HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0620.036 2022-2024 p/ Council
COMM.620
From: Lenley Lewis
Sent: Saturday, December 02, 2023 8:26 PM ral CD C--)
To: Council Testimony Q -
Subject: Wastewater treatment legal funds ='
—Cr.
Aloha Chair Kimball and members of the Hawaii County Council, 172
My name IS Lenley Lewis. I live on the Hamakua_Coast.j
I am writing to strongly urge you to reject Mayor Mitch Roth's request for funds to hire
outside counsel to fight Hui Malama HonokOhau v. County of Hawaii. Instead, funds should be used
to negotiate a settlement to bring Kealakekehe Treatment Plant into compliance with the Clean.Water
Act.
For decades, the Kealakehe Wastewater Treatment plant has released millions of gallons
of treated sewage into groundwater that flows into Honokohau Harbor, causing damage to
nearshore waters.
Maui County spent hundreds of thousands of dollars over eight plus years fighting a
similar lawsuit over Lahaina Wastewater Treatment Plant. They lost in the US Supreme
Court. County of Maui v. Hawaii Wildlife Fund now sets the precedent for Kealakehe and many
other groundwater polluters. The courts are not likely to exempt Hawaii County.
Mayor Roth should not make the same mistake as Mayor Victorino. Urge the
administration to settle the litigation, upgrade the Kealakehe Wastewater Treatment Plant,
and do what is right for Hawai'i's environment and people.
Sincerely,
Lenley Lewis
Laupahoehoe
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Comm. No 0. 11
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Ref. To: 11!
1 Ref. Date ';' C — 6 2023