2018-04-25 Meeting Minutes (EMC)

Home

7. COMMISSIONERS’ DISTRICT UPDATE REPORTS AND ISSUES Chair Bennett reminded the commissioners to let him know a couple of weeks before the next meeting if they wanted anything placed on the next agenda, so they would be consistent with the Sunshine Law. Regarding the proposed Nāālehu wastewater treatmenʻt plant, he reported that he was invited and did attend the first talk story session. He met with the consultants for a couple of hours before the session and learned things about the region and the project. He has been talking to people in the area for years and has walked various properties. The consultants encouraged him to drive through the neighborhood that is slated to be connected to the treatment plant. The area has significant challenges because of the way the existing sewer pipes were run through properties. At the session he attended, he felt the consultants did a good job of setting the tone. They could have done a better job of making clear that the drawings they were showing were not the final plan, that it was still in the process of being figured out. They could have said this is the current proposal and it is not finalized. However, they did a good job of listening to the residents. Many people who saw the boards mistakenly thought the decision was already made. Commissioner Osborne asked Chair Bennett if he had any concerns about the location by a school, and he responded that there is a potential for nuisance. However, there is a lot of data to suggest that there is not a potential for aerosol disease transmission. People who are employed in sewage treatment plants do not have a higher incidence of disease than the general population. Treatment ponds, from his point of view, do not constitute a significant uncontrolled public health risk. The aerosolization of wastewater is not a major route for transmission of disease agents. It is always a concern, but it is not a huge concern. In terms of proximity, he does not know the answer on how far away it has to be before all potential from transmission is gone. Commissioner Osborne said it just makes her want to cry, and Chair Bennett told her to rest assured that he will be vigilant on the issue. If he sees any data that suggests aerosol transmission of viruses downwind cause harm, she will be the first to know. He felt the talk story sessions were successful, with the caveat that the consultants could have been clearer about it being a proposal, not the final plan. 8. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS. Chair Bennett instructed the commissioners to email him if they wanted something placed on the next agenda other than what was discussed today. 9. ANNOUNCEMENTS Chair Bennett announced the next meeting: May 23, 2018, in Kona at the West Hawaiʻi Civic Center, Building G. 15