Maui Alien Species Action Plan – “ASAP”

1. Maui Alien Species Action Plan – “ASAP” 2005 Pacific Aviation Directors Workshop “Enhancing Partnership in Aviation Safety & Infrastructure Development” April 5, 2005 Lyle Wong, Hawaii Department of Agriculture

2. The ASAP • Has “standing” • Part of the FAA “Record of Decision” (ROD) approving the Maui EIS for Kahului Airport improvements • Federal & state agencies have an obligation to implement the plan under a signed MOU in the ROD • The ASAP is specific to Kahului Airport

3. The ASAP • List actions and activities to be accomplished prior to airport improvements. • Is “prescriptive” in obligating specific actions and activities • Can be changed based on pest risk assessment • Generally viewed as “onerous” by airlines

4. Chronology of Events • 1982 HDOT completes Master Plan • 1988/89 Airport development plan completed – Interisland and forecast overseas • 1989 Environmental Assessment (EA) proposed • 1991 Court stipulation – EIS required • 1992 EIS completed - State approved Litigation

5. Chronology of Events • 1993 New Kahului Airport Master Plan Runway extension, fuel storage, others • 1993 Dept. of Interior, National Parks asks to be cooperating agency in new EIS • 1994 FAA denies DOI, NPS Request Endangered Species Concerns raised – purview DOI, Fish & Wildlife Service

6. Chronology of Events • 1996 EIS drafted Concerns raised regarding Federally listed endangered species Biological Assessment Team (BAT) convened Mitigation measures identified • 1997 USFW issues a “No Jeopardy Biological Opinion” with mitigation measures

7. Chronology of Events • 1997 Federal and state agencies begin work on acceptable plan of action: Council of Environmental Quality (CEQ) FAA Dept. of Interior, National Park Service USDA State Dept. of Agriculture State Dept. of Land and Natural Resources Public and private agencies

8. Chronology of Events • 1998 FAA Judge approves EIS, incorporates MOU and ASAP in Record of Decision • 2000 Airlines give notice, will pull out of ASAP as unfairly identifying the airlines as the problem • 2000/01 Maui Pest Risk Assessment Funded by FAA - $300,000

9. Chronology of Events • 2005 Maui Planning Commission approves permits: Alien Species Inspection Facility Air cargo facility Timeline: 1982 - 2005

11. Protecting Hawaii’s… Agricultural and horticultural industries Animal and public health Environment Natural resources

12. MRA Inspection Activities • Passenger surveillance at planeside • Baggage surveillance and inspection on ramp, staging, and baggage claim areas • Detector dog clearance of baggage in baggage claim • Cargo inspection

13. Flight Arrivals

14. Passenger Surveillance Declaration forms are reviewed, and passengers are watched upon deplaning.

15. Baggage Clearance Incoming baggage is monitored, with agricultural items inspected.

16. Detector Dog Inspection Detector dog teams search for undeclared fruits and other items.

17. Air Cargo Inspection Inspectors check incoming cargo for pests.

18. Agricultural items include:

19. Interisland Air Inspection Air carriers are monitored for the interisland movement of agricultural items that may be harboring pests.

20. Findings (2000-2001): • During the seven 3 to 4 week blitzes between Sept 2000 to July 2001, a total of 1,897 commercial flights were inspected. • The risk of pest introduction through baggage, passengers, and aircraft cabins and holds was low.

21. Findings (2000-2001): • Cargo was identified as a high risk pathway for the entry of pests into Maui. A total of 1,401 insect interceptions were made on agricultural commodities. 279 different species were intercepted, of which 125 were “NKO”

22. Maui Risk Assessment November 2003 • The purpose was to evaluate new technology to increase efficiency. • Inspectors were trained on the new Invicta database.

23. Maui Risk Assessment May and July 2004 • We continued to track the seasonality of pests and were able to quickly destroy infested commodities.

24. Maui Risk Assessment May and July 2004: Preliminary Findings: • Organically grown leafy greens continued to be a high risk commodity.

25. Maui Risk Assessment May and July 2004: Preliminary Findings: • From one box of organically grown red leaf lettuce: Found about 30-35 different species of leafhoppers, aphids, lacewings, beetles, ants, thrips, plant bugs, loopers, spiders, and wasps, of which at least 18 “NKO”

26. Maui Risk Assessment May and July2004: Preliminary Findings: • High Risk Commodities: • Lettuce, Red leaf • Lettuce, Green leaf • Cabbage, kale • Cabbage, chard • Strawberries • Wax flowers

27. Current status: Positions • 9 DOT-funded Inspector positions, of which 5 is vacant. • Worked with Personnel Dept. to change the minimum qualifications which will open it up to more applicants. • Working with Maui Community College so required classes are available. • Worked with DHRD to develop media campaign for recruitment of people on Maui.

28. Current status: ASAP Inspection Building • Received approval from the Maui Department of Planning for the Special Management Area Permit for the construction of the Alien Species Inspection Facility and Interior Modifications to the Existing United and American Warehouse (cargo) Buildings.

29. Next Steps: HISC Prevention Projects • HDOA will be conducting statewide risk assessments for the Hawaii Invasive Species Council (HISC).

30. Next Steps: HISC Prevention Projects • Risk assessments will include: • Maritime studies to assess the pest risk on imported goods shipped via maritime vessels. • Risk assessment on a specific pest: Solenopsis invicta, red imported fire ant

31. Next Steps: HISC Prevention Projects • Risk assessment on imported goods from foreign countries • Risk assessment on propagative plant materials and cut-flowers • Risk assessment on pests moving between islands with emphasis on Coqui frog, nettle caterpillar and little fire ant

32. Interisland Movement of Pests will focus on: • Description of the pathway • Treatments for shipping nursery products • The merging of applied research with practical applications • Analysis of current regulatory system • Linkage with federal, state, county agencies and with private sectors to address the interisland pathway of pests.