HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024-01-24 Director's Report
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DIRECTOR’S QUARTERLY INFORMATIONAL REPORT
TO THE ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT COMMISSION
January 24, 2024
Agenda item VII
1. LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
1. County Council (Since last report posted on 10/18/23)
ITEM DESCRIPTION CURRENT STATUS
Completed items
Res. 305-23 Allows receipt of $1,522,130 in federal
funds to DEM for reusable foodware
grant
Adopted 11/1/23
Bill No. 88 Allows receipt of $1,522,130 in federal
funds to DEM for reusable foodware
grant
Council 1st reading 11/1/23
Council 2nd reading 11/15/23
Ord. 23-89, eff. 12/5/23
Bill 94 Authorizes up to $100 million in General
Obligation Bonds to Hilo WWTP for
construction
Council 1st reading 11/1/23
Council 2nd reading 11/15/23
Ord. 23-95, eff. 12/5/23
Comm. 612 Nominates Jim Beets to EMC, District 1 Pos. Rec. GOEAC 12/5/23
Confirmed 12/20/23
Comm. 625 Nominates Erica Perez to EMC, District 4 Pos. Rec. GOEAC 12/19/23
Confirmed 1/10/24
Comm. 673 Presentation Regarding the Integrated
Wastewater Management Plan and Related
Community Outreach
CRCOC 1/23/24
Current items
Res. 415 Authorizes payment of funds for multi-
year leases of 1 forklift, 1 dump truck, 1
super duty truck with utility body and
crane
Finance Committee 1/23/24
2. Legislature
The 2024 legislative session opened on January 17, 2024. The Department of Environmental
Management will monitor legislation and provide testimony in support of bills that improve
recycling rates, reduce waste generation, support extended producer responsibility, and support
the recommendations of the cesspool conversion working group.
DEM provided a response to the Legislature regarding HCR 208 HD1 (2023).
2. SOLID WASTE DIVISION PROJECTS AND UPDATES
1. Landfill tonnage
RELOAD FACILITY UPDATE (new data shaded in gray)
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WHSL MONTHLY LANDFILL TONNAGES
Month/Year
Total Tons Taken
to Sort Station
Jan 2023 4,221.43
Feb 2023 3,827.83
Mar 2023 4,173.38
Apr 2023 3,799.26
May 2023 3,993.36
Jun 2023 4,324.80
July 2023 4,430.82
Aug 2023 4,091.16
Sep 2023 3,792.82
Oct 2023 4,125.99
Nov 2023 3,996.96
Dec 2023 4,427.42
Total 49,205.42
Jan 2023 17,186.60
Feb 2023 15,849.21
Mar 2023 18,217.83
Apr 2023 16,809.28
May 2023 17,215.66
Jun 2023 16,789.75
0
5000
10000
15000
20000
Jan Feb Mar April May June July Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
WHSL tonnage
WHSL tonnage
3
MONTHLY TRANSFER STATION TONNAGES
The above table includes data on the waste disposed in the landfill (not the greenwaste or
recycling data).
July 2023 16,597.59
Aug 2023 17,693.23
Sept 2023 16,143.91
Oct 2023 16,426.09
Nov 2023 16,825.36
Dec 2023 17,550.13
Total 203,304.64
Month/Year EHRSS WHSL
Jan 2023 3,345.50 3,840.45
Feb 2023 2,975.84 3,350.62
March 2023 3,239.10 3,939.63
Apr 2023 2,940.49 3,561.94
May 2023 3,113.09 3,622.57
Jun 2023 3,412.17 3,657.98
July 2023 3,555.25 3,867.92
Aug 2023 3,180.37 3,753.74
Sep 2023 2,981.49 3,506.66
Oct 2023 3,286.29 3,632.70
Nov 2023 3,148.48 3,608.37
Dec 2023 3,556.53 3,938.45
Total 38,734.60 44,281.45
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2. Recycling and Landfill Diversion updates
EAST HAWAII ORGANICS FACILITY (EHOF)
DATE
GW Residential
Drop Off EHOF
(Tons)
GW Commerical
Drop Off EHOF
(Tons)
GW Transfer
Stations Drop
Off EHOF
(Tons)
Total GW At
EHOF (Tons)
JULY 2023 512.15 150.39 153.17 815.71
AUGUST 2023 583.86 168.61 159.98 912.45
SEPTEMBER 2023 665.57 176.69 161.86 1,004.12
OCTOBER 2023 618.37 198.05 156.79 973.21
NOVEMBER 2023 450.55 357.19 133.88 941.62
TOTAL 4,647.11
TRANSFER STATION GREEN WASTE
DATE KEAAU (Tons) PAHOA (Tons) VOLCANO
(Tons)
TOTAL TO
EHOF (Tons)
JULY 2023 30.47 89.89 32.81 153.17
AUGUST 2023 37.58 101.59 20.81 159.98
SEPTEMBER 2023 45.47 89.83 26.56 161.86
OCTOBER 2023 42.51 92.70 21.58 156.79
NOVEMBER 2023 36.90 78.89 18.09 133.88
765.68
WEST HAWAII ORGANICS FACILILTY (WHOF)
DATE
GW From
Residential To
WHOF (Tons)
GW From
Commerical to
WHOF (Tons)
GW From
Transfer
Stations To
WHOF (Tons)
Total GW At
WHOF (Tons)
JULY 2023 782.51 1,211.74 557.96 2,552.21
AUGUST 2023 789.98 1,793.21 565.15 3,148.34
SEPTEMBER 2023 761.87 1,937.83 537.79 3,237.49
OCTOBER 2023 704.75 1,623.14 525.26 2,853.15
NOVEMBER 2023 612.06 1,670.34 452.54 2,734.94
TOTAL 14,526.13
TRANSFER STATION GREEN WASTE
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DATE KEEI (Tons) KONA (Tons) WAIMEA
(Tons)
TOTAL TO
WHOF (Tons)
JULY 2023 56.04 370.69 131.23 557.96
AUGUST 2023 44.57 391.26 129.32 565.15
SEPTEMBER 2023 70.96 330.77 136.06 537.79
OCTOBER 2023 60.23 323.21 141.82 525.26
NOVEMBER 2023 27.62 301.20 123.72 452.54
TOTAL 2638.70
Kealakehe RTS Mulch Pick-Up Area
DATE
WHOF Mulch
Delivered To
Kealakehe (Tons)
WHOF Mulch
Delivered To
EHOF (Tons)
Total Mulch
Delivered
(Tons)
JULY 2023 274.58 7.83 282.41
AUGUST 2023 310.30 89.18 399.48
SEPTEMBER 2023 208.43 31.86 240.29
OCTOBER 2023 134.47 76.37 210.84
NOVEMBER 2023 150.73 291.61 442.34
TOTAL 1,575.36
3. Solid Waste Operational Study update
Community stakeholder interviews are ongoing. Element Environmental has completed all
interviews for responsive Commissioners. Project completion is still on track for October 2024.
3. WASTEWATER DIVISION PROJECTS AND UPDATES.
1. Pāhala and Nā‘ālehu Large Capacity Cesspool Closure AOC
(Updates on this project are posted at dem.hawaiicounty.gov/projects)
The next district-wide semi-annual public informational outreach meeting will be
scheduled at 6 p.m. February 29, 2024, at Pāhala Community Center.
1. Update on Pāhala Environmental Information Document
The County is working with the Environmental Protection Agency to resolve an error in the
Administrative Order on Consent. When executed, the 2024 revision will result in an extension
to the due date of the final Environmental Information Document, from January 27, 2024, to July
30, 2024. Accordingly, the final deadline for the County to close the Large Capacity Cesspools
in Pahala will also be extended, until January 22, 2027. The collection period for the surveys is
complete. The community is invited to Pāhala Community Center at 6 p.m. February 29 for the
next update.
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2. Update on Nā‘ālehu Draft EID development
In compliance with the federal consent order, the County is engaging with the public to solicit
feedback on the options explored in the Preliminary Engineering Report in preparation for the
Draft Environmental Information Document. In late October 2023, public preference surveys to
gather input on the four feasible options were mailed out to 194 lot owners in the LCC closure
area. A public meeting was held November 16, at the Nā‘ālehu Community Center to engage
with the public to solicit feedback on the options explored in the PER, and to provide a general
overview of the EID being prepared. The survey collection period remains open. The Final
Environmental Information Document is due to EPA on October 22, 2024. The final deadline for
the County to close the large capacity cesspools is December 31, 2027.
2. West Hawai‘i wastewater projects
(Verbal report)
3. Hilo WWTP upgrades
(Verbal report)
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 208
THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE,2023 H.D.I
STATE OF HAWAII
HOUSE CONCURRENT
RESOLUTION
REQUESTING EACH COUNTY TO DEVELOP A COMPREHENSIVE INTEGRATED
WASTEWATER MANAGEMENT PLAN AND FINANCIAL STRATEGY TO
UPGRADE,CONVERT,OR CONNECT CESSPOOLS LOCATED WITHIN ITS
RESPECTIVE JURISDICTION BY 2050.
I WHEREAS,there are approximately 83,000 cesspools across
2 the State,with 48,596 on the island of Hawaii;14,300 on Kauai;
3 11,038 on Maui;7,491 on Oahu;and 1,400 on Molokai;and
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5 WHEREAS,Act 125,Session Laws of Hawaii 2017,requires
6 every cesspool in the State,excluding cesspools granted
7 exemptions by the Director of Health,to be upgraded or
8 converted to a Director—approved wastewater system or connected
9 to a sewerage system by January 1,2050;and
10
11 WHEREAS,according to the Cesspool Conversion Working Group
12 Final Report to the 2023 Regular Session Legislature,the cost
13 of conversions to most private and residential property owners
14 is significant,ranging from an estimated collective total of
15 $880,000,000 to more than $5,300,000,000,with only three
16 percent of all residents unburdened by the cost to convert;and
17
18 WHEREAS,many properties in rural areas,especially on the
19 neighbor islands,may not have existing county infrastructure
20 that allows for easy upgrade,conversion,or connection;and
21
22 WHEREAS,undertaking a massive infrastructure project,such
23 as converting 83,000 cesspools by 2050,requires proper planning
24 and administration across various stakeholders and governmental
25 institutions,including those of the counties;now,therefore,
26
27 BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the
28 Thirty-second Legislature of the State of Hawaii,Regular
29 Session of 2023,the Senate concurring,that each county is
30 requested to develop a comprehensive integrated wastewater
2023—2959 HCR2O8 HD1 HMSO
H.C.R.Nc~.~•i
1 management plan and financial strategy to upgrade,convert,or
2 connect cesspools located within its respective jurisdiction by
3 2050;and
4
5 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that each county is requested to
6 include the following information in its comprehensive
7 integrated wastewater management plan and financial strategy:
8
9 (1)Planned connections to centralized public and private
10 treatment systems;
11
12 (2)Locations where individualized treatment systems will
13 be needed;
14
15 (3)Locations where smaller—scale cluster treatment
16 systems may be used;
17
18 (4)Individual treatment system needs for homes having
19 cesspools,including whether there is appropriate
20 existing infrastructure capacity to handle the
21 upgrade,conversion,or connection of cesspools by
22 2050;and
23
24 (5)Financial needs,funding mechanisms,and financing
25 strategies to assist with cesspool upgrades,
26 conversions,or connections;and
27
28 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that each county is requested to
29 submit its respective comprehensive integrated wastewater
30 management plan and financial strategy,including any proposed
31 legislation,to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior
32 to the convening of the Regular Session of 2024;and
33
34 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this
35 Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Director of Health,
36 Mayor of the City and County of Honolulu,Mayor of the County of
37 Hawaii,Mayor of the County of Maui,and Mayor of the County of
38 Kauai.
2023—2959 HCR2O8 HD1 HMSO 2
COUNTY OF HAWAIʻI, DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
Response to State of Hawaiʻi House
Concurrent Resolution No. 208, H.D. 1
December 2023
-This Page Intentionally Left Blank-
RESPONSE TO STATE OF HAWAIʻI HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 208, H.D. 1
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Introduction
In 2017, the Hawaiʻi State Legislature passed
Acts 125 and 87, which mandates that all
cesspools in the State, unless granted an
extension, shall be converted to an approved
wastewater system, or connected to a sewerage
system by January 1, 2050. House Concurrent
Resolution No. 208, H.D. 1 (Resolution), adopted
in the 2023 session, requests that each County in
the State of Hawaiʻi “develop a comprehensive
integrated wastewater management plan and
financial strategy to upgrade, convert, or
connect cesspools located within its respective
jurisdiction” no later than twenty days prior to
the convening of the Regular Legislative Session
of 2024.
The Resolution summarizes the State-wide
issues, challenges, and importance of this
significant undertaking. The County of Hawaiʻi
(County) shares the concerns of the Legislature
related to cesspool conversions in the State and
initiated necessary planning efforts in 2022 to
develop a long-term cesspool conversion
strategy. This ongoing planning represents a
cumulative investment of approximately
$8,000,000 toward the implementation of the
most appropriate conversion approach.
This initial work has enabled the County to
quantify the considerable magnitude
and complexity of the cesspool
conversion issue. Although the
County has been proactively
conducting comprehensive planning
efforts for nearly two years, the
information requested by the
Resolution cannot be completed prior
to the start of the next Regular
Legislative Session. This report
documents work completed to date
by the County, summarizes ongoing
evaluations, presents anticipated
future actions, and suggests
information for legislative
consideration.
Background
The County has the most cesspools in the State.
Of the approximately 83,000 cesspools State-
wide, nearly 60 percent (48,596) are in the
County of Hawaiʻi. The cost of conversion of the
Puna District alone, with approximately
16,000 cesspools, is estimated to be a minimum
of $1.4 billion (AECOM, 2023). Total County-wide
costs for cesspool conversions could exceed
$3 billion. A study commissioned by the Hawaiʻi
State Department of Health (DOH) concluded
that “Hawaiʻi County has the greatest
affordability challenges, the most cesspools of all
the counties, and a large proportion with
potential impacts to drinking water and sensitive
coastal waters” (Carollo, 2021). That same report
determined that all property owners in the
County will be financially burdened by cesspool
conversions based on median household income
data. Financial assistance will be key to a
successful cesspool conversion program.
The County has the greatest affordability
challenges, the most cesspools of all
counties, and a large proportion with
potential impacts to drinking water and
sensitive coastal waters.
RESPONSE TO STATE OF HAWAIʻI HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 208, H.D. 1
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Cesspool conversions also face technical
challenges. The County is primarily composed of
rural, decentralized communities. It is estimated
that 78 percent of the existing County
population does not have access to a centralized
sewer system, indicating that connection to an
existing sewer service area is unlikely to be
available for most properties. This is expected to
drive a large portion of the conversions to an
approved individual wastewater system (IWS)
which can be costly due to the lack of topsoil on
Hawaiʻi island to serve as an appropriate means
of wastewater treatment and disposal. Most
homeowners will require some form of
assistance to navigate the process required to
upgrade their onsite system.
Given the cost, environmental impacts, and
potential neighborhood disruption associated
with the overall conversion effort, public input,
outreach, and education will also be key to the
implementation of the program. Ideally these
efforts should be consistent State-wide.
Cesspool Conversion Planning
Completed to Date
As previously discussed, the County has been
proactively engaged in the development of a
program for County-wide cesspool conversions
for nearly two years. This work has included the
following planning efforts.
Facility Plan and Programmatic
Environmental Impact Statement, Addition of
Wastewater Services for the Puna District.
This recently completed comprehensive plan
evaluated alternatives for providing sewer
service for an area on the windward side of the
island with approximately 20,000 onsite sewage
disposal systems, including 16,000 cesspools. A
range of options were considered including IWS,
decentralized treatment, subregional treatment,
as well as urban sewer connections and
conveyance of wastewater flows to the existing
Hilo Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP). Based
on cost, environmental, and technical factors, a
combination of IWS and decentralized treatment
was ranked as the most favorable option. The
plan identified the need for the development of
appropriate institutional arrangements along
with the evaluation of funding and financing
approaches. Public outreach, input, and
education were also key elements of the plan
development.
Wastewater Feasibility Study for the Town of
Pāhoa. This feasibility study was completed in
November 2023 and focused on specific sewer
service needs associated with the Pāhoa area
within the Puna District. There is currently no
public sewer system for wastewater generated in
Pāhoa. Residential wastewater is disposed of via
The Puna Facility Plan evaluated options
for the conversion of 16,000 cesspools
within the County.
RESPONSE TO STATE OF HAWAIʻI HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 208, H.D. 1
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390 onsite systems, 320 of which are cesspools,
and one small decentralized WWTP for flows
from a shopping center. Alternatives considered
included IWS, decentralized systems, and new
sewers connecting to a new Pāhoa WWTP.
Similar to the broader study for the Puna
District, the alternative of IWS in combination
with decentralized systems was determined to
be most favorable.
Project Definition Report, Regional
Wastewater Master Planning for Puakō and
Other Communities within South Kohala. The
study area for this 2023 report encompasses
approximately 176,000 acres, or 275 square
miles. Based on the recent Hawaiʻi Cesspool
Prioritization Tool commissioned by the
Cesspool Conversion Working Group, the area
contains 4,530 cesspools. The County does not
currently provide wastewater collection and
treatment services in the region. The Project
Definition Report serves as the initial scoping
document that prioritizes locations where
wastewater services can be implemented in the
project area, including development of potential
alternative wastewater infrastructure. Data
review included the summary of prior
wastewater treatment evaluations for the area;
private wastewater treatment plant information;
zoning mapping and current development plans;
cesspool location mapping; as well as physical
features in the planning area such as depth to
groundwater and soil type mapping. This
information is currently being used for the
development of options for community
wastewater service as part of the wastewater
master plan being developed for the South
Kohala District.
Cesspool Conversion Planning
Currently in Progress
The County is continuing efforts to develop a
comprehensive integrated wastewater
management plan and financial strategy to
upgrade, convert, or connect cesspools on
Hawaiʻi Island. Cesspool conversions in
compliance with Act 125 will necessitate a
combination of efforts by the County and
individual property owners. The following work
is underway and is expected to be completed by
the end of 2024.
South Kohala Regional Wastewater Master
Plan. This master plan will conduct an analysis of
wastewater infrastructure required for the
conversion of the 4,530 cesspools in the South
Kohala District, focused on the communities of
Puakō, Kawaihae, Waimea, and Waikoloa Village.
The master plan is being prepared in accordance
with requirements of the Hawaiʻi State DOH for a
wastewater system planning document. It will
provide a roadmap for feasibility and
The Project Definition Report for the
South Kohala District establishes a
baseline for further study of cesspool
conversion options.
RESPONSE TO STATE OF HAWAIʻI HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 208, H.D. 1
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implementation for the County’s sanitary sewer
system in the area through the 30-year planning
period (2022 to 2052). The plan will substantiate
the need for the proposed facilities; identify
feasible alternatives; and provide a systemic
evaluation of these alternatives considering the
unique demographic, geotechnical, topographic,
hydrologic, and institutional characteristics of
the area. The goal is for the master plan to
demonstrate that the recommendations are
implementable from legal, institutional, financial,
physical, and management standpoints.
County-Wide Cesspool Conversion Plan. This
comprehensive plan will evaluate the feasibility
of extending sewer service from existing
County-owned wastewater treatment facilities,
study conversion alternatives for cesspool areas
not previously evaluated, and integrate previous
studies into a complete County-wide cesspool
conversion plan. The scope of this effort
addresses a wide range of tasks including:
Review of previous studies, reports, and
available GIS-based cesspool mapping.
Evaluation of cesspool conversion options
such as connection to existing sewer service
areas, upgraded onsite wastewater
treatment system, and decentralized or
“satellite” collection and treatment systems.
Site visits to confirm conversion analyses.
Community engagement and education.
Summary of potential funding sources.
Preparation of a written cesspool conversion
plan document with recommended options
and conceptual level costs.
This work is expected to be complete in mid to
late 2024.
County-Wide Wastewater Facilities Plan. The
County-wide facilities plan will focus on the
evaluation and condition assessment of existing
County wastewater infrastructure including
collection system pump stations and treatment
plants. Key to the assessment is the
determination of available capacity within the
existing Honokaʻa, Kapehu, Kulaʻimano,
Pāpaʻikou, Hilo, and Kealakehe service areas to
accommodate additional wastewater
contributions from cesspool conversions. The
analysis will result in an overall wastewater
capital improvement program (CIP) for existing
County facilities.
Integrated Wastewater Management Plan.
The integrated wastewater management plan
will provide a summary of the County-wide
Cesspool Conversion and Wastewater Facilities
Plans into a single document and will establish a
framework for implementation of the resulting
CIP.
Wastewater Rates and Fees Evaluation. Based
on the CIP developed as part of the
County-Wide Wastewater Facilities Plan, the
existing system of wastewater rates and fees will
be updated to sustain operations going forward.
The new rates and fees will be an important
element in the County’s financial strategy for
selectively extending sewer service to areas with
existing cesspools.
Anticipated Future Actions
Future actions will be predicated on the results
of planning activities currently under
development. However, it is expected that these
plans will result in a combination of feasible
alternatives for cesspool conversions within the
County. These alternatives may include:
Extension of wastewater collection and
treatment services from existing
County-owned sewer service areas.
Creation of new County sewer service areas
and satellite or decentralized treatment
facilities.
The County-wide Cesspool Conversion
Plan currently under development will
establish a path for the conversion of all
48,600 cesspools within the County.
RESPONSE TO STATE OF HAWAIʻI HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 208, H.D. 1
5
Connection of cesspool areas to non-County
owned wastewater systems.
Property owner-initiated upgrades to an
approved IWS.
Implementation of a successful cesspool
conversion plan will also require the County to
consider revisions to existing sewer service
policies as well as adoption of the wastewater
CIP and associated system of rates and fees.
Actions for Consideration by the
State Legislature
The magnitude of the program necessary to
connect or convert all cesspools by 2050
requires a coordinated and cooperative effort by
all levels of government, the public, and private
industry. There are several areas where State
legislation and resulting State-directed initiatives
are needed to ensure the success of this
undertaking.
Workforce Development. There may not be
adequate qualified technical support and
construction contractors to meet projected
cesspool conversion needs. Additional resources
are likely needed throughout the State to
support cesspool conversions and sewer system
expansions. A more formal gap analysis of
workforce and training needs will be helpful to
support workforce development needed for
cesspool conversions.
Public Outreach and Education. There is
currently a wide range of inconsistent
communications in the public domain regarding
cesspool conversions. It is imperative that a
consistent and effective message be developed
and communicated to the public State-wide.
Homeowners need to understand and support
the environmental drivers behind the need for
cesspool conversions.
Resources for Property Owner IWS
Conversions. It is likely that a large percentage
of the cesspool conversions in the State will
consist of upgrades to approved alternate onsite
systems to be implemented by property owners.
Property owners will require access to
informative and consistent State-wide guidance
to assist them with the complete cesspool
conversion process, including planning,
engineering, permitting, construction, and
financing.
Funding. The cost of the cesspool conversion
program will be in the billions of dollars. A
successful program of this magnitude will
require financial assistance from both the State
and Federal governments to expand public
wastewater infrastructure and to assist property
owners with conversion to an approved IWS or
connect to a sewer. This is one of the most
critical issues that requires attention from all
levels of leadership to support the conversion
program.
References
AECOM, 2023. Final Facilities Plan, Addition of
Wastewater Services for the Puna District.
Carollo, 2021. Final Cesspool Conversion Finance
Research Summary Report.
Legislation is required to establish
state-wide programs for workforce
development, public outreach and
education; technical resources for IWS
conversions; and program funding.
RESPONSE TO STATE OF HAWAIʻI HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 208, H.D. 1