2019-05-22 Meeting Minutes (EMC)

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Motion amended and seconded: Vice Chair Olson moved to create a subcommittee to formulate a monitoring program for the R-1 treatment process, and Commissioner Pequeño seconded the motion. Discussion: Chair Bennett said the subcommittee could study whether the plans are congruent with the EMC’s hopes. The public assertion has been made that the two components are going to reduce the nutrients by 90%, and a monitoring system should be developed that will track that to make sure they’re in the ballpark. If they’re not in the ballpark, adjustments will be needed. He wants to make sure there is a mechanism in place to detect if the system is not functioning properly. He called for a vote. Vote: All commissioners voted aye. 6. REPORTS/CORRESPONDENCE a. Chair’s report on pharmaceutical and personal care products (PPCPs) in wastewater and the effects of treatments for their removal. Chair Bennett said the subject of PPCPs in wastewater has been gaining global attention, as some of the chemicals have potentially profound effects on the environment. At the same time, it is scientifically impossible to look at the vast list of different chemicals and definitively state what is going on. He has been advising people that until such a time as one or two of the chemicals emerge as a significant threat, they need to be patient and not run around saying everything needs to be measured. Encouraging data is showing that most of the chemicals are nearly 100% degraded in the wastewater treatment process. b. Director’s Informational Report. Director Kucharski welcomed Dr. John Burns as a new commissioner and thanked him for answering the call to serve the community. • Status of the proposed Pāhala and Nāālehu Wastewater Treatment Plants: ʻThere have been some changes with the EPA’s cross-cutting requirements that are related to the use of State Revolving Funds. SRF funds are federal funds given to the state, which the state then gives to the counties at a very low interest rate. Most of DEM’s infrastructure projects are funded through SRFs, including the Pāhala and Nāālehu WWTPs. There is a ʻnew requirement that if federal funds are going to be involved, the historical review has to be completed before any intrusive investigations can be done. The State Historical Preservation Division (SHPD) has been taking a long time to do these reviews because they, like DEM, are under a shortage of personnel. The Pāhala EA cannot be completed until the SHPD review is done and approval is given. The project schedules are being pushed back because of this. 7