2021-07-28 EMC minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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5źƭĭǒƭƭźƚƓʹ No discussion. ƚƷĻʹ The minutes were approved as presented by voice vote. Ayes: 6 (Adams, Burns, Fulton, Gaffney, McIntosh, Robinson); Nays 0; Absent 3 (Cardwell, Hoopii, Olson). Motion carried. 3. STATEMENT FROM THE CHAIR Chair Adams hoped members are having a good summer. She appreciated the input she had received from the public and wanted to continue to encourage participation, but also to have the general practice of looking for solutions and being positive and constructive in the comments that are made. We are all struggling to get done what we need to get done with the resources available to us, and it helps if we can work together. 4. PUBLIC STATEMENTS ON ITEMS ON THE AGENDA Sandra Demoruelle: -2(c) regarding the Pahala large major changes to the project plans, going from a technology of open lagoons for disposal to mechanized treatment alternatives with subsurface drip irrigation. This major change of plans requires the mayor, who was the accepting authority, to consider whether a supplemental assessment is needed, and to publish notice of that decision in The Environmental Notice of the Office of Environmental Quality Control. Attached is a sample of the notice required by this Page 5 the County has said the EPA is making a decision. But EPA has its own set of rules. They are federal rules, and NEPA, the National Environmental Policy Act. And in my opinion and in the opinion of many legal scholars, NEPA is not as strong as the Hawaii Environmental Policy Act. This presents a golden opportunity to us all to do a new environmental assessment to consider this drip alternative in the 25 acres of old growth macadamia orchard. Instead of pulling up the 20-foot trees, we can just do drip underneath the ground and not have to disturb the plants that are already there. So I see this as a golden opportunity to look at things again with new eyes. So thank you for considering my concerns about the need for a new environmental assessment or supplement of some sort, or at least notification of whether they are going to do one or not. Thank you. Jerome Warren-2(c), and this is Report 4-1(B) on Page 6. The Nlehu sewer project deadline is 2023. Your informational report said 2027 and this happened last month too. To get the truth, you must look at the EPA website. There you will find the semi-annual update that the County submits to the EPA. This report is not on the County website. This item is not signed by the Director. Please boondoggle cost over again. I am in contact with the EPA and will answer any questions. Thank you. 2