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[2:06] PRESENTATIONS <br />6(a) Overview and discussion on the Department of Environmental <br />Management, including updates on wastewater, green waste and recycling, trash <br />issues, by Ramzi Mansour, Director, Department of Environmental Management. <br />(Presentation on File) <br />Pahala and Na`alehu Wastewater Treatment Negotiations <br />Comments: EPA negotiations continue regarding federal compliance with <br />"Large Capacity Cesspools" aka "Gang Cesspools"; the County has provided EPA <br />solutions on these two communities inherited from C. Brewer. Federal compliance <br />must be met or hefty fines by the EPA will be assessed. The state compliance <br />standards to be met by 2050. The county will move forward with incentives/ideas <br />to fast -track the conversion. <br />Comm. Kusch Interested in the model of the Kapehu Subdivision wastewater <br />treatment system. The model is a small-scale aerobic system for approximately 30 <br />homes. <br />Cesspool Conversion - Comments ,,, Comm. Obenski - Additional explanation of <br />cesspool conversion systems on properties less than 10,000 square foot and the <br />integration of an added septic tank, using the existing cesspool as a vertical leach <br />field. Homeowners would need state variances - which the state is on board with <br />as there is no other recourse. <br />[2:40] Hilo Wastewater Plant Status Update- The maintenance on the Hilo wastewater <br />plant is moving forward --- with the bid out estimated by March 2023. Delays are <br />from a backlog on materials and the high price of construction. <br />Q/A: Comm. Konowicz --What are the costs to resolve the deferred maintenance? <br />$700 million - $1 billion to get the facility up to date, with additional costs to <br />expand the customer base; an estimated $175 - $200 million for Hilo alone. <br />Expenses are borne by the taxpayers with Department of Environmental <br />Management pursuing Grants (small), funding through the State Revolving Fund <br />(through revolving low interest loans), and Federal funding. <br />Septic Conversion - Q/A: Comm. Konowicz - Where is the material from Yd <br />party septic tank pumping directed? The material is goes into the county <br />wastewater system, a drying process and then buried in the county landfill. <br />[2:41 ] Abandoned Vehicles- Q/A: Comm. Obenski - Is there a system / business model <br />similar to the mainland whereby a company purchases intact vehicles and sells for <br />parts rather than our current island model of abandoning vehicles and dismantled <br />them on side -of -road? No - Big Island Scrap metal just purchased a shredder. Each <br />legislative session, DEM works with the legislature to submit bills addressing <br />various ways to hold owners responsible for the costs of disposal. In keeping with <br />the annual fees residents pays, one idea was to levy a fee on vehicles coming onto <br />the island more than 10 years old - to cover costs of eventual disposal. <br />[2:50] Tire Dumping - Q/A:Comm Kusch - Most items have a point of source cost for <br />eventual disposal fees. The money collected stays with the retailer to dispose or <br />goes to state fund .- the state determines the amount counties receive for the disposal <br />E-Waste (EV Batteries) / Solar Panels- QIA: Chair Konowicz - E-waste of EV <br />batteries and/or solar panels will ramp up as the county moves toward green energy. <br />Is there a disposal plan for this extra e-waste? The county has a contract with a <br />Hazard Waste Collection Company from O'ahu to manage the disposal of hazard <br />waste twice a year, at an annual cost of $50K. Our current contract has ended with <br />state funds limited to $89K. Funding to start again beginning of the fiscal year - <br />July 2022. <br />