2002-01-22 Enviromental Management Commission Minutes

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Minutes for Tuesday, January 22, 2002Page 2 of 5 and the consultant and submitted comments on the EA directly related to potential impacts of the transfer station and the old dump. Infrastructure costs are going to be substantial. DHHL will probably have to develop a water source such as a well and dedicate that to the County. Wastewater will become an issue. Jon Olson mentioned that on the County web site was a $6M appropriation being asked for of the state legislature for the Closure of the Hilo Landfill to create a dirty MRF to operate as a large receiving station with elevated refuse dump sites and a capability to repack refuse in special trailers. The Hilo Landfill will close in 30 months. Mr. Olson is concerned that we seem to have reached the conclusion that recycling, reuse and diversion at the transfer stations will have no significant impact on that closure date. Focusing the $6M simply on bringing it all to a new dumping site, repackaging it, and re-transporting it. That will eventually facilitate some kind of smoke stack conclusion. We know that the transportation issue is going to a political issue. There has been no substantive discussion of the impacts of this measure. Mr. Olson would like further discussion on the outcomes of this. Councilman Curtis Tyler spoke about a report in the newspaper regarding the Mayor’s Wish List. It was reported that at the top of the Mayor’s list was a $6M request to the legislature to develop a transfer station/storage area for transport. It mentioned that this was the first stage of the Integrated Solid Waste Management Plan which is under review. This is a high priority item because of the mandated closure of the Hilo Landfill. Sounds like we are back to the old long haul provision. Mr. Tyler wondered why we would be spending $6M to build a transfer station when, in fact, we really need to find a long term solution, not a short term solution. The role of the Environmental Management Commission seems to be one that is not being considered or one that is somehow being over stepped. Mr. Tyler also discussed his memo to Carolyn Witcher Re: the Proposed Sewer Improvement District to the north. In this memo, he outlined his three concerns re: the proposed districts which are covered by the attached resolution. Mr. Tyler’s legislative assistant had requested an opinion from the Office of the Corporation Counsel on 8/14/01 in connection with another water improvement district and only received a response recently. The Land Use Commission is considering the various memoranda as to their final decision. 4.APPROVAL OF ADDENDUM AND/OR SUPPLEMENTAL AGENDA None. 5.REPORTS/CORRESPONDENCE Director’s Report  As circulated. Approximate closure of the South Hilo Landfill and implementation of the ISWMP will cost approximately $1M. $1M is for feasibility analysis, conceptual plan, site selection, permitting, environmental assessment, and final design. $6M is for construction. Steve Cassulo stated that Waste Management is making the same amount of money no matter what amount of trash goes in to Pu‘uanahulu. Solid Waste Division Chief’s Report (Including Update on HOVE Transfer Station)  Larry Capellas discussed the HOVE Transfer Station. Wants the association to be part of the process of choosing the site. The Association promised to go to a realtor and get some listings of properties on the market. The Association was given some parameters as far as square footage, location, and access. If there is no response from the Association by 2/15/02, we will proceed without them. We need a Transfer Station facility before we close the landfill. Recommending that we should go with a Pre-Notice of a Request for Proposal in national magazines. Disaster Debris Action Manual was requested by the State with some money tied into it for reimbursing of part of our costs. It is part of a state wide program in which every county is involved in emergency preparedness. The State of Hawai‘i Department of Health and Civil Defense have the final review. file://C:\Test1\minutes012202.htm6/22/2011