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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2015-01-28 Environmental Management Commission Minutes ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT COMMISSION MINUTES January 28, 2015 West Hawai'i Civic Center Liquor Control Conference Room, Kailua-Kona, HI COMMISSIONERS ALSO PRESENT: Thorn Randle, Chair PRESENT: Christine Dochin Jeffry Fear Clint Knox Anne Lee Margaret Wille, Council District 9 Trina Nahm-Mijo Sherm Warner STAFF: BJ Leithead Todd, Director Sharron Henry, Secretary Amy Self, Deputy Corporation Counsel 1. CALL TO ORDER& ANNOUNCEMENTS: Commission Chair Thom Randle called the meeting to order at 9:21 a.m. 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF NOVEMBER 26,2014 MEETING: Director Leithead Todd made a correction to the minutes under 5. CORRESPONDENCE/ REPORTS/DISCUSSION: Wastewater Division noting that the cost of the Kealakehe WWTP Effluent R-1 Upgrade project was$54M,not$57M as reported. Commissioner Fear moved to approve the January 28,2015 minutes. Commissioner Anne Lee seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously with members present: Fear,Lee,Nahm-Mijo, Randle and Warner voting yes. 3. APPROVAL OF ADDENDUM AND/OR SUPPLEMENTAL AGENDA:None 4. STATEMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC ON ITEMS LISTED ON AGENDA: Margaret Wille,District 9 councilmember and Vice Chair of the Council Environmental Management Committee, distributed Resolution No. 525-14 (attached to original minutes). She supports composting and requested that a Zero Waste Plan be agendized for the commission's next meeting,to include educational options and needs. She also suggested that the commission/ department work with the Sustainable Bliss Organization as well as other community organizations relating to education opportunities. "Trash"presentation will be presented tonight, 1/28/15, at NELHA in Kona and Thursday, 1/29/15, in Hilo. On March 8-10, 2015 there will be an International Association of Zero Waste symposium at the Hapuna Beach Hotel. 5. CORRESPONDENCE/REPORTS/DISCUSSION: • Director's Report(attached to original minutes): WRT RFP 3044 Cancellation - The RFP for a Waste Reduction Technology(WRT)has been cancelled. The Director clarified that the RFP was not for an incinerator but rather a WRT that produced an end product that was a renewable source of energy approved by the EPA. - Uncertainty about oil prices, instability in the ownership of HEI/HELCO and changes in the Public Utilities Commission were cited as some reasons for the cancellation. - The State Department of Transportation has already made a determination that a new landfill would not be approved within 6 miles of the airport. The department feels that building a landfill in Hilo is not technically or economically feasible and the end costs could be higher than operating a WRT facility. - Continuing the sliver fill operation on the north slope of the landfill could extend the life of the County of Hawai`i is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer. landfill another 8-10 years. - It is unlikely that the Mayor will revisit the WRT RFP after the HELCO ownership transition because of the cost of oil. Ordinance 12-92 - The Director indicated it would assist the department in managing the county solid waste if Ordinance 12-92,which directs transfer station solid waste to specific landfills,was amended and the restriction removed. It would allow more trash to be disposed of at WHSL to ensure that the disposal requirements were reached allowing a lower monthly payment to the operator. It would also save costs by allowing trash to be directed to cover and line the bottom of new cells when they are being opened. Amending this ordinance would lower the cost of operations and salaries by not being required to have two cells open concurrently. The request will be addressed with the Mayor and, if approved,will come to the commission before being submitted to Council. The estimated life of the WHSL is approximately 40-50 years. Clean-up of Scrap Metal Areas - Abandoned Vehicle funds are being used for clean-up of the scrap metal areas; $3M for Kealakehe and$10M for Hilo. Upon completion, it will create more space to provide more services to the residents. Modification at Kealakehe could include a more suitable traffic flow. The department will also look at the possibility of obtaining the use of the Humane Society area when they vacate. Possible expansions of some recycling services are being discussed, along with improved traffic flow at both locations. Composting - The department is preparing to request Council's approval for a multi-year composting operations contract. In-vessel composting would include the intake of food waste and contaminated paper while an open air system would take in only mulch and green waste. - A mandate to recycle, as a deterrent to landfilling all garbage, would require having a composting facility available to process the waste. - With the cancellation of the RFP,the department will ask Finance to redirect the remaining $300,000 to recycling and composting. - Issues relating to the start-up of a composting program: o Procurement—the existing green waste contract cannot be amended to include composting; o New procurement will have to go out and could take approximately 6 months to hire vendor; o Vendor will need time to get permits, equipment and staff in place; o Current county permits don't allow composting at our facilities so new requests to amend permits must be submitted,taking approximately 6 months from date of receipt at DOH for approval; o The total process could take up to two years. June 27th Lava Flow update: - The county will receive a 75%reimbursement from FEMA for lava flow damage. - Lava viewing area located at the transfer station will be returned to the department on 2/1/15. - Monday, 2/2,the department will start removing the 800 cubic yards of lava following blessings held at the site. - The department will keep lava information materials at the Pahoa transfer station and attempt to preserve all lava features possible. - The HI-5 contract will be rebid as the last one was cancelled with the move to the temporary transfer station. - The Pahoa transfer station will reopen March 1, 2015 with collection of green waste, rubbish and 2-bin recycling. Volcano Transfer Station Construction - Contaminated soil found at the transfer station is being hauled to the landfill per DOH requirements. County of Hawaii is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer. - Services are still being provided during the reconstruction. - The project should be completed in a few months and hopefully the new design will allow for additional services to be provided. Future Transfer Station Projects - The next is Wai`ohinu due to present damage. - An upgrade to Hilo Transfer Station will allow services to be increased at the site. South Hilo Sanitary Landfill - A settlement agreement has been reached between the county and the DOH. Upon approval by the Mayor, it will be returned to DOH for signature. - Once the agreement is finalized and agreed to by both parties, it becomes public information. Permit Renewals - All transfer station permit applications have been submitted to DOH. Commission Member District Update Reports—includes information obtained from meetings with council members and district residents since the last commission meeting District 2: Randle met with new councilmember Aaron Chung and found him to be optimistic and easy to talk to. District 3: Nahm-Mijo met with Councilmember Onishi. He had no additional requests at this time but noted that he believed the RFP was not economically feasible. District 8:A recycling book is being prepared for children. District 9:Warner indicated that the trucking pilot project was a manufactured controversy as there was no indication that residents in his district knew of the project during its undertaking. He noted that there was hydraulic leakage under the scrap metal bin at the transfer station and the compactor appears to be broken a large portion of the time. 6. UNFINISHED BUSINESS -None 7. NEW BUSINESS Election of 2015 Vice-Chair Nahm-Mijo nominated Commissioner Fear to serve as the 2015 Vice-Chair. He accepted the nomination and the commission voted unanimously to approve his nomination,with Randle, Lee,Fear,Nahm-Mijo and Warner voting yes. Discussion of Commission goals for 2015 The following goals were offered by Chair Randle: - Support of: -composting -On island use of recycled glass -Zero Waste education - Review/recommendations of the County's Integrated Resources and Solid Waste Management Plan. 8. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS - Site visit to Business Services Hawai'i facility - February - Zero Waste presentation-February - Discussion on Zero Waste education opportunities -February - FY 15-16 Budget-March - Update on Bill 194 procedures—August - Solid Waste site visits: transfer stations, East Hawaii Organics Facilities - Wastewater treatment plant site visits: Hilo, Papa`ikou 9. MEETING ANNOUNCEMENTS County of Hawaii is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer. February 25 Hilo TBD March 25 Kona WHCC Comm.Hale,Kona April 22 Hilo Aupuni Center Conf.Room,Hilo May 27 Kona WHCC Comm. Hale,Kona June 24 Hilo Aupuni Center Conf. Room, Hilo July 22 Kona WHCC Comm. Hale,Kona August 26 Hilo Aupuni Center Conf.Room,Hilo September 23 Kona WHCC Comm.Hale,Kona October 28 Hilo Aupuni Center Conf.Room,Hilo November 25 Kona WHCC Comm. Hale,Kona December No meeting 10. ADJOURNMENT Commissioner Nahm-Mijo made a motion to adjourn. Motion was seconded by Commissioner Fear and it passed unanimously with members present: Lee, Fear,Nahm- Mijo,Randle and Warner voting yes. Meeting adjourned at 10:23 a.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.