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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2012-07-25 Minutes Environmental Management CommissionENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT COMMISSION July 25, 2012 W. M. Keck Observatory, Stone Conference Room, 65 -1120 Mamalahoa Highway, Kamucla, HI 96743 COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Sherm Warner Anne Lee Stan Boren Bruce Lim Trina Nahm -Mijo (9:40 a.m.) Thomas Randle EXCUSED: Steven Okoji Russell Ruderman ALSO PRESENT: Paul Buklarewicz Nancy Cook -Lauer Christine Dochin Keith l±ukunage Robert Green Jo Kim Kristine Kubat Jenna Long Jeff Melrose J. William Sanborn Colleen Schrandt Sonny Shimaoka Brittany Smart Margaret Wille STAFF: Dora Beck, Acting Director Robin Bauman, Business Manager Greg Goodale, SWD Chief Sharron Henry, Secretary Ivan Torigoe, Deputy Corp. Counsel CALL TO ORDER & ANNOUNCEMENTS: Commission Chair Sherm Warner called the meeting to order at 9:02 a.m. and recognized the presence of Bob Green, Brittany Smart and Bill Sanborn. 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF MAY 23, 2012 MEETING MINUTES: Commissioner Anne Lee moved to approve the May 23, 2012 minutes as written. Commissioner Randle seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously. 3. APPROVAL OF ADDENDUM AND /OR SUPPLEMENTAL AGENDA: None 4. STATEMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC ON ITEMS LISTED ON AGENDA: None CORRESPONDENCE /REPORTS/DISCUSSION: Director's Report (attached to original minutes) — Additional discussion: WASTEWATER (WWD) KALANIANA`OLE AVE. SEWER REHABILITATION PROJECT: A public meeting was held on July 19, 2012 at Aunty Sally's Luau House to update residents on the project. The Mazda dealership's concern regarding customer access was addressed by the division. Residents requested that speed humps be installed during the project. The preliminary field work will begin in August and the estimated completion date is April, 2013. HONOKA'A LARGE CAPACITY CESSPOOL REPLACEMENT: The sewer hook -up requirement letters were sent to residents this week. The residents have 180 days to connect to the sewer upon receipt of the sewer hook -up letters. NA`ALEHU LARGE CAPACITY CESSPOOL REPLACEMENT: - The previously identified location as a possible site for the Secondary Wastewater Treatment facility was determined to have historical significance during the archaeological investigation. Another alternate area in the vicinity, although smaller, has been identified and preliminarily appears to be suitable. Further investigation will be conducted in late 2012. - A public meeting will be scheduled before construction begins. SEWER RATE STUDY UPDATE: The department has been meeting with the Department of Water Supply (DWS) and working on the sewer delinquencies issue which should be addressed in preparation for a rate increase. A more concrete plan will be in place between the departments before the DEM requests a sewer rate increase. The Director confirmed that some projects have been rescheduled due to limited staffing. SOLID WASTE (SWM COMPLIANCE: The State Department of Health (DOH) received a complaint relating to dust dispersion at the Kealakehe green waste facility. The vendor was notified immediately and dust suppression measures were implemented, grinding operations were halted and the drop -off area was watered down. SWD will continue to monitor the situation as necessary. RECYCLING SECTION E- WASTE: • An Electronics Recycling Fact Sheet was distributed (attached to the original minutes). • $100,000 has been budgeted this fiscal year for E -waste collection and disposal. An Invitation for Bids (IFB) 42825 was published and bids received. The county received a zero cost bid and is in the process of awarding a contract. • Information regarding County and private electronics recycling companies is available on the SWD website at http: / /www.hawaiizerowastse.or /g recycI /e- waste. PLASTIC BAG ORDINANCE: T� • The County Administration has contracted with Jeff Melrose to assist the department in preparing the administrative rules (along with other County projects). • A working group consisting of stakeholders will be created to discuss the administrative rules and review the education and outreach plans. A tentative date was set for 8/23/2012. created to set an implementation timeline. • Providing education to impacted businesses will be a large part of the process. • The rules will address authority, definitions and penalty issues. • A draft of the rules should be completed in mid - August and review of, and input from, the commissioners will be agendized for the September meeting. HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE: • The next event is scheduled for Wai`ohinu on September 8, 2012 from 5:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. STATE RECYCLING GRANTS: DOH has finalized four grants to the County: o $765,000 for HI5 program o $100,000 for Electronic Recycling to pay for the County's collection event o $55,000 for Used Motor Oil Recycling o $129,200 for Glass Recycling through the Advanced Disposal Fee (ADF) program ■ Some approved uses of recycled glass include roads, new glass, fill materials and glasscrete. FOLLOW -UP FROM LAST MEETING JOINT BILLING EFFORTS WITH DEPARTMENT OF WATER SUPPLY: • Ongoing meetings are been held with DWS relating to water shutoff to help DEM with collection efforts on sewer delinquent accounts. • The July 201h meeting with DWS was positive with DWS staff open to assist DEM with water shut off. • DWS would do the physical water shut -off and DEM would be responsible for any other functions such as sending notices and contact with the users. • Joint Billing will be discussed at a later time after the DWS new software program has been installed. • The next meeting is scheduled for August 12, 2012. BUDGET UPDATE: • There was one amendment to the FY 12 -13 Operating Budget which increased funding in the Admin budget for advertising, mileage and meals so the Commission could meet more frequently if they chose. The funds were transferred from the overtime budget. INFORMATION ON ADMINISTRATIVE RULE: FAT, OIL AND GREASE (FOG) DISCHARGE AND PROHIBITION INTO THE PUBLIC SEWER (HCC 21 -7(c) and (d), AND (d), and HCC 21 -9(2) • The prior Director wanted to allow grease traps in place of grease interceptors whereas the WWD previously required that grease interceptors be installed in accordance with City and County of Honolulu Grease Interceptor requirements. • DEM proposes to reinstitute the requirement that grease interceptors be installed in order to minimize discharges of grease to the sewer system. • This requirement will be for new businesses whose focus will include food preparation and service. UPDATE ON STATUS OF DELINQUENCIES AND ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE EFFORTS: • After revising policies and procedures for dealing with delinquent accounts, landfill access denial letters have been sent to the first group of delinquent customers. • A large number of this first group is inactive or sporadic users, while only few are commercial haulers. • Many of these customers have responded and made payment arrangements. • Commission Member Randle requested updates of basic statistics be provided in the Director's Report regarding the amount of money collected through the filing of lawsuits and the denial letters to include summary of amounts owed and summary of amounts recovered. Commissioner District Update Reports: - DISTRICT 6: Commissioner Lee reported that the community is concerned with the deteriorating walls of the Volcano Transfer Station and would like to have this repair as a priority for the SWD. 6. UNFINISHED BUSINESS Commission Role and Strategic Plan discussion to include Sub - Committee Report on revision of Commission Goals — for Discussion and Action: The Sub - committee is requesting the department to provide: o Information regarding the Request for Proposal (RFP) processes. o More information between the commission meetings. • Deputy Corporation Counsel Torigoe clarified that a tied vote is generally considered "no action ", not a negative vote. Commissioner Anne Lee's Report on Available Grants for the Department and change of research scope to include other funding sources • This project is ongoing and Commissioner Lee will provide research topics to be agendized and discussed at the next meeting. Department response to the Hilo Landfill Feasibility Study if available. The report fulfilled the goal of delivering information on feasibility and cost - effectiveness but a final decision on a solid waste management plan for the county will not be based solely on this report. - The department's plan is to bring discussion of alternatives to the communities and receive public input prior to a final decision being made. The department will meet with the mayor in the next few weeks to continue discussion and to schedule community meetings. The discussion of 3 alternatives will begin today with the SWD Chief's overview of: o various Waste -to- energy (WTE) options o a new lined landfill in Hilo o Long - hauling to West Hawaii Sanitary Landfill (WHSL) Department Report on the results of the pilot study (hauling solid waste to West Hawaii Sanitary Landfill) if available (Presentation and Letter Report attached to the original minutes) SWD Chief Greg Goodale made presentation: • Since 1992 various studies have recommended more than one alternative for solid waste disposal. • In 2002, the Update to the Integrated Solid Waste Management Plan (ISWMP) recommended: • Construct no new landfills in East Hawaii, and • Procure a waste reduction facility for the East Hawaii waste stream using either mass -burn WTE, thermal gasification or anaerobic digestion technology. • In 2004, the first Request for Proposal (RFP) was issued and cancelled by the County prior to award. • In 2006, a second RFP was issued, awarded to Wheelabrator Technologies for construction of a mass -burn WTE facility. • In 2008, due to higher than anticipated construction and operation costs, the County Council rejected the Wheelabrator RFP. • In 2009, the Updated Integrated Resources and Solid Waste Management Plan's (1RSWP) residual management strategy recommendations were to evaluate the feasibility and cost - effectiveness of a new lined landfill adjacent to the South Hilo Sanitary landfill (SHSL) and long - hauling solid waste to the West Hawaii Sanitary Landfill (WHSL). • In 2011, DEM executed a contract with R.W. Beck to evaluate and provide a feasibility study report. • On March 28, 2012, the Hilo Landfill Feasibility Study (HLFS) was finalized. o The renort's opinion was that while technically feasiMe. nermittinu and land ncP rnnetraintc and leachate management issues made design and permitting of a landfill expansion impractical and uneconomical. o Based on the updated and refined planning level cost estimates, long - hauling from SHSL to WHSL was a potentially feasible and more cost - effective disposal alternative. On January 27, 2012, the SWD initiated a long -haul pilot study between East Hawaii and the WHSL. • The purpose of the study was to field test the hauling assumptions and verify the planning -level cost estimates presented in the HLFS report. • The intent was to collect a sufficient amount of data on a short -term basis and it was determined that 3 months was an adequate amount of time to field test the hauling assumptions. • Annual cost -range comparisons of the 3 solid waste alternatives: • Waste -to- Energy: $80 to $210 /ton • New Hilo Landfill: $92 to $110 /ton • Hauling to WHSL: $52 to $71 /ton • Details of the study, including procedures, summary of data (to include performance data, estimated study cost and annual projected cost data), along with discussion and conclusions are available on line at the County of Hawai'i, DEM /SWD website: http: // records .co.hawaii.hi.us /weblink/Browse aspx ?startid= 61384 &dbid =l • Goodale explained the definition of "avoided cost" as it was used in the report. • Christine Dochin, a member of the last Solid Waste Advisory Committee (SWAG), clarified that the 2009 IRSWMP did not recommend that WTE proposals be set aside and the report will be revised to reflect this. • The money that will be paid by HELCO to purchase electricity from the WTE facility was part of the evaluation that was done as part of the Request for Proposal (RFP). • Overtime was factored in. • The cost for the physical closure of the SHSL has been estimated at between $18 and $20 million. The post closure monitoring costs have not been calculated. • The SWD is required to monitor and maintain the closed landfill site for at least 30 years according to Federal and State regulations. This includes groundwater monitoring, gas monitoring, monitoring and maintenance of liner systems, monitoring and maintenance of any stormwater runoff systems and general grounds maintenance. • The 2009 IRSWMP attempts to look at various management options for a specific period of time. Within this report, the recommendation was to further evaluate the option of landfill expansion and trucking. It recommended looking at WTE in the next planning period if it made sense for the County to do so. The County does not have a plan that looks beyond the IRSWMP at this time. • Goodale estimated that the life of the SHSL is approximately 8 years and the life of the WHSL is approximately 30 years. There is the potential for significantly greater lifespan if the supbgrade at WHSL was lowered and if the County chose to pursue sue of the land on the east side of the existing site. • This report will be presented to the County Council at its August 14, 2012 meeting. 7. NEW BUSINESS Presentation by Pacific Biodiesel relating to their facility and operations (attached to original minutes) - Jenna Long provided the following information: o Pacific Biodiesel was started in 1996 and was the first biodiesel station in the United States o Description of Biodiesel: what it is; what it is not o The Pacific Biodiesel facilities and processing plants o The scope and information regarding the new Big Island Biodiesel plant in Shipman Industrial Center o The Biofuel Crop Demo Project on Oahu Presentation by Recycle Hawaii relating to the $100,000 Department of Health a -waste funding and how it can be spent effectively to address a -waste recycling • Paul Buklarewicz, Executive Director, indicated that they were unaware of the RFP when they asked to be on the agenda. • In 2010, a -waste disposal consisted of computers and computer components. • In 2011, TVs were added. • There is no microwave recycling. • There is no recycling of e -waste on the island -- only collection and shipping. Recycling of a -waste is not feasible on the island. • Suggestions: o Use the $100,000 State grant for diversion credit for a -waste collectors o Repeal the current State law which is flawed and implement a new one which does away with mail -back as the only option o Recycle Hawaii supports a -waste recycling and DEM efforts. • Mr. Buklarewicz introduced Keith Fukunage, an employee of Mr.K's Recycling, who read a letter from Roy Kadota, owner of Mr. K's (attached to original minutes), requesting assistance and support from the county with diversion funding. Ordinance amending Hawaii County Code Ch.2, Art. 40, Section 2 -207 specifying that Environmental Management Commission (EMC) advisory powers cover solid waste and wastewater programs and pilot projects, and adding that any comments /recommendations on these matters be forwarded to the council. Also adding that EMC and Director shall each submit to the council comments and recommendations on all legislation relating to the department of Environmental Management (attached to the original minutes) (TAKEN OUT OF ORDER AT THE REQUEST OF COUNCIL MEMBER SMART) • Council member Smart offered the following comments: • She is requesting the commission to be more pro - active and advise the department more on the department budget. • The bills being introduced relating to the department should come to the commission first and then to council with the commission's recommendations. • She wants the commission to increase their meetings to monthly. • SECTION 4. Effective date of the ordinance will be amended. • Logistics of how the commission will receive the documents and communicate with the council was discussed. Meeting Schedule -- Discussion and Action on increasing the number of meetings held each year • Options for increasing the number of meetings annually were discussed. o Hold a Special Meeting in August to review and provide input on the Plastic Bag Administrative Rules. Commissioner Randle made a motion to meet in August and review the Plastic Bag Administrative Rules. Lee seconded the motion. After further discussion, it was determined that the draft would probably not be ready for review at an August meeting and the motion failed with Lee, Randle and Warner voting for, and Lim and Nahm -Miyo voting against. It was decided to agendize the Admin Rules for the September meeting. • Hold a Special Meeting in August and possibly more meetings in between the regularly scheduled meeting as a trial prior to permanently increasing the meetings. • Hold Special Meetings only when needed. • Video conferencing was discussed as a way to make it more convenient to attend monthly meetings. • Lee made a motion to increase the number of commission meetings from 6 to 12 a year. Randle seconded the motion and it passed unanimously. • A sub - committee was formed to research and bring back to the commission the procedure for changing the Commission Rules to accommodate monthly meetings. The sub - committee members are Commissioners Nahm -Miyo, Randle, Warner and Okoji if he is available. 8. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS • September Meeting: Site visit to Kealakehe Wastewater Treatment Plant • Plastic Bag Ordinance Administrative Rules • Sub - committee report on Commission Rule change to accommodate monthly meetings. • Sewer Rate Study presentation relating to the findings. • Sewer Connection Waiver /Exemption Policy Update to include expected date of implement. • Topics relating to Commissioner Lee's Available Grant Funding research 9. MEETING ANNOUNCEMENTS • September 26, 2012, Kona Liquor Control Conference Room, Bldg. B, 2'd Floor, Kailua -Kona, HI • November 28, 2012, Hilo, Puna Conf Room — County Bldg. (Room 1501), Hilo, HI 10. SITE VISIT TO HAWAIIAN FRESH EGG FARM /ORGANA -GROW, 62 -2670 KAWAIHAE RD. KAMUELA, HI • The meeting was recessed at 12:21 p.m. to travel to the site. 11. ADJOURNMENT • The meeting adjourned at 1 p.m, and the site visit was cancelled for lack of quorum. Minutes Respectfully Submitted y: ' SHARRON HENRY Environmental Management Secretary FORMAT NOTE: ACTION ITEMS ARE IN BOLD PRINT (MOTIONS AND ITEMS REQUIRING ACTION TO BE TAKEN 1-OR FUTURE MEETINGS).