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

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to be anonymous about the proposed development. Overwhelmingly, they are in opposition to increasing the density of lots in this SMA, and have provided additional information which may help the Commissioners in their decision. The Commissioners may be interested to know that a potential buyer was told that eight of these Nīnole oceanfront lots would be ready for market in three to four months. In the huge slide behind the Nīnole Post Office about ten years ago, some 30 feet reaching in from the edge of the cliff unexpectedly collapsed into the ocean. The slide extended across several properties including mine less than .3 miles from the proposed subdivision. There is no reason to believe that the cliff on the subject property is more stable, and even a 60-foot setback from the cliff might suddenly be halved. Drivers through the three Hāmākua horseshoes on Highway 19 are witness to the constant and sometimes dramatic crumbling of the lava rock walls, despite the best efforts of the Highway Department. Although long time ago, local memory has it that abandoned railroad junk, tracks, trucks, large machinery, and other dirty materials, were used to fill the lower portions of the subject property. Remaining unseen and almost forgotten, these create a weak foundation for further fill, increasingly already unpredictable land structure of the Hāmākua Coast. Geohazards report on the project noted cliff slides occurring in “low lying areas, apparently the sites of permeable artificial fill materials and soil.” The report also notes that allowing water to seep through the old fill should be avoided. Hāmākua soil and lava beds are considered to be highly permeable by the United States Geological Service, allowing pollutants to easily drain down to the ocean and water table. The old garage and chemical dumping site located behind the service station is remembered by old timers as being particularly nasty and was heavily used for years, adding to the toxic load of the property. This area was not cleaned or tested when the gasoline tanks were removed. If disturbed in the wrong way, the filth will spread. Construction debris at the time of the renovation of the plantation houses on the site was observed being pushed into the streambed. Although legal for Nīnole construction at this time, Hawai‛i Department of Health is seeking to make new cesspools illegal within 750 feet of the shoreline. The Department of Health website notes that “cesspools are little more than holes in the ground that discharge raw, untreated human waste. Cesspools can contaminate groundwater, drinking water sources, streams [and] oceans with disease-causing pathogens, algae-causing nutrients, and other harmful substances.” The SMA guidelines require protection of the ocean and environment. Food gathering areas, i.e. the actively fished shoreline below the property need extra protection. Seeping from seven new cesspools in addition to what may already be leaching into the ocean from the site is certainly worthy of an environmental impact investigation. On behalf of many Nīnole residents, including those who eat from our shore, I ask the Applicant do the pono thing, fully testing for and mitigating the hazards already on the site, reduce the size of the project, and exceed the existing requirements for protecting this SMA environment. Thank you. MIYASATO: Commissioners, any questions? Thank you. Mr. Banks. 8 EXHIBIT A