A developer hoping to turn a test well into a production well received approval of the Hawaii County Department of Water Supply, despite a national park official's concern that the well could damage park resources, West Hawaii Today reported.

Lanihau Properties LLC completed its final environmental assessment to convert Palani Well No. 1 to a production well. The well will be dedicated to the water department, which ruled Oct. 6 that the well had no significant environmental impact.

Kaloko-Honokohau National Historic Park Superintendent Geraldine Bell disagreed, and asked that the developer be required to complete an environmental impact statement on the project.

Bell wrote that there was a "lack of analysis of the direct and cumulative effects of the proposed action on cultural uses of groundwater and groundwater-dependent resources within Kaloko-Honokohau National Historic Park, particularly in regard to the fishponds, anchialine pools and marine resources located within the national park."

She was concerned that changes in salinity would have a negative impact on the park's ponds and insects, fish and birds.

The test well is about 1,700 feet above sea level, along a Palani Ranch road. The project would include the well, a pump control building, fencing, access road improvements, a 1-million gallon reservoir and a 12-inch transmission line along the access road to connect to an existing 16-inch water main on Mamalahoa Highway. The well would add up to 1.6 million gallons per day to the department's North Kona service area.