HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024-04-24 Director's Report1
DIRECTOR’S QUARTERLY INFORMATIONAL REPORT
TO THE ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT COMMISSION
April 24, 2024
Agenda item VI
1.LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
1. County Council (Since last report posted on 1/18/24)
ITEM DESCRIPTION CURRENT STATUS
Completed items
Res. 415-24 Authorizes payment of funds for multi-
year leases of 1 forklift, 1 dump truck, 1
super duty truck with utility body and
crane for SWD
Pos. rec. FC 1/23/24
Adopted by Council 2/7/24
Res. 417-24 Authorizes payment of funds for multi-year
leases of 4 walking floor trailers and 4
compacting trailers for SWD
Pos. rec. FC 2/6/24
Adopted by Council 2/21/24
Res. 418-24 Authorizes payment of funds for multi-
year leases of 2 trailer-mounted pumps
and 1 portable pump for WWD
Pos. rec. FC 2/6/24
Adopted by Council 2/21/24
Res. 419-24 Authorizes payment of funds for multi-year
leases of 2 grapple trucks for SWD
Pos. rec. FC 2/6/24
Adopted by Council 2/21/24
Res. 420-24 Authorizes payment of funds for multi-year
leases of 2 backhoes, 2 wheeled loaders, 6
roll-off trucks, 7 truck tractors for SWD
Pos. rec. FC 2/6/24
Adopted by Council 2/21/24
Res. 441-24 Authorizing Mayor to enter into an
Administrative Order on Consent agreement
with the U.S. EPA for Countywide
Wastewater Improvements
Pos. rec. GOEAC 2/20/24
Adopted by Council 3/6/24
Current items
Bill 140 Requires all solid waste facilities used for
disposal, collection, and transfer of
household waste be operated and open
to the public at least two days per week.
PCIA: Ref. to EMC and DEM
3/19/24. Comments due 5/3/24.
Bill 136/137 Operating and Capital budgets for FY
24-25.
4/11: Presentation to FC Special
Meeting.
2.Legislature
DEM has tracked bills throughout the 2024 regular session of the Legislature and continues to
monitor the following bills. As of April 18 the bills are moving into conference committee:
•HB 1892 HD2 SD1
o Part II: Amends the deadlines for required upgrades conversions, or connections for
certain priority level 1 and priority level 2 cesspools. Part III: Authorizes and
appropriates funds to the Department of Health to retain qualified consultants as
necessary to identify necessary public outreach and education resources and tools and
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develop a comprehensive public outreach strategy and website to educate
homeowners and wastewater industry professionals about information and resources
regarding the State's cesspool upgrade, conversion, and connection requirements and
deadlines. Part IV: Appropriates funds and establishes positions for the
implementation of the cesspool compliance pilot grant project. Declares that the
general fund expenditure ceiling is exceeded. Takes effect 7/1/2050. (SD1)
• HB 1896 HD2 SD1
o Beginning 1/1/2027, prohibits the manufacture, sale, offer for sale, distribution for
sale, and distribution for use of any food packaging, food service ware, cosmetic, or
personal care product that contains intentionally added perfluoroalkyl and
polyfluoroalkyl substances, with certain exceptions. Takes effect 1/1/2027. (SD1)
• SB 2513 SD2 HD3
o Establishes a 3-year new wastewater system and individual wastewater system
technology demonstration and implementation pilot program within the University of
Hawaii Water Resources Research Center to examine and demonstrate new
wastewater and cesspool technology systems; implement those technologies in
demonstration projects in areas across the State that are identified as priority level 1
in the 2021 Hawaii Cesspool Hazard Assessment and Prioritization Tool, 2021 Report
and Technical Appendices; and establish similar prioritization categories for the
islands of Molokai, Lanai, and Niihau. Requires the University of Hawaii Water
Resource Research Center to submit annual interim reports and a final report to the
Legislature. Establishes positions. Makes appropriations. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD3)
• HB 2743 HD2 SD1
o Requires the University of Hawaii Water Resources Research Center and the
University of Hawaii Sea Grant College Program to develop an overlay with the
Hawaii Cesspool Prioritization Tool to identify specific priority areas in which the
county sewer system or other centralized treatment system could most feasibly be
expanded or constructed to reduce or eliminate cesspools before 1/1/2050. Authorizes
the counties to designate sewer improvement districts. Beginning July 1, 2025,
authorizes the counties to assess a cesspool pollution fee on real properties containing
a cesspool. Authorizes each county to establish a county cesspool closure and
mitigation special fund. Authorizes the counties to use cesspool pollution fee
revenues or other revenues, including real property tax revenues, for certain activities
that eliminate, reduce, or mitigate the impacts of cesspools, including the expansion
of county sewer systems and the issuance of grants and low-interest loans to property
owners. Declares that the general fund expenditure ceiling is exceeded. Makes an
appropriation. Takes effect 7/1/3000. (SD1)
• SB 504 SD1 HD3 (2023 holdover)
o Prohibits the manufacture, sale, offer for sale, distribution for sale, and distribution
for use of any food packaging, food service ware, cosmetic, or personal care product
that contains intentionally added perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, with
certain exceptions. Effective 6/30/3000. (HD3)
• HB 1396 HD2 SD2 (2023 holdover)
o Part I: Establishes and appropriates funds for a county cesspool pilot program in the
Department of Health to work with each county to identify a priority area to expand
the county sewage system or other centralized treatment system to connect individual
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properties in the priority area and reduce or eliminate cesspools in the identified area.
Part II: Creates a cesspool conversion section in the Department of Health to facilitate
the conversion of cesspools within the State. Establishes and appropriates funds for
positions. Part III: Requires the Department of Health to retain qualified consultants
to identify necessary public outreach and education resources and tools, and develop
a comprehensive public outreach strategy and educate homeowners regarding the
State's cesspool upgrade, conversion, and connection requirements and deadlines.
Part IV: Establishes, for all taxable years after December 31, 2023, an income tax
credit for the cost of upgrading or converting a qualified cesspool to a Director of
Health-approved wastewater system or connecting to a sewerage system. Requires
that, effective 11/1/23, certain information regarding cesspools on real property be
included in seller mandatory disclosures for real property transactions. Effective
6/30/3000. (SD2)
2. SOLID WASTE DIVISION PROJECTS AND UPDATES
RELOAD FACILITY UPDATE (new data shaded in gray)
Month/Year
Total Tons Taken
to Sort Station
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
Jan 2024 4,220.64
Feb 2024 3,642.65
Mar 2024 4,195.64
Total 49,041.52
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WHSL MONTHLY LANDFILL TONNAGES
Apr 2023 16,809.28
May 2023 17,215.66
Jun 2023 16,789.75
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
Jan 2024 17,638.46
Feb 2024 16,626.57
Mar 2024 17,451.76
Total 203,304.64
0.00
5,000.00
10,000.00
15,000.00
20,000.00
Apr May June July Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar
WHSL tonnage
WHSL tonnage
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MONTHLY TRANSFER STATION TONNAGES
The above table includes data on the waste disposed in the landfill (not the greenwaste or
recycling data).
1. Recycling, Greenwaste, 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
Month/Year EHRSS WHSL
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
Jan 2024 3,920.43 3,924.51
Feb 2024 2,797.54 3,564.28
Mar 2024 3,292.98 3,829.17
Total 39,185.11 44,486.29
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OCTOBER
2023 618.37 198.05 156.79 973.21
NOVEMBER
2023 450.55 357.19 133.88 941.62
DECEMBER
2023 488.58 191.38 117.34 797.30
JANUARY
2024 649.96 432.40 182.84 1,265.20
FEBRUARY
2024 521.29 293.18 141.56 956.03
TOTAL
7,665.64
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
DECEMBER
2023 27.71 74.99 14.64 117.34
JANUARY
2024 44.82 110.49 27.53 182.84
FEBRUARY
2024 31.67 92.40 17.49 141.56
1,207.42
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
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NOVEMBER
2023 612.06 1,670.34 452.54 2,734.94
DECEMBER
2023 655.85 1,254.68 436.23 2,346.76
JANUARY
2024 725.95 1,526.58 542.57 2,795.10
FEBRUARY
2024 606.38 1,594.47 457.13 2,657.98
TOTAL
22,325.97
TRANSFER STATION
GREEN WASTE
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
DECEMBER
2023 27.16 331.50 77.57 436.23
JANUARY
2024 109.87 348.49 114.67 573.03
FEBRUARY
2024 50.03 305.44 101.66 457.13
TOTAL 4,105.09
WHOF Mulch Backhauled
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
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NOVEMBER
2023 150.73 291.61 442.34
DECEMBER
2023 221.81 387.65 609.46
JANUARY
2024 267.56 121.30 388.86
FEBRUARY
2024 150.83 154.57 305.40
TOTAL 2,879.08
Mulch to Public and Commercial
DATE
Kealakehe
Mulch to
Public
(yards)
EHOF Mulch to
Public (yards)
EHOF
Mulch to
Commercial
(yards)
WHOF
Mulch
to
Public
(yards)
WHOF
Mulch to
Commercial
(yards)
Total
Mulch
Given
Out
(Yards)
JULY 2023 653 892 2,051 222 996 3,269
AUGUST 2023 731 850 2,257 225 1,686 4,168
SEPTEMBER
2023 673 893 1,988 273 2,208 4,469
OCTOBER
2023 657 810 1,737 264 1,002 3,003
NOVEMBER
2023 662 786 1,954 312 666 2,932
DECEMBER
2023 752 642 1,757 270 618 2,645
JANUARY
2024 614 775 1,711 207 624 2,542
FEBRUARY
2024 757 725 2,413 210 2,028 4,651
5,499 6,373 15,868 1,983 9,828 27,679
2. Solid Waste Operational Study update
The consultant reports that data gathering and review is complete. The process of documenting
current facility activities, programs, and interviews is near completion. Data analysis,
recommendations, and writing the draft report are currently in progress. Overall project remains
on schedule.
3. WASTEWATER DIVISION PROJECTS AND UPDATES.
1. Pāhala and Nā‘ālehu Large Capacity Cesspool Closure AOC
(Monthly on this project are posted at dem.hawaiicounty.gov/projects); an abbreviated version is
reprinted below)
9
Both communities
The County of Hawai‘i Department of Environmental Management held its semi-annual
community informational meeting in Pāhala on February 29 to give an update regarding the
closures of the large capacity cesspools in Pāhala and Nā‘ālehu. DEM discussed the County’s
tentative identification of the preferred option of a wastewater treatment plant for Pāhala with a
new collection system and encouraged public input. An update was also provided for the large
capacity cesspool closure project in Nā‘ālehu.
Pāhala
The County released the Amended Draft Environmental Information Document for a public
review and comment period that ended April 15. The Amended Draft EID explores and
compares environmental impacts for each of the four feasible options, and discusses the
County’s tentative selection of the preferred option of a wastewater treatment plant with a new
collection system (also known as Alternative 1). A community meeting to receive comments on
the Amended Draft EID was held April 10 at the Pāhala Community Center.
Nā‘ālehu
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. The Draft EID remains under development and will be released later this year, at
which time the County will solicit public comment.
(Verbal reports on the following:)
2. Countywide Wastewater AOC
3. Hilo WWTP upgrades
4. Wastewater Plans
1. Integrated Wastewater Management Plan and Public Engagements 1
2. Puakō and South Kohala Regional Wastewater Master Plan 2
4. Status of existing staff vacancies
Hilo Reusable Foodware System Workshop – April 16, 2024
1 VI.4.1 – IWWMP - https://www.dem.hawaiicounty.gov/projects/integrated-wastewater-management-plan
2 VI.4.2 – Puako/S. Kohala - https://www.dem.hawaiicounty.gov/projects/puako-and-south-kohala-regional-wastewater-
master-plan
4/18/2024
1
FY 2024-2025
Budget Review
FY 2024-2025
Budget Review
Department of
Environmental Management
Department Overview/Objectives for FY25
Business Services Section
Analyze sewer rate fees, solid waste tipping fees, vehicle disposal rates, and address
delinquencies to cover expenses. Recruit to fill vacancies. Review organizational structure to
become more efficient and ensure an appropriate level of staffing.
Solid Waste Division
Completion and release of Solid Waste Operational Analysis to drive policies and procedures
that best fit our County.
Wastewater Division
Award Hilo WWTP construction project; develop Integrated Wastewater Management Plan to
establish sewer service areas and road map for the public on their cesspool conversion options
through DOH. Meet compliance deadlines in Administrative Orders on Consent with EPA, DOH.
Vehicle Disposal
Coordinate removal of vehicles that have been classified as derelict or abandoned from public
and private roadways.
4/18/2024
2
Highlights
Asset Management Implementation: NEXGEN tracks performance, anticipates repairs,
optimizes resources, and prevents emergencies.
Enhanced Website: Improved accessibility, transparency, and communication with the
community.
Kicked off Countywide Wastewater AOC – received executed document March 27, 2024
Development of components of Integrated Wastewater Management Plan
Cesspool Conversion Master Plan
Facility Planning
Pāhala Large Capacity Cesspool Closure project: $10 million grant for Pāhala sewer collection
construction, going out to bid in 2024.
Hilo Wastewater Treatment Plant Rehabilitation Project: Going out to bid by May 2024; award to
follow.
Secured $1M in federal funding for WailoaSewage Pump Station renovations and $2M for
Onekahakaha (Zoo) SPS renovations.
Highlights
Solid Waste Operational Analysis: Anticipated to be complete by end of 2024.
Keep up with equipment inventory list for replacement and major repair.
Hilo Reusable Foodware Program to be funded by EPA grant is currently in design
Landfill gas collection system expansion to begin in FY 2024
Training highlights
Quarterly wastewater certification trainings being held
Wastewater Division staff attended a pretreatment conference in Arizona
Begun Project Management Training for staff: In-person and Webinars
FY 24 Supplementals
New Positions (To be allocated): SCADA program manager, Departmental Contracts
Assistant, Wastewater Division Chief, Civil Engineer V, Construction Inspector (2)
Equipment (ordered): 4-door pickup (SWD), Sampling pumps, Chairs &fall protection harness
WaieaTransfer Station land acquisition (In Progress)
Warehouse rental for East Hawai‘i Line Crew (Relocation complete)
Kailua Landfill Fire Control (Work has been completed to remediate the exterior slopes)
4/18/2024
3
Department Staffing
Total Positions: Filled Vacant Unfunded
•Admin/Business Services 32 20 8 4
•Wastewater Division 101 59 40 2
•Solid Waste Division 140 110 20 10
•DAV Program 5 3 2 0
Information accurate as of 3/1/2024
Total positions: 278
Total vacant: 86
Staffing levels continue to be a challenge; however the Department continues to work on
allocating new positions and filling vacancies.
Budget Overview
Three special funds
SW Fund $52.1M
WW Fund $26.4M
VD Fund $4.6M
Transfers from
General Fund
SW Fund $30.6M
Sewer Fund $5.9M
VD Fund $0
Solid Waste Fund:
$3.9 million
increase
(+8.1 percent)
Sewer Fund:
3.2 million increase
(+14 percent)
Vehicle Disposal
Fund
$380K decrease
(-7.6 percent)
The special funds
cover the $2.2M
Admin Division
budget
(+8.2 percent)
62.7%
31.8%
5.5%
FY 24-25 DEM Special Funds
Solid Waste Fund $52.1M Sewer Fund $26.4M
Vehicle Disposal Fund $4.6M
Solid Waste
Sewer
4/18/2024
4
Supplementals
FY25
•Admin:
•First Aid (AED) Trainer Equipment
•Office Signage
•Wastewater Division:
•Increase Consulting Services by $300,000
•Trades Helper positions (2)
•Mechanical Repairer Helper positions (2)
•Vehicle Disposal:
•Clerk III position
•Solid Waste Division
•Allowance for tipping fee waivers for community cleanups
•Solid Waste Supervisor II position for Pu‘uanahulu Landfill
•Solid Waste Supervisor position for Ka‘ū
•Pump truck lease financing (11)
What’s new for FY25
•Finalize structural reorganization of the Department
•Compliance with all Administrative Orders on Consent
•Initiate policies and procedures based on:
•Solid Waste Operational Analysis report
•Integrated Wastewater Management Plan
•Sewer Rate Study
•Wastewater Pretreatment Program
4/18/2024
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Thank you