An environmental assessment for the county’s Voluntary Housing Buyout Program has determined that the project will have no significant impact on the environment.
The county published a “Tier 1” environmental review for the buyout program on March 27 as part of a multi-stage assessment of the federally funded project, which allows owners of land impacted by the 2018 Kilauea eruption to have the county buy their property from them for up to $230,000.
The Tier 1 review examined the general project area in lower Puna. A future Tier 2 assessment will look at specific lots once those sites that have been granted a buyout have been identified.
According to a county statement, a public comment period on the Tier 1 review will extend until April 11.
After that period ends, the county will request the release of money from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development — which awarded the project $107 million in Community Development Block Grant funds — to proceed with the acquisition of eligible properties, after which the Tier 2 review will be conducted.