21-04-28 EMC minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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water R-1 distribution pipeline from the Kealakehe WWTP plant will hook up to the harbor intersection R-1 stubout pipe. It’s in the project planning design status right now. Vice Chair Gaffney asked if he meant that it’s not part of the funded North Kona pump, but it is in the long-term planning. Deputy Chief Takamura clarified that there are two projects going on simultaneously: the North Kona SPS and the R-1 distribution design projects. In the R-1 distribution project’s design scope there is a R-1 distribution pipeline running along Queen Ka‘ahumanu Highway, and also the force main to hook up the North Kona SPS to Kealakehe WWTP. Vice Chair Gaffney’s other question is that given that the process seems to be moving forward do we have a sense of a timeline? Director Mansour said it was driven by a grant award. We have received a letter from the U.S. Economic Development Administration telling us that it is under consideration, so hopefully we can get the entire grant amount of $19.2 million, roughly. If we get the grant, at least we have the environmental assessment complete so we could start jumping into constructing the connection. So it’s really contingent on the funding source. In a meeting with staff the previous day to follow up with the funding agency to ask them to give us a hint as to when we should expect to get a letter, so we are going to keep in touch with that department. The whole concept of moving forward with this project is the funding. If the funding is not going to happen then we need to start looking at other options to be able to fund this project, and start meeting with the communities and the developers to find ways to construct that segment. But let’s hope that we get the grant. Keep your fingers crossed and hopefully our staff will be successful in working to secure that fund. Vice Chair Gaffney asked whether the environmental assessment that was announced includes the return line. Deputy Chief Takamura said the pipeline to which he referred is in the EIS for the R-1 project. Vice Chair Gaffney’s last question related to U.S. Rep. Kaiali‘i Kahele collecting wastewater projects he wants to champion as part of the President’s infrastructure plan. Is this project on Rep. Kahele’s list yet, and if not, can someone do that outreach to get it started? Clearly he is interested in wastewater issues and wants us to submit a list of projects. Director Mansour said we sent a priority list to his office, and it was based on a limit of $1 million, so this project does not fit with that parameter. Wastewater Division Chief Dora Beck said she did give a list to Rep. Kahele, and the pump station force main project was included in there. She was advised to submit the whole list. 22