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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2014-07-23 Environmental Management Commission Minutes ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT COMMISSION MINUTES July 23,2014 West Hawai'i Civic Center, Community Meeting Hale (Bldg G), Kailua-Kona, HI West Hawai'i Sanitary Landfill and Organics Facility, Pu'uanahulu,HI COMMISSIONERS ALSO PRESENT: Anne Lee, Chair PRESENT: Mark Cummings Thom Randle, Vice Chair Christine Dochin Jeffry Fear Mike Kaha Trina Nahm-Mijo Alison Keith Susie Osborne Sherm Warner STAFF: BJ Leithead Todd, Director Chris Thayer, Recycling Specialist EXCUSED: Bruce Lim Sharron Henry, Secretary Amy Self,Deputy Corporation Counsel 1. CALL TO ORDER&ANNOUNCEMENTS: Commission Chair Anne Lee called the meeting to order at 9:10 a.m. and announced the location of the site visits during this meeting. 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF JUNE 25,2014 MEETING: Commissioner Thom Randle moved to approve the June 25,2014 minutes as written. Commissioner Sherm Warner seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously with members present: Fear,Lee,Nahm-Mijo, Osborne,Randle and Warner voting yes. 3. APPROVAL OF ADDENDUM AND/OR SUPPLEMENTAL AGENDA: Commissioner Susie Osborne made a motion to approve the addition of the Environmental Management Commission response to the Cost of Government Commission (attached to original minutes) to the agenda. Commissioner Warner seconded the motion and the motion passed unanimously with members present: Fear,Lee,Nahm-Mijo, Osborne,Randle and Warner voting yes. After review of the response drafted by Chair Anne Lee, Commissioner Randle made a motion to approve the response as written. Commissioner Fear seconded the motion and it passed unanimously with members present: Fear, Lee,Nahm-Mijo, Osborne,Randle and Warner voting yes. 4. STATEMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC ON ITEMS LISTED ON AGENDA: None 5. CORRESPONDENCE/REPORTS/DISCUSSION: • Director's Report(attached to original minutes): Wastewater Division 1. COMPLIANCE: A. Treatment and Disposal: - Ulu Wini Wastewater Treatment Plant(WWTP): Office of Housing and Community Development(OHCD)had the responsibility of construction and operations of the wastewater facility for the 96 units. It is a private system and not part of the county sewer system. - WWD reported issues of past non-compliance with the Underground Injection Control (UIC) Permit to DOH after assuming oversight of the operations and maintenance contract with Wastewater Pumping Specialties (WWPS)in March. WWD is working with WWPS to find solutions to avoid non-compliance issues in the future. County of Hawaii is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer. - WWD will be meeting with WWPS to address odor complaints of sewage at the plant. - There continues to be a concern regarding meeting the National Park Service requirements. 2. OPERATIONS: A. Unscheduled repairs/upgrades/replacement of failing equipment due to age and prolonged wear and tear continue at the HWWTP. 4. WASEWATER CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS: C. North Kona Sewer&Effluent Reuse Upgrade: - DEM continues to wait for DOT's review of the MOU. E. Kealakehe Aeration Upgrade and Sludge Removal: - $16M is budgeted for the sludge removal project. - Bid process is on hold due to a current bid protest. F. Kealakehe WWTP Effluent R-1 Upgrade: - This project will follow the completion of the sludge removal project.. - DEM continues to work with Department of Parks and Recreation(DPR) and Queen Lili`uokalani Trust(QLT)to provide reuse water for the Maka`eo project. - DEM is also working with DPR to provide reuse water for the Kealakehe Regional Park. - Commissioner Randle requested continued briefings and phase summaries on the R-1 upgrades. H. Sewer Rate Study Update: - DEM plans to take request for sewer rate increase before the Council in early 2015. - The request would be for a gradual annual increase from the current$27/month to $45/month. Solid Waste Division 1. OPERATIONS - Removal of scrap metal from Hilo has been completed and WHSL scrap removal has begun. 2. ADMINISTRATION - The Division is making progress in the hiring of an Environmental Compliance position which will assist with various environmental compliance contracts and permit compliance issues. 3. SOLID WASTE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS - Wai`ohinu Transfer Station—Preliminary work has begun for issuing a design build contract for improvements to the Wai`ohinu Transfer Station. Reuse and recycling areas are being reviewed, along with the possibility that this transfer station could be used as a re-packing site for other nearby transfer stations. 4. COMPLIANCE - Transfer Station Permit Renewal applications are being prepared by a consultant for submittal to DOH. The renewal/modification applications will include expanded services at a number of transfer stations. - SWD has contracted with a firm to conduct landfill gas testing at the SHSL to remain in compliance with EPA Clean Air Act regulations. The testing should take place in July or early August. There are currently no uses for used tires in the State. On Oahu,tires are burned and used for electricity by AES. 5. RECYCLING SECTION - Due to the need for more mulch on the East side and an over abundance of mulch on the West side, some of the West side mulch supply has been moved to Hilo for availability to the residents. On Monday, a large contingent from Raiatea, Tahiti toured solid waste sites on the east side of the island. They shared that they are having solid waste issues and were interested in seeing how County of Hawai`i is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer. Hawai'i County handled their trash. Director Leithead Todd suggested to the Mayor that Raiatea might be a possible sister city opportunity for the county as they have much in common with the Big Island. The Director will provide tonnage figures from the county transfer stations in the August Director's Report. Photos from the recent Maui solid waste site visits will be provided also. • Commission Member District Update Reports—includes information obtained from meetings with council members and district residents since the last commission meeting: - District 6: Commissioner Lee shared that district 6 residents have wind pattern concerns regarding an incinerator. - District 8: Commissioner Fear indicated the farmers in his district do not want compost because of the sludge used in making it. - District 9: Commissioner Warner reported that he talked with schools in his district and they do not separate and recycle. He also reported that the compactor is broken a large amount of time at the Waimea Transfer Station. 6. UNFINISHED BUSINESS Update on Waste Reduction Technology RFP 3044 - Resolution 452-14, submitted by Councilmember Wille,urging the Administration to withdraw Request for Proposal No. 3044 and issue a new request for proposal to provide for the eligibility of those entities or a combination of entities which seek to maximize the output of compostables was defeated by a vote of 2 ayes and 7 noes. 7. NEW BUSINESS Sewer Connection Waiver/Exemption Policy Update to include expected date of implementation - There is no expected date of implementation. Challenges and Benefits of the West Hawai'i Organics Facility - Mark Cummings of Hawai'i Earth Products (HEP),the county green waste vendor, offered the following information: - Residents do not want to drive to Pu'uanahulu to pick up mulch. - HEP will be providing loading of mulch for residents at Kealakehe green waste site on Thursday and Saturday. - Loading fees collected at will offset the HEP monthly billing to the County. - Challenge: Balancing volumes coming in vs. volumes going out. Attempted to increase storage amount on the DOH permit but was unsuccessful so volumes are being managed by sending mulch to Hilo and Kealakehe to remain in compliance. - Cummings will host the tour of the WHOF. 8. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS - August meeting: Sort Station and South Hilo Sanitary Landfill - Solid Waste site visits: transfer stations, East Hawaii Organics Facilities - Wastewater treatment plant site visits: Hilo, Kula`imano, Papa`ikou 9. MEETING ANNOUNCEMENTS August 27 Aupuni Center Conf Room, Hilo, HI September 24 WHCC Community Meeting Hale (Bldg G) Kailua-Kona, HI October 22 Aupuni Center Conf Room, Hilo, HI November 26 WHCC Community Meeting Hale (Bldg G) Kailua-Kona, HI December No meeting Meeting recessed at 10:56 a.m. for participants to travel to the site visit location. County of Hawaii is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer. 10. TOUR OF THE WEST HAWATI ORGANICS FACILITY(WHOF) AND WEST HAWATI SANITARY LANDFILL (WHSL) Meeting resumed at 11:45 at the WHOF. Mark Cummings provided a walking tour of the green waste facility. Following the conclusion of the WHOF tour, Mike Naha, Operations Manager of the WHSL, provided a site visit of the landfill that included the new GCCS gas collection system. Tonnage information was provided to the attendees (attached to original minutes). Waste Management also provided lunch for the group. 11. ADJOURNMENT Commissioner Nahm-Mijo made a motion to adjourn. Motion was seconded by Commissioner Warner and it passed unanimously with members present: Fear,Lee,Nahm- Mijo, Osborne,Randle and Warner voting yes. Meeting adjourned at 1:12 p.m. Minutes Respectfully Submitted by: SHARRON HENRY t% Environmental Management Secretary FORMAT NOTE: ACTION ITEMS ARE IN BOLD PRINT(MOTIONS AND ITEMS REQUIRING ACTION TO BE TAKEN FOR FUTURE MEETINGS). County of Hawai`i is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer.