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Home My WebLink About2026-01-28 EMC AGENDA Dr. C. Kimo AlamedaErica Perez MayorChair Daniel Girvan, P.E.Justin Canelas Director, Department ofVice Chair Environmental Management County of Hawai‘i ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT COMMISSION -- MEETING AGENDA Pursuant to Hawai‘i Revised Statutes Chapter 92, this meeting will be online with a location available to the public. The public may attend either in person, online, or by telephone. Wednesday, January 28, 2026 DATE: TIME:9:00 a.m. IN PERSON:Puna Conference Room, Hawaii County Building 25 Aupuni Street, Hilo ONLINE: Via Zoom https://www.zoomgov.com/j/1612028078 (Meeting ID: 161 202 8078) PHONE: +1 669 254 5252 (Enter the meeting ID, see above) STATEMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC: To ensure timely delivery to commissioners, please submit written testimony before 12:00 noon on the business day prior to the meeting by (1) email to cohdem@hawaiicounty.govor (2) facsimiles to (808) 961-8086. When submitting written testimony, please specify for which agenda item it is being submitted. All written testimony will be part of the public record. Pursuant to HRS §92-3, interested persons who want to provide oral testimony may do so either at the time the Commission takes public statements on items on the agenda, or at the time the specific agenda item is called, subject to applicable statutes and rules of procedure. I.CALL TO ORDER 1 II.APPROVAL OF MINUTES FOR October 22, 2025 III.INTRODUCTION OF NEW STAFF MEMBERS ANDDIRECTOR OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT IV.PUBLIC STATEMENTS ON ITEMS ON THE AGENDA The public may provide testimony at this time or at the time the agenda item is called. Public testimony must be related to an item on the agenda and pursuant to Commission 1 II –Draft Minutes -https://records.hawaiicounty.gov/weblink/1/edoc/152276/2025-10- 22%20EMC%20minutes%20draft.pdf Rule 1-5(i)(2), the Chairperson may limit the length of any person’s testimony as long as each speaker is accorded a minimum of three minutes. V. UPDATES FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT (DEM) 1. Solid Waste Division Updates: a. DEM will address community request for presentation on the solar panel reuse program and disposal and management of electric vehicle (EV) batteries, noting hazards, shipping complications, and limited acceptance by current handlers. b. Update regarding the passing of Bill 83 relating to plastic and the strategy for implementation, approach to addressing recommendations for success, and 2 timeline for engagement. 2. Wastewater Division Updates: a. DEM will provide an update on the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) administrative order on consent (AOC)and identify the objectives and goals for this year, outlining important review timelines and opportunities for EMC to provide input. 3 b. Integrated Wastewater Management Plan Updates i. Presentation from DEM on the Mayor’s 2025 Cesspool Task Force Report and Recommendations for cesspool conversion and how this 4 integrates with the IWMP and timeline. c. DEM to provide an update on the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit applications that are in process. d. DEM to provide update on the past EMC recommendation and input on how to proceed with current planning: 5 i. Kealakehe Water Reuse –EMC Recommendation 2021 VI. UNFINISHED BUISNESS 1. DEM to provide timeline for optimal participation from EMC to offer support and 2 IV.1.b: EMC letter regarding Bill 83 - https://records.hawaiicounty.gov/weblink/1/edoc/152991/11.05.25%20EMC%20Letter%20to%20Counc il%20Re%20Bill%2083.pdf 3 V.2.b: IWW- https://www.dem.hawaiicounty.gov/projects/integrated-wastewater-management- plan 4 V.2.b.i: 2025 Cesspool Task Force Report - https://records.hawaiicounty.gov/weblink/1/edoc/152993/Hawaii%20Island%20Cesspool%20Conversio n%20Task%20Force%202025%20Report.pdf and Executive Summary - https://records.hawaiicounty.gov/weblink/1/edoc/152992/Executive%20Summary%20- %20Hawaii%20Island%20Cesspool%20Conversion%20Task%20Force%202025%20Report.pdf 5 V.2.d.i: Kealakehe Water Reuse – EMC Recommendation 2021 - https://records.hawaiicounty.gov/WebLink/DocView.aspx?id=112850&searchid=bc5f1550-3491-48a5- 8178-4c4cf9365f1b&dbid=1&cr=1 recommendations to the Operation and Maintenance Budget and Capital Improvement Budget processes so Chair can develop a standing calendar and 6 reference document to support future actions. VII. NEW BUSINESS 1. Discussion on how the Environmental Management Commission (EMC) can facilitate efforts to identify financing options for sanitation improvements and promote cesspool conversion. This initiative may be addressed through future public agenda items or by establishing a newly formed Permitted Interaction Group (PIG). 2. Discussion on how the EMC can assist the DEM in addressing the Hawaii Cesspool Task Force recommendation’s 2025 report that will support cesspool conversion outreach and implementation. 3. EMC will review the 2026 Hawaii County Bill Package for Cesspool Conversion and 7 discuss if they will offer input or recommendations. 4. Annual election of EMC Chair and Vice Chair. VIII. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS 1. Commissioners and members of the public may email items for consideration on the next agenda to Chair Perez by Friday, February 6, 2026. IX. ANNOUNCEMENTS 8 1. The EMC has Commissioner vacancies for Districts 2, 3, 5, and 8. 2. The next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, February 25, 2026, at Community Meeting Hale (Building G). Please contact the Board Secretary or review the agenda 9 posted on the County Calendar within six days of the next meeting for confirmation. 10 3. See current schedule for EMC for 2026. X. ADJOURNMENT Note: A meeting held by interactive conference technology shall be automatically recessed for up to 30 minutes to restore communication when audiovisual communication cannot be maintained with all members participating in the meeting or with the “in person” location identified in this agenda. The meeting may reconvene when either audiovisual communication is restored, or audio-only communication is established after an unsuccessful attempt to restore audiovisual communication. If it is not possible to reconvene the meeting as provided in this subsection within 30 minutes after an interruption to communication, the meeting will be in recess and will attempt to reconvene at 1:00 p.m. on the same day, using the same meeting ID listed on Page 1 of this agenda. If at that time a quorum of 6 VI.1: Timeline - 7 - - 8 IX.1: Boards and Commissions - https://www.hawaiicounty.gov/our-county/boards-and-commissions 9 IX.2: Hawai‘i County Calendar - https://www.hawaiicounty.gov/our-county/county-calendar 10 IX.3: 2026 schedule - remote members and the in-person members are unable to establish and maintain at least an audio-only connection by 1:15 p.m., then the meeting shall be automatically terminated. The regular meeting place is accessible to persons with disabilities. To request an auxiliary aid or language translation, please call (808) 961-8083 five days prior to the meeting date. Comments may be sent to the Department of Environmental Management, 3 cohdem@hawaiicounty.gov. Notice to lobbyists: of becoming a lobbyist. \[Chapter 2, Article 15, Section 2- “any individual engaged for pay or other consideration who spends more than five hours in any month or $275 in any six-month period for the purpose of attempting to influence legislative or administrative action by communicating or urging others to communicate with public officials.” \[Chapter 2, Article 15, Section 2- the Office of the County Clerk-