Developers of a proposed Kauai dairy cow farm will start with a small herd in response to environmental concerns.
On Friday, Hawaii Dairy Farms announced a two-step approach for its 578-acre farm in Mahaulepu Valley. The first phase will use 650 to 699 cows to demonstrate the viability of the operation and allow time to establish the pastures, according to Kyle Datta, general partner of investor Ulupono Initiative. In the second phase the farm expects full operation with 2,000 cows.
A full-scale operation, Datta said, will take some time.
Amy Hennessey, spokeswoman of Ulupono and Hawaii Dairy Farms, said, "It was always our intention to move forward in a phased approach. We’re starting smaller, and we’re going to move forward from there."
Concerns were raised from the community and neighboring properties about odor and pollutants and how it would affect public health and the environment. There were concerns that up to 2,000 cows would show up at the same time, said Datta.
"We are listening to community concerns," he said.
The Department of Health is reviewing the farm’s revised draft waste management plan. According to Hawaii Dairy Farms, a design has been presented that includes the following improvements:
» Ponds to contain manure captured at the milking barn have been expanded to exceed regulatory compliance with an additional 100 days of storage capacity for the first phase.
» An emergency containment berm and spillway has been added beyond the regulatory compliance with capacity for about 30 days.
» Trees will be planted along the wind pattern of the effluent ponds to help mitigate odor.
» Periodic water quality monitoring will be conducted to assess nutrient management and conservation practices.
» Setbacks have been expanded 50 feet to ensure protection from runoff into water resources, including a neighboring taro farm.
Carl Imparato, executive committee member of the Kauai Group of the Sierra Club-Hawaii Chapter, said he has yet to review the management plan. Any party that claims to want to manage land properly should voluntarily do an environmental-like assessment to ensure they are doing the right thing and allow the public to make the judgment as well, he said.
"It’s doing things in the right order," he said.
A lawsuit against the farm by Kawailoa Development Inc., owner of the Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort & Spa and the Poipu Bay Golf Course, which is within three miles of the proposed dairy site, seeks to stop development of the project and calls for the dairy farm to conduct an environmental assessment. The lawsuit alleges odor from the dairy farm would diminish the quality and value of the properties and pose a health risk to employees and guests.
Kawailoa representatives could not be reached for comment on the farm’s modified plan.
Datta said farm officials are disappointed with the suit. In a news release he said the application for an animal feeding operation does not require an environmental assessment. To require an assessment of all small-scale animal operations across the state would be financially devastating, said Datta.
"We don’t believe that family farms with animals should be ‘collateral damage’ in this resort’s attempt to establish an unnecessary buffer zone around reclassified agricultural lands. We care about all agriculture and the right of the people who live in Hawaii to have fresh, affordable and nutritious local food."
EBay founder Pierre Omidyar’s Ulupono Initiative is providing $17.5 million for the project.
To review the Hawaii Dairy Farm’s draft waste management plan, go to hawaiidairyfarms.com.
