HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019-07-01 Letter to Glenn Gray, Kealakehe High School re Kona Landfill Mwosy
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Managing Director
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Harry Kim � •��� , . :
Mayor -KZ' •
Barbara J. Kossow
4�or_e�+� Deputy'Managing Director
County of Painai'i
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25 Aupuni Street,Suite 2603 • Hdo,Hawaii 96720 • (808)961-8211 • Fax(808)961-6553
KONA 74-5044 Ane Keohokalole Hwy,Bldg.C • Kailua-Kona.Hawaii 96740
(808)323-4444 • Fax(808)323-4440
July 1, 2019
Mr. Glenn Gray
Principal
Kealakehe High School
74-5000 Pu'ohulihuli Street
Kailua-Kona, HI 96740
Dear Mr. Gray:
Our office received on June 18, 2019 a packet of letters from students at Kealakehe
High School regarding fires at the old Kona Landfill next to the Kona Police Station. I have
directed my response to you because none of the students' letters identified what class they
were in, their teacher was not identified in the letters, and not all of the letters were signed.
The Department of Environmental Management has informed me that this 20-acre
unlined landfill was closed in 1992. Periodically, underground fires occur there, and the
Department hires contractors to monitor, troubleshoot and to smother the fires when necessary.
Water will not put out the fires which is why sand and/or clay is used to cover the smoking
areas. This action stops the CO2 from venting to the atmosphere, thereby extinguishing the fires
by starving the fires by limiting the available oxygen.
Please be aware that the occurrence of underground fires has diminished over the past
few years, and the County is taking timely and proactive action when we see signs of
combustion within this site.
We appreciate the concern expressed by your students. Please convey our response to
them in any way you see fit.
Aloha,
Anr,”
Harry Kim 0"--
MAYOR
County of Hawaii is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer