2019-05-22 Meeting Minutes (EMC)

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ocean. This raises issues relative to the court decision about Maui’s injection wells. Maui County is considering pulling out of the appeal, so the issue will not go to the Supreme Court. - Director Kucharski said he believes that even if Maui County pulls out of the case, there are other parties with standing and an appeal would go forward. Chair Bennett said the Ninth Circuit Court ruling is the law today. • The state DOH has no experience regulating SAT ponds, and the monitoring details are not provided in the EIS. It is his view they need to talk about how to best monitor something that is largely an experiment. • The waters off the Kona Coast are listed as impaired, which means they need special management. The EPA requires this, but the state is not doing it. • There are several potential users for the R-1 water irrigation plan. However, the users will have to do the math to account for the nutrients in the reclaimed water so they do not add fertilizer when it is not needed. Irrigation requires professional management. • Salty wastewater is a threat, as most sewers leak, and salty water will harm the plants irrigated with it. Sewer lines based on the vacuum system should be built, as leaks are detected almost instantly. • The price for healthy oceans is eternal vigilance. Chair Bennett finished his presentation at 9:43 a.m. 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF APRIL 24, 2019 Motion and second: Commissioner Gaffney moved to approve the minutes, and Vice Chair Olson seconded the motion. Discussion: Commissioner Pequeño said he wanted a change made on page 2, in the last sentence under item 4a, to add the word “likely” regarding HB 444, so that it would read: “It is likely being used as a bargaining chip.” Motion, second, and vote: Commissioner Gaffney moved to approve the minutes as amended, Vice Chair Olson seconded the motion, and all commissioners voted aye. 3. STATEMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC ON AGENDA ITEMS There were no statements from the public. 3