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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0649.003 2008-2010 i b oa~ty OF h4? L• ' William T. Takaba al ih; l Managing Director William P. Kenoi Mayor o-- , Walter K.M. Lau rr'~: Mw MC:•'.. rE os•N?•~? Deputy Managing Director County of Hawai`-i Office of the Mayor 25 Aupuni Street, Suite 2603 • Hilo, Hacvai`i 96720 • (808) 961-8211 e Fax(808)961-6553 KONA: 75-5722 Hanama Place, Suite 102 • Kailua-Kona, Hawaii 96740 (808)327-3602 • Fax(808)326-5663 December 28, 2009 United States Environmental Protection Agency p Region IX ` 75 Hawthorne Street ` Mail Code: WTR-1 ) San Francesco, CA 94105 _ C''" p' 1 Attention: Ms. Alexis Strauss, Director - Water Division r , ~xa Subject: Request for Federal Assistance Hawaii County Wastewater Infrastructure Projects ..n Dear Ms. Strauss, As a follow-up to my November 17, 2009 correspondence to your office requesting Federal assistance to remediate the former Kailua-Kona Landfill, the County of Hawaii (County) has prepared this additional request for federal funds necessary to protect our island's most at-risk resources, our potable water supply and near shore waters. As you may know, the County has been working with the State of Hawaii Department of Health (DOH) to develop long-term solutions to address impacts to our local waters. It should be noted that cesspools are more widely used in Hawaii than in any.other state in the country and, that of all the counties within the State of Hawaii, our county has the most large capacity cesspools or LCCs. A July 12, 2009 article in the Hawaii Tribune Herald reported that "About 40 percent of Hawaii Island's 1,350 large capacity cesspools have now been closed and another 35 percent are in the midst of the closure process." The challenges for compliance with the federal LCC ban are greater in Hawaii due to many issues such as resource shortages and the relatively high costs associated with sewer construction, especially on Hawaii Island. Wastewater solutions on our island often require a ! greater level of evaluation due to our island's geology, topography and land use restrictions. Despite these challenges, our county's Department of Environmental Management Wastewater Division has achieved much. Our county recently achieved the distinction of being the first county within the State of Hawaii to have successfully executed an American Resource Recbvery Act of 2009 (ARRA) loan agreement. This agreement assisted our county in funding the Komohana Heights LCC Replacement Project. Our county has two (2) additional ARRA loan agreements in the process of being executed, the Honoka'a LCC Replacement Project that will allow for closure of seven (7) LCCs, and the Queen Lili'uokalani Village Subdivision LCC Replacement Project that will allow for the closure of thirty-three (33) LCCs. ~;H 3 Comm No. County of Hawaii is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer. ' Ref. To: Ref. Date JAN 0 8 MR ' Ms. Alexis Strauss Director, Water Division u US EPA December 28, 2009 Page 2 of 3 I Provision of federal funds will allow our county to provide critical wastewater infrastructure necessary to manage our wastewater utilizing sustainable solutions to benefit the environment and economy and to protect native Hawaiian lands for the public benefit. Given the size and scope of the infrastructure needed to support our island's wastewater management needs, as well as the limitations of available County and State funds, the County hereby requests Federal funding assistance. The County estimates the costs for these projects to be approximately $136,000,000. This amount further demonstrates to our county that the costs necessary to pay for these projects is beyond our means. The list of projects we propose for federal funds represents the full spectrum of wastewater management on the Big Island. The Honoka'a Large Capacity Cesspool Replace Phase II project is a continuation of the Honoka'a Large Capacity Cesspool Replace Phase I project. Phase 11 is an upgrade of an existing wastewater treatment plant which will allow non-County owned LCCs to be closed and replaced by connection to the new sewer collection system installed under Phase I. The Kalaniana'ole Rehabilitation Phase II project represents mitigation of one of our County's greatest environmental risks which is a potential spill to near shore marine waters. The Na'alehu and Pahala LCC Replacement Projects will allow for closure of LCCs which were previously owned and operated by a former sugar mill operator, who is, in the process of dissolution. The Kealakehe Wastewater Treatment Plant (KWWTP) Sludge Removal and Aeration Upgrade Projects are necessary in order to restore plant capacity and maintain compliance with DOH permit requirements. Our county has begun implementation of an effluent re-use program to reduce wastewater discharge quantities and reduce use of potable water sources for irrigation purposes. The Kealakehe Effluent Reuse Makai, North Kona Effluent Reuse (KWWTP R-1 Upgrade), and the Kealakehe Effluent Reuse - Mauka Projects are necessary for our county to promote treated effluent reuse, as well as to support the economic growth in Kona. In addition to supporting sustainable wastewater management, the KWWTP effluent reuse projects could include a constructed wetlands that could provide a means of attracting bird populations away from the nearby Kona International Airport. Please note that my November 17th correspondence included reference to a project that included the aforementioned constructed wetlands and R-1 reuse. As you may know, our county leads the State of Hawaii in use of green energy. In order to further exploit the abundance of green energy on this island and to reduce our reliance on the import of fossil fuels, the KWWTP Photovoltaic (PV) System is envisioned to not only provide power to the KWWTP, but it is anticipated that the PV System may be capable of providing power to other users in Kona. The North Kona Sewer Phase II and Kailua-Kona Sewer Expansion Projects represent further investment in the protection of our near shore waters, especially along the Kona Coast, that is a protected sanctuary for the Hawaiian Monk Seal. I respectfully request that federal government assist us in funding these critical projects. Our county desires to return this previously impacted land to a state that poses less risk to our community and we feel these project are beneficial on many levels and could serve as an example to the rest of the nation as to how public resources can best be pulled together to address a multitude of issues, such as coastline protection for endangered species, wetlands development, wastewater and solid waste management, environmental justice, and economic stimulus. Undoubtedly, these projects would not only ensure the welfare of the existing populace but County of Hawai' i is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer. I I Ms. Alexis Strauss Director, Water Division US EPA i December 28, 2009 Page 3 of 3 would also ensure the health and safety of future developments, including those planned to support our indigenous population. Our County Council recently passed the enclosed Resolution 289-09 in support of requesting federal funds specifically for these projects. Should you have any questions or require additional information, please contact Mr. Lono Tyson, Director of the Department of Environmental Management, at (808) 961-8083 or cohdem@co.hawaii.hi.us. Our county looks forward to your positive response to our request. Best Regards and Aloha, 1 William P. Kenoi MAYOR enclosure: COH Resolution 289-09 w/enclosures November 17, 2009 correspondence, RE: Request for Federal Assistance - Former Kailua-Kona Landfill cc: Honorable Senator Daniel Akaka i Honorable Senator Daniel Inouye Honorable Congressman Neil Abercrombie Honorable Congresswoman Mazie Hirono Douglas Eberhardt, Manager, U. S. EPA Water Division - NPDES Permits & Storm Water Eric Byous, Manager, U.S. EPA Water Division - Sustainable Infrastructure Dr. Jane Lubchenco, Administrator, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Admin., U.S. Dept. of Commerce Kathleen Sebelius, Secretary, U.S. Dept of Health & Human Services Sam D. Hamilton, Director, Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Dept. of the Interior Jonathan B. Jarvis, Director, National Park Service, U.S. Dept. of the Interior J. Randolph Babbitt,_Administrator, Federal Aviation Administration, U.S. Dept. of Transportation Chauncey Wong Yuen, Hawaii District Airports Manager, Airports Division, State Dept. j of Transportation Chiyome Fukino, M.D., Director, State Dept. of Health Garrick Davis, Recovery Implementation Office Nancy Crawford, Director, County Department of Finance IL-ono Tyson, Director, County Department of Environmental Management J. Yoshimoto, Chairman, County Council Brenda Ford, Councilmember Kelly Greenwell, Councilmember County of Hawai' i is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer.