The Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks is urging the EPA to fully approve Hawai’i’s Regional Haze Plan, designed to protect the air and views in the state’s national parks. According to a letter sent by the Coalition, “the state of Hawaiʻi submitted a robust regional haze plan revision to the EPA in August 2024, inclusive of strong recommendations made by the National Park Service during multiple required consultation communications.”
The Regional Haze Rule calls for state and federal agencies to work together to improve visibility in 156 national parks and wilderness areas. The rule requires participating states to develop and implement air quality protection plans to reduce the pollution that causes visibility impairment.
The EPA is currently proposing to partially disapprove and partially approve Hawai’i’s plan, taking issue with the voluntary retirement of six boiler units at the Kanoelehua-Hill and Kahului Generating Stations, and an option to shut down or install controls at several diesel engine generators at the Maalaea Generating Station, as well as a fuel switch at the Puna Power Plant.
According to the Coalition, “Hawaiian Electric Company (Hawaiian Electric) agreed to these requirements, so the state included them as federally enforceable in the SIP, in accordance with EPA’s own guidance issued on multiple occasions.” However, the EPA “now claims the retirement deadlines for the Kanoelehua-Hill, Kahului and Maalaea plants in the SIP are ‘forced’ and ‘unconsented’ based on a letter sent to EPA from Hawaiian Electric after Hawaiʻi submitted its SIP to EPA.
The Coalition notes that “by relying on Hawaiian Electric’s unsupported claims in the late-submitted letter to partially disapprove Hawaiʻi’s SIP, EPA is opening a loophole for facilities to entirely evade compliance with the Regional Haze Program.”
If the Regional Haze Plan is not approved, the Coalition warns that the pollution generated will continue to impair national park views and air quality. “This level of pollution already impairs scenic park views and will continue to harm unique national parks like Hawaiʻi Volcanoes and Haleakalā while also negatively affecting the health of nearby communities,” states the letter.
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