025.

Each subsequent memo would include:

1. Citation of this original memo as [PMNM-2021-001-Seawall Repairs];

2. All updated permits and documents listed in Items #9 and 10 above, if any are provided and approved.

12. CONFIRMATION:

Pursuit to the Co-Trustee permit, activities under this permit may be conducted only after any other permits or authorizations necessary to conduct the activities have been obtained. As such, the USFWS will have in file all approved documents listed in Item #10 above to authorize the activity.

13. WOULD SPECIMENS BE TAKEN OUT OF THE MONUMENT? Please explain:

No.

14. ANNUAL REPORTS:

For this original memo and subsequent memos the Service or its Contractor would provide annual reports as stipulated in the Co-Trustee permit, General Terms and Conditions, Item #22.