MEDIA RELEASE

The Public Land Development Corporation (PLDC) will hold statewide public hearings, starting Monday Aug. 20, for adoption of new Hawaii Administrative Rules (HAR) for the PLDC. Some provisions may affect small business.

Lloyd Haraguchi, Executive Director for the PLDC, stated: “The upcoming public hearings are an opportunity to inform the public about the PLDC’s mission, objectives and priorities. We welcome public participation and encourage individuals to utilize this opportunity.”

The proposed adoption of a new Chapter 13-301, HAR, Practice and Procedure establishes operating procedures for the PLDC.

It contains general provisions relating to the office location and hours, board meetings, and delegation of authority to the Executive Director; and sets forth procedures for proceedings before the board, contested case hearings, declaratory rulings, and petitions for amendment, adoption, or repeal of administrative rules.

Proposed adoption of a new Chapter13-302, HAR, Public Land Development Program sets forth a procedure for the PLDC to initiate, by itself or with qualified persons, or enter into cooperative agreements with qualified persons for the development or financing of projects that make optimal use of public land for the economic, environmental, and social benefit of the people of Hawaii.

Proposed adoption of a new Chapter 13-303, HAR, Project Facility Program establishes a procedure for undertaking and financing any project facility as part of a project.

Project facilities include improvements, roads and streets, utility and service corridors, utility lines, water and irrigation systems, lighting systems, security systems, sanitary sewerage systems, and other community facilities where applicable.

Public hearings will take place from 6 to 8 p.m. at the following times and locations:

* HILO: Monday, Aug. 20, at Waiakea High School Cafeteria, 155 West Kawili St., Hilo, HI 96720;

* KONA: Tuesday, Aug. 21, at Konawaena High School Cafeteria, 81-1043 Konawaena School Rd., Kealakekua, HI 96750;

* MAUI: Friday, Aug. 24, at Maui Waena Intermediate School Cafeteria, 795 Onehe‘e St., Kahului, HI 96732;

* MOLOKAI: Monday, Aug. 27, at Mitchell Pau‘ole Community Center, 90 Ainoa St., Kaunakakai, HI 96748;

* OAHU: Wednesday, Aug. 29, at Dept. of Land and Natural Resources, Kalanimoku Building, Land Board Conference Room132, 1151 Punchbowl St., Honolulu, HI 96813; and

* KAUAI: Friday, Aug. 31, at Elsie H. Wilcox Elementary School, 4319 Hardy St., Lihue, HI 96766.

All interested persons are urged to attend the public hearing to present relevant information and individual opinion for PLDC to consider.

Persons unable to attend or wishing to present additional comments may e-mail comments to randal.y.ikeda@hawaii.gov or postmark written testimony by Friday, Sept. 14, 2012 to: PLDC, PO Box 2359, Honolulu, HI 96804.

More information on the PLDC is available at www.hawaii.gov/dlnr/pldc.

Copies of the proposed rules change are available on-line at http://hawaii.gov/dlnr/pldc/rules.

Copies for public review are available Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., at No. 1 Capitol District, 250 S. Hotel St., Room 501, Honolulu, HI 96813.

The public may make written request for a mailed copy by indicating mailing address in correspondence sent to the PLDC address in the preceding paragraph.

Any person requiring a special accommodation (i.e. large print materials, sign language interpreters) should make a request in writing to the PLDC address in the preceding paragraph or by calling 587-0393 (V/T). The request will need to be received at least seven days before the hearing date.

The Public Land Development Corporation is a state entity created by the Legislature in 2011 to develop state lands and generate revenues for the Department of Land and Natural Resources.

Through public-private partnerships, the corporation aims to attract private companies as joint partners in development opportunities.

The corporation was formed after the Legislature passed Senate Bill 1555 which was signed into law as Act 55 by Governor Neil Abercrombie. The corporation is governed by a five-member board of directors.

Executive director is Lloyd Haraguchi. Three state agencies are represented on the board either by its director or their designee. The agencies include the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism; the Department of Budget and Finance; and the Department of Land and Natural Resources.

One member is appointed by the speaker of the House of Representatives, and one member is appointed by the Senate president.