2018-06-27 Meeting Minutes (EMC)

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Ms. Demoruelle read from Title 11, Chapter 200, of the Hawaiʻi Administrative Rules, regarding environmental impact statements, wherein it states that EAs and EISs are meaningless without the conscientious application of the environmental review process as a whole, and are not to be a self-serving recitation of benefits and a rationalization of the proposed action. She said projects are a rationalization of the proposed action. The County is not looking at the basic need for wastewater treatment, but at a siting decision. How can a project be sited if it hasn’t passed an environmental assessment? In addition, the County is withholding information. She requested the draft EA be placed in the public library in Kaū, and her request was denied. ʻ 4. UNFINISHED BUSINESS a. Continued discussion on recommending that the Department of Environmental Management include education components in its contracts. Chair Bennett turned this item over to Commissioner Osborne. Commissioner Osborne said the intent of this item is not to take money from the County’s very limited budget that already exists. As commissioners, they should continue to try to find ways to support the County in having the needed operational funds. However, education is key and fundamental to the success of important initiatives such as the ten-year organics contract that was considered and is being redone. The proposal is to have it built into contracts so that there is a percentage of funds a contractor is mandated to use towards education, and that the funds do not come out of the County budget. That is the spirit and intent—to ensure the community is uplifted and given the education to understand whatever new innovations in waste management may occur, and this happens through education, which the County budget does not have the funds for. Chair Bennett asked if Commissioner Olson would like to introduce a motion. Motion and second: Commissioner Osborne moved that the EMC recommend to DEM that for any contracts with outside organizations that will manage recyclable material and organics on behalf of the County, the contracts require the contractor to include an educational component directed to the public so the public may be aware and informed about what materials are recyclable and how best to accomplish recycling as a normal activity with household waste management. Commissioner Gaffney seconded the motion. Commissioner Osborne said she wanted to try to simplify the motion and make it broader. She questioned whether organics is considered recycling, and Director Kucharski said yes, it is not only recycling but also waste reduction. She wondered if