Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2014-09-24 Environmental Management Commission Minutes ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT COMMISSION MINUTES September 24, 2014 West Hawai`i Civic Center, Community Meeting Hale (Bldg G), Kailua-Kona,HI Kaiser Foundation Wastewater Treatment Facility, 74-517 Honokohau Street,Kailua-Kona,HI COMMISSIONERS ALSO PRESENT: Anne Lee, Chair PRESENT: Christine Dochin Thom Randle, Vice Chair(9:10) Matiu Naniseni Jeffry Fear(meeting only) Bruce Lim STAFF: BJ Leithead Todd, Director Trina Nahm-Mijo(9:15) Sharron Henry, Secretary Susie Osborne Joseph Kamelamela, Deputy Sherm Warner(meeting only) Corporation Counsel 1. CALL TO ORDER& ANNOUNCEMENTS: Commission Chair Anne Lee called the meeting to order at 9:05 a.m. and announced the location of the site visit during this meeting. 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF AUGUST 27,2014 MEETING: Commissioner Sherm Warner moved to approve the August 27,2014 minutes as written. Commissioner Susie Osborne seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously with members present: Fear,Lee,Lim,Osborne,and Warner voting yes. 3. APPROVAL OF ADDENDUM AND/OR SUPPLEMENTAL AGENDA: None 4. STATEMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC ON ITEMS LISTED ON AGENDA: None 5. CORRESPONDENCE/REPORTS/DISCUSSION: • Director's Report(attached to original minutes): Current Legislation Bill 194 was postponed to the Call of the Chair at the 9/16/14 Finance Committee. Commissioner Osborne made a motion to submit a letter in support of Bill 194 and a request to put it back on the Finance Committee agenda. Commissioner Fear seconded the motion and it passed unanimously with members present: Fear,Lee, Lim,Nahm-Mijo,Osborne,Randle and Warner voting yes. Wastewater Division 1. COMPLIANCE: A. Treatment and Disposal: - Ulu Wini: The County received Notice of Apparent Violations(NOVs) from DOH on July 21, 2014. Another NOV was received August 28, 2014. There will potentially be more NOVs and possibly fines to the Office of Housing and Community Development (OHCD) for permit non compliance of this wastewater system. The Department is taking over operation of this facility from OHCD. 4. WASTEWATER CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS: A. Na`alehu Large Capacity Cesspool Replacement: - Department participated in a phone conference with EPA regarding the progress of the project. - A community meeting is tentatively set for November when the Draft Environmental Assessment is issued for public comment. B. Pahala Large Capacity Cesspool Replacement County of Hawai`i is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer. - A preferred site has been identified and investigation will continue on the appropriateness of the site. C. North Kona Sewer&Effluent Reuse Upgrade: - $3.5M has been paid by the County towards this project. D. Lona Kona Sewer Improvement District: - The department is preparing to return to council for approval to move forward with this project. E. Kealakehe Aeration Upgrade and Sludge Removal and Reuse - Department is working to get bid for sludge reuse out this fiscal year. F. Kealakehe WWTP Effluent R-1 Upgrade: - Department is meeting with the Queen Lili`uokalani Trust(QLT) and Department of Parks &Recreation are regarding long term use of R-1 and interim use of R-2. G. Hilo Outfall Repair: - In order to begin the repair work,the department continues to wait for the US Corps of Engineers,Department of Army(DOA)to issue the Nationwide permit before the project can be put out for bid. - The EPA issued a Findings of Violation and Order for Compliance,without mentioning the DOA's delay in issuing the permit to build the Outfall, which added additional requirements that will increase the funding needed to complete this project from$1M to $2M. - The leaks identified are small and the water escaping is treated,not raw sewerage. DOH is setting standards for the NPDES permits that are not achievable. Our county will be joining with other affected counties in attempting to have DOH revise the standards to achievable measures. H. Sewer Rate Study Update: - The study may need to be amended to address the additional costs to maintain operations and make necessary repairs to facilities and equipment. Solid Waste Division June 27th Lava Flow update: - Currently the flow front has stalled. A breakout portion is heading in a northeast direction. - It is anticipated that a flow will come near or over the Pahoa Transfer Station(TS). - The department has plans in place in the event the TS becomes unusable. Kalapana TS days and hours will be increased to assist residents. - Sites are being investigated for location of a temporary TS if necessary. - Several scenarios are being studied to be ready for different options available. - County services will be located and provided in the area cut off by lava. - A Presidential Declaration has been signed authorizing FEMA to act and approving exemptions. - Preemptive action is usually not reimbursable by FEMA therefore the county might not receive federal funding for the extension of Beach,Railroad and Chain of Craters roads. Tropical Storm Iselle Cleanup update: - Clean-up continues for the residents affected by the storm. - The county provided roll off bins for disaster debris disposal in Kapoho. This function is now being coordinated by the Hawai`i Island United Way(HIUW). - The county will review and amend the Disaster Debris Management Plan appropriately. - Sort Station employees were redirected during this time to remove debris from road ways. • Commission Member District Update Reports—includes information obtained from meetings with council members and district residents since the last commission meeting: - District 9: Commissioner Warner noted that the Puako residents continue working on wastewater treatment system options. - District 8: Commissioner Fear requested an update and information on the Kohanaiki Development and the Director suggested he contact Planning Department since the issue was not County of Hawai`i is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer. a DEM responsibility. - District 5: Commissioner Osborne acknowledged Director Leithead Todd for her daily participation at the Pahoa Command Center after Iselle and during the current lava flow. - District 2: Commissioner Randle requested feedback on Council Chair Yoshimoto's question regarding the county accepting tires at the residential household hazardous events. 6. UNFINISHED BUSINESS Continued discussion of the Sludge Removal RFP Update and Options for Sludge Reuse - Per State and Federal regulations, sludge cannot be used in its"wet" form. Regulations require that it be dried and landfilled. - The department previously has requested council to approve a multi-year composting contract. The sludge could be used in this process. The council failed to approve this request. 7. NEW BUSINESS Discussion and decision making on submitting letters to the Department of Education(DOE) and the Board of Education (BOE) requesting that recycling be expanded through all Big Island schools on future contracts. - Letters should include: The commission's appreciation for the HIS collection and redemption in the schools and encouragement to continue; - Support of the decision to add other recyclables to the cardboard and mixed paper already included in the current contracts of certain schools. - Commissioner Warner made a motion for the Chair and Vice Chair to draft and submit letters of support for adding recycling to all school contracts. Commissioner Osborne seconded the motion and it passed unanimously with members present: Fear,Lee,Lim, Nahm-Mijo,Osborne,Randle and Warner voting yes. Discussion and decision making regarding assisting the department in working to identify safety risks to public health; requesting the State Legislature to fund programs to eradicate,control and maintain hazardous trees such as the Albizia that caused a great amount of damage from Iselle. - The county has developed a long range plan to address and continuation of eradication of the hazardous trees. - Chair Lee will contact Senator Ruderman for more information from the State and relay the commission's support of this eradication effort. - Commissioner Warner made a motion to for the Chair and Vice Chair to draft and submit letters to the Big Island State Representatives and Senators requesting their support for action on this issue. Commissioner Osborne seconded the motion and it was passed unanimously with members present: Fear,Lee, Lim,Nahm-Mijo, Osborne,Randle and Warner voting yes. - The letter is to include a request that the State fund eradication efforts along State and County highways and provide assistance in private subdivisions. 8. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS - Site visit to Kula'imano Wastewater Treatment Facility - Solid Waste site visits:transfer stations, East Hawai'i Organics Facilities - Wastewater treatment plant site visits: Hilo, Papa'ikou 9. MEETING ANNOUNCEMENTS October 22 Aupuni Center Conf Room,Hilo,HI November 26 WHCC Community Meeting Hale (Bldg G) Kailua-Kona, HI December No meeting County of Hawaii is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer. Meeting recessed at 11:04 a.m. for participants to travel to the site visit location. 10. TOUR OF THE KAISER FOUNDATION WASTEWATER TREATMENT FACILITY Meeting resumed at 11:30 a.m. at the facility. Lauren Roth Venu, Principal and President of Roth Ecological Design International, LLC,the designer and operator of the plant,hosted the tour of the constructed wetlands operation. Also present during the beginning of the tour were County Council members Karen Eoff, Duane Kanuha and Valerie Poindexter. 11. ADJOURNMENT Commissioner Osborne made a motion to adjourn. Motion was seconded by Commissioner Nahm-Mijo and it passed unanimously with members present: Lee,Lim,Nahm-Mijo, Osborne and Randle voting yes. Meeting adjourned at 12:25 p.m. Minutes Respectfully Submitted by: SHARRON HENRY Environmental Management Secretary FORMAT NOTE: ACTION ITEMS ARE IN BOLD PRINT(MOTIONS AND ITEMS REQUIRING ACTION TO BE TAKEN FOR FUTURE MEETINGS). County of Hawaii is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer.