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4 description of the human environment, potential ... - Lee Altenberg

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Final Environmental Impact Statement<br />

water and sewer infrastructure) include activity associated with <strong>human</strong> habitation, and<br />

natural sources, such as wind, rain, and birds.<br />

Currently, existing traffic noise levels along Highway south <strong>of</strong> Maui Meadows in<br />

<strong>the</strong> immediate vicinity <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Property do not exceed U.S. Federal Highway Administration<br />

(FHWA) or State DOT noise standards for residential structures. However, existing traffic<br />

noise levels at two residences adjacent north <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <br />

Highway/Okalani Drive/Mikioi Place currently exceed State DOT noise standards for<br />

residential structures.<br />

Some existing residences makai <strong>of</strong> presently benefit from <strong>the</strong> noise<br />

shielding effects <strong>of</strong> walls which have been constructed along <strong>the</strong> lot boundary lines.<br />

Residences in <strong>the</strong> Maui Meadows subdivision on <strong>the</strong> mauka side <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> highway benefit<br />

from <strong>the</strong> noise shielding effect <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> large highway cuts. In general, if <strong>the</strong> visual lines <strong>of</strong><br />

sight between <strong>the</strong> residences are blocked by <strong>the</strong> walls or <strong>the</strong> highway cuts, residences<br />

experience lower traffic noise levels due to <strong>the</strong> sound attenuation effects <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

obstructions.<br />

Along Wailea Ike Drive existing traffic noise levels do not exceed <strong>the</strong> FHWA or DOT<br />

noise standards for residential structures at Wailea Ekolu Village, which is located on <strong>the</strong><br />

south side <strong>of</strong> Wailea Ike Drive. Existing traffic noise levels from Wailea Ike Drive also do<br />

not exceed FHWA and DOT noise standards for commercial buildings.<br />

POTENTIAL IMPACTS AND MITIGATION MEASURES<br />

Potential impacts on <strong>the</strong> ambient quality <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> site and surrounding area due to <strong>the</strong><br />

, <strong>the</strong> widening <strong>of</strong> Piÿilani Highway, <strong>the</strong> Wailea Alanui Drive<br />

intersection improvements, and <strong>the</strong> <strong>of</strong>f-site water and wastewater infrastructure, are<br />

primarily limited to short-term construction activity and, in <strong>the</strong> long-term, increases in<br />

traffic and <strong>human</strong> activity within <strong>the</strong> community.<br />

Short-term Impacts During construction <strong>of</strong> Honuaÿula, <strong>the</strong> widening <strong>of</strong> Piÿilani<br />

Highway, <strong>the</strong> Wailea Ike Drive and Wailea Alanui Drive intersection improvements, and<br />

<strong>the</strong> <strong>of</strong>f-site water and wastewater infrastructure <strong>the</strong>re will likely be noise impacts<br />

associated with operation <strong>of</strong> heavy construction machinery, paving equipment, and<br />

material transport vehicles, and possible blasting to break or dislodge rock. As an<br />

alternative to blasting, <strong>the</strong> use <strong>of</strong> chemical expansion to break or dislodge rock will be<br />

considered. Chemical demolition agents are non-toxic and provide <strong>environment</strong>allyfriendly,<br />

safe, controlled demolition. Expansive powers are mixed with water and poured<br />

into pre-drilled holes in rock. The non-explosive demolition agent swells and exerts<br />

significant expansive thrust on <strong>the</strong> hole-wall. After a certain period, <strong>the</strong> pressure induced<br />

by <strong>the</strong> chemical non-explosive demolition agent fractures <strong>the</strong> wall and splits <strong>the</strong> rock<br />

across <strong>the</strong> line <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> drill holes. These chemicals easily split and fracture mass rock<br />

without producing any noise or vibration.<br />

CHAPTER 4 DESCRIPTION OF THE HUMAN ENVIRONMENT, POTENTIAL IMPACTS, AND MITIGATION MEASURES<br />

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