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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2002-02-27 Enviromental Management Commission Minutes Minutes for Wednesday, February 27, 2002Page 1 of 3 Return to: Home Page | Table of Contents | Commission Page ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT COMMISSION MINUTES Wednesday, February 27, 2002 9:12 a.m. County Council Room 25 Aupuni Street, Room 201, Hilo, Hawai‘i 96720 PRESENT:Barbara BellALSO PRESENT:Mayor Harry Kim Riley SmithSteve Cassulo Luana JonesJohn Ray Carolyn WitcherTiffany Edwards (West Hawai‘i Today) Sam KawamuraJon Olson David FrankelChristine Ross Walter Iida STAFF:Galen KubaMike DuBois Peter Boucher Larry CapellasEXCUSED:Peter Martin Gerald TakaseHugh Ono Kathy Garson Kristen GriffithsABSENT:Mack Asato 1.CALL TO ORDER Riley Smith called the meeting to order at 9:12 a.m. 2.APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF JANUARY 22, 2002 MEETING Barbara Bell moved to approve the minutes. David Frankel seconded the motion. On page two, fourth Motion line, Jon Olson’s comment should be revised to read, "The Hilo Landfill will close in 30 months." was unanimously carried. 3.STATEMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC ON ITEMS LISTED ON AGENDA Steve Cassulo of Waste Management handed out information on baling and gasification. Most of the baling systems on the mainland are done by City and County operations. None are really done by private firms due to the cost issue. The cost to run a baler is more expensive because you must have a transfer/recycling area to separate the waste that can’t be baled. The waste that can’t be baled does have to be landfilled. You would have two different types of landfills at the same site which doubles the cost of operations. Baling reduces wind blown litter, saves space in the landfill and saves landfill cover, but the cost is the big issue. Baling saves approximately 10%-15% of the life of the landfill. Baling provides for resource recovery when the market prices for goods are profitable. The location of certain types of trash will have to be tracked so it may be recovered at a later date, if desired. Tarping for the West Hawai‘i site should be approved in the next few months. This will also help cut down on space and cover in the landfill. Every four to five days, the whole cell area of trash is covered with fill which provides a fire break. 4.APPROVAL OF ADDENDUM AND/OR SUPPLEMENTAL AGENDA None. 5.MAYOR TO ADDRESS THE COMMISSION file://C:\Test1\minutes022702.htm6/22/2011 Minutes for Wednesday, February 27, 2002Page 2 of 3 Mayor Harry Kim thanked the Commissioners for serving on the Commission. The Mayor wanted to select people that truly reflected care and concern for the community. The Mayor elaborated on the Hawai‘i Metal Recycling situation. HMR thought they signed a contract with the County of Hawai‘i that was beneficial to them financially, but because of international economics, the contract agreement signed several years ago is counter productive in profit today. HMR asked the County of Hawai‘i to renegotiate the contract. The short term resolution is that HMR will continue to work for the remainder of the contractual period which will terminate on October 14, 2002. During this period, the County will see what they can do on a long term resolution of this problem in regards to rebidding or negotiation. Of all the projects Mayor Kim is going to get involved with, nothing will be more important than the issue of solid waste and the closure of the Hilo Landfill. The County has limited resources and a tight schedule. The Commission needs to start addressing specific things that can be realistically pursued. Continuing with the mentality of putting everything into the landfill is totally unacceptable. This is the commitment we made to the island’s people. For the interim period, some things may have to be put in the West Hawai‘i landfill. There are many ideas about recycling, but many of them are not based on the reality of economics. We have to make sure we can do it financially. Mayor Kim will be involved at a micro-management level in some of these projects. It is not for interference, but because it is important. It is to work with the commission and the staff to see how we can help to get the projects going as fast as we can. 6.CORRESPONDENCE/REPORTS/DISCUSSION Director’s Report  Discussed letter to Marjorie Ann Erway Re: Recycling and County Diversion Grant Program. Galen Kuba will provide data on cost comparisons for solid waste going into the Pu‘uanahulu Landfill, a comparison of what the budget is and what the budget should be, and also copies of the Resolution drafted by Corporation Counsel which will involve County Council in the approval of the Integrated Solid Waste Management Plan. Solid Waste Division Chief’s Report (Including Update on HOVE Transfer Station)  As circulated. Larry Capellas asked the Commission to make a recommendation to give the Department of Environmental Management the authority to proceed with the development of a Regional Transfer Station prior to the adoption of the Integrated Solid Waste Management Plan. Mr. Capellas will provide the scope, a cost estimate, and a schedule which will identify the role of the Commission. Galen Kuba will draft recommended language for a motion for the Commission to support the philosophy of doing this project without having to get an approved Integrated Solid Waste Management Plan. Wastewater Division Chief’s Report  As circulated. Part of the chlorination system malfunctioned at the Kulaimano Wastewater Treatment Plant which resulted in 50,000 gallons of non-disinfected effluent being discharged into the ocean overnight. DOH requested that WWD advertise a public notice regarding this situation. The pump failed first, then the relay which triggers the backup pump failed, and then the alarm system didn’t go off. Riley Smith recommended that a preventative maintenance measure be implemented, along with periodic testing of installed alarms to prevent further recurrence. The Hilo WWTP has failed two of the six weekly toxicity tests performed. Testing is ongoing. Questions were raised on whether the Wastewater Division should disclose any potential safety concerns to the general public (in the near shore waters), due to these permit problems. It was agreed that the Wastewater Division would coordinate any disclosure issues with the State Department of Health, as they are the government agency that has oversight responsibility of the NPDES permit that governs wastewater disposal in the ocean. 7.OLD BUSINESS None. file://C:\Test1\minutes022702.htm6/22/2011 Minutes for Wednesday, February 27, 2002Page 3 of 3 8.NEW BUSINESS Approval of Ordinance Amending Chapters 20 and 21, Hawai‘i County Code, to allow  Keaau Transfer Station Pilot Project to Operate Within the County Code Deferred. Approval of Memorandum of Understanding Between Hawai‘i County and Hawai‘i Island  Economic Development Board for Keaau Transfer Station Pilot Project. Deferred. The Keaau Transfer Station Pilot Project will hopefully provide some good data on recycling, reusing and diverting as much as possible at one transfer station. Which commodities would be collected is still to be decided, but have discussed doing a trial of #2 plastic. There will be a lot of educational components. The whole idea is that it would be replicable around the island and we could see what it really costs and what we can really pull out. Hopefully, this data will help the County make good decisions. This project may last as long as a year. 9.FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS Update on Bottle Bill (Suzanne Jones or Andy Levin)  Update on Hilo Wastewater Treatment Plant (Toxicity Issues)  Update on Fee Bills  Recycling Opportunities at Volcano Transfer Station  10.ANNOUNCEMENTS Wednesday, March 27, 2002, 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m., Hawai‘i County Council Room, 25 Aupuni Street, Room 201, Hilo, Hawai‘i 96720 Wednesday, April 24, 2002, 8:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m., Waimea Civic Center, 67-5175 Kamamalu Street, Kamuela, Hawai‘i 96743 Wednesday , May 22, 2002, 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m., Hawai‘i County Council Room, 25 Aupuni Street, Room 201, Hilo, Hawai‘i 96720 Wednesday, June 26, 2002, Kona Police Department Conference Room, 74-5221 Queen Ka‘ahumanu Highway, Kailua-Kona, Hawai‘i 96740 11.ADJOURNMENT David Frankel moved to adjourn the meeting. Carolyn Witcher seconded the motion. Motion was carried unanimously. Meeting was adjourned at 11:28 a.m. Minutes Respectfully Submitted by: ___________________________________ KRISTEN GRIFFITHS Interim Environmental Management Secretary Return to: Home Page | Table of Contents | Commission Page ©Copyright 2002 County of Hawaii, Hawaii file://C:\Test1\minutes022702.htm6/22/2011