2015-01-08 Hearing Transcript-Steven Schropshire _SMA 14-058_

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What happens to our property taxes and property values? Rental rates for post office box are based on property values, and Nīnole’s rental rates have already become higher than Laupāhoehoe’s. Is Nīnole really the seedy fringe of a ghetto as was stated at the last hearing? It could very well turn out by having the infamous honor of being called the town with the miracle mile along the Hāmākua Coast between the 19 and 20 mile markers. MIYASATO: Thank you. Commissioners, any questions? Mr. Nishimoto. NISHIMOTO R.: Good morning. My name is Dr. Robert Nishimoto, a life time resident of Nīnole, graduated from Florida State where we got whomped by the Oregon Ducks if you like college football, but anyway my testimony will focus on basically three issues. First, is the suspected contamination site south of the repair shop; “B” is a cesspool safety claim in one of the geological reports; and three, it’s a, it’s a basically a letter from Department of Health regarding the survey of arsenic on that property. First of all, I have for you on your desk, on your tabletop, a map for some guidance when I speak. They, the panel on the left is really from Google Earth that points out two buildings on that property. One is a service station, and the second one is auto repair shop which is on the south side of the property. And the second panel is, is if you see there’s some excavation not th really going on, that was done December 15, but excavation started way before that. I’d like to thank the Commissioners for giving me the time to review the article, excellent report, basically it was a removal of two 1,000 gallon tanks where 1.5 tons of soil were remediated responsibly. However, keep in mind that this site was only a 10 feet by 10 feet square site at the service station building if you look at your panel. The letter from DOH in 2005 said that no further remediation was necessary. However, please be aware that if further information reveals presence of contamination at the subject site then additional investigation and remedial action may be necessary. I have testified both in November and December that I worked there during the summer, and I was mandated and also have been witness to the almost daily disposal of used petroleum products on the south side of, of that building, if you look at the second panel. Again, unfortunately, somebody already did some digging, but I’d like to remind you that during my job, the whole back side was like a squishy sponge, basically walking through a bed of oil. I’d like to recommend that they do a thorough study because it really becomes a public health safety issue. My second point is Exhibit 7, Engineering Feasibility Study by Atlas Engineering dated March 21, 2014. I’d like to refer you to Page 2, Wastewater, second paragraph. I’d like to paraphrase—even though the property is adjacent to the ocean, wastewater would enter the cesspool would be sufficiently treated long before reaching the ocean or water table. That is patently false, and I have here three publication from a journal called Marine Pollution Bulletin. I will, I will submit it to the Planning Department which shows that there is—you can trace cesspool directly from the, the basically high nitrogen from the cesspool down to the reef, so I will submit this as part of my testimony. 6 EXHIBIT A