EIS released for proposed dairy ADVERTISING EIS released for proposed dairy LIHUE, Kauai (AP) — Hawaii Dairy Farms says its planned operation on Kauai will serve as a model for sustainable agriculture and won’t have a negative impact on the
EIS released for proposed dairy
LIHUE, Kauai (AP) — Hawaii Dairy Farms says its planned operation on Kauai will serve as a model for sustainable agriculture and won’t have a negative impact on the environment or surrounding community.
HDF released its draft environmental impact statement for the dairy in Mahaulepu on Wednesday. Kauai County already approved the dairy’s $7 million building permit in 2014, but HDF spokeswoman Amy Hennessey said the dairy decided to conduct an environmental evaluation to address residents’ concerns.
“We promised the community of Kauai that we would prepare a DEIS for Hawaii Diary Farms, not because we have to, but because it is the right thing to do to help answer community questions,” Hennessey said.
The report says cows will be allowed to roam freely across hundreds of acres of pasture and measures were established to prevent the release of large amounts of runoff, including growing thick thatches of pasture grass to serve as what Hennessey called “an organic net.”
The 557-acre dairy is expected to produce roughly 1.5 million gallons of fresh milk annually and create 11 full-time jobs and 36 construction jobs.
The draft environmental impact statement is open for public comment for a 45-day period.
Deputy arrested for alleged sex assault
HONOLULU (AP) — A deputy sheriff is under arrest on suspicion of sexual assault.
The state Department of Public Safety says Honolulu police arrested him Wednesday.
He was the second Hawaii law enforcement officer arrested for alleged sexual assault that day. An off-duty Honolulu Police Department officer was arrested on suspicion of first-degree sexual assault.
Honolulu police said HPD Officer Jessie Laconsay was found Wednesday on Oahu’s North Shore and taken to a hospital for non-life threatening injuries following his arrest.
Phone calls seeking comment from the department and the union that represents its officers were not immediately returned.
Public Safety spokeswoman Toni Schwartz said the department will conduct an internal administrative investigation in connection with the deputy arrested. She says the department also will monitor the police’s criminal investigation.
The sheriff’s deputy has been with the department since 2001. Schwartz said he’s assigned to the warrants section.
