Soil Investigation at Gas Storage Site

Arcadis News Release

Arcadis U.S., Inc (Arcadis) will be completing a site investigation project on behalf of Chevron Environmental Management Company at the Kaunakakai Terminal, scheduled tentatively for Feb. 22 to April 9, 2021. A non-invasive investigation of PAR Hawaii’s Kaunakakai Bulk Storage Facility was requested by the Hawaii State Department of Health Hazard Evaluation and Emergency Response division to understand the impact of petroleum in the soil.

The site falls within a special management area (Permit #SM6 2020/0002) and includes potential cultural and archaeological assets present in the subsurface, prompting the desire for a non-intrusive investigation. The project will be performed at the empty lots on 125 Kaunakakai Place and 28 Beach Place (privately owned), along the Kaunakakai Place right-of-way (owned by the Hawaii State Department of Transportation), and in the northeastern portion of Malama Cultural Park (owned by the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands).

Work along the Kaunakakai Place right-of-way will be performed under a Permit to Work Upon State Highways, and work at Malama Cultural Park will be performed in compliance with DHHL’s Limited Right of Entry Permit. Arcadis plans to exclude an area of land once used as King Kamehameha V’s holiday home from investigation activities. An archaeological monitor will assist Arcadis during work hours throughout the investigation.

Arcadis will begin by removing vegetation in the work areas and then completing a geophysical survey to locate underground utilities and potential locations of petroleum in the soil. Arcadis will monitor the soil for petroleum vapors, and then will install carbon dioxide flux traps to monitor carbon dioxide levels in the soil. After the initial installation during the week of March 22, Arcadis will be off-site until returning to remove the carbon traps the week of April 5.

Approximate work hours will be Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., and work along the Kaunakakai Place right-of-way will be limited to 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Traffic signage and barricades will be placed along Kaunakakai Place and the intersecting roads around the work area, but no lane closures will be necessary.

Questions or requests for public documents may be directed to Lauren Cruz (Hawaii Department of Health) at (808) 586-0956.