2012-11-28 Minutes Environmental Management Commission

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dangerous, noting that the cost of an injury claim could outweigh the repair /upgrade cost. She thanked the Solid Waste Division (SWD) for working with VCA toward potential solutions. Sher Glass, President of the VCA, spoke in support of upgrading the VTS and her wish that it was open daily or on weekends. Pat Conant supports the TVS upgrade and requested more chutes, covered recycling area and making the repairs in phases. Jeffrey Mermel, a 36 -year resident of Volcano and past President of the VCA, gave the history timeline of Volcano recycling and use of the transfer station from 1990 to 2012. He asked that two numbers be remembered: - "Five" for 5 years ago. In 2007, the VCA received a letter from the SWD indicating that the VTS was in the top priority group of transfer stations for repair /enhancements when budget was available. - "50" for the miles having to be traveled by Volcano residents to the nearest recycling facility. He spoke of a petition that is being circulated to show support and asked that the county keep their promise to make the needed repairs. 5. CORRESPONDENCE /REPORTS/DISCUSSION: • Director's Report (attached to original minutes): Wastewater Division 1. Compliance: A. Treatment and Disposal - There is no operational impact while awaiting the NPDES permit for the Hilo Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP). There is ongoing communication between the department and Department of Health (DOH) and DOH has provided administrative approval to continue operations through the permitting process. 3. Administration: - Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) interim loan papers are being finalized for the Kealakehe Aeration Upgrade and Sludge Removal project in the amount of $12M. Replacing the existing blowers with centrifugal blowers is anticipated to produce an electrical savings of approximately $265,000 /year. Construction is to begin next year. 4. Wastewater Capital Improvements: - DOH has committed to a CWSRF loan for approximately $16M to upgrade the Kealakehe WWTP to provide approximately 500,000 gallons per day of R -1 reuse water and to install a transmission and a distribution reuse system to the Old Kailua Airport to be used for irrigation of the park. Once approved, construction could take an estimated one to three year to complete. Solid Waste Division 1. Compliance: - The draft operating permit application for the West Hawai'i Sanitary Landfill (WHSL) green waste processing site is expected to be approved before the end of November. 2. Administration: - Linda Peters, Recycling Coordinator, was nominated as the department's employee of the year. The commissioners congratulated Linda on her nomination. - DEM and the SWD will be initiating plans for an RFP for an Organics Diversion and Composting Program. 3. Solid Waste Capital Improvements- - The Hilo Baseyard Facility has been completed and a blessing ceremony was held on November 1, 2012.