HomeMy WebLinkAbout2017-04-05 DEM Withdraws EA for Proposed Composting Facility in Panaewa -- press release
Wil Okabe
Managing Director
Harry Kim
Mayor
Barbara J. Kossow
Deputy Managing Director
County of Hawai‘i
Office of the Mayor
25 Aupuni Street, Suite 2603 Hilo, Hawai‘i 96720 (808) 961-8211 Fax (808) 961-6553
KONA: 74-5044 Ane Keohokalole Hwy., Bldg. C Kailua-Kona, Hawai‘i 96740
(808) 323-4444 Fax (808) 323-4440
April 5, 2017
NEWS RELEASE
County Withdraws Draft Environmental Assessment for Proposed Facility in Pana‘ewa
The Department of Environmental Management (DEM) has formally withdrawn its Draft
Environmental Assessment for a proposed composting facility in Pana‘ewa amid residents’
concerns that the location of the facility would impose adverse impacts on the community. This
location for the facility was specifically identified in the Compost Contract.
DEM Director Bill Kucharski withdrew the documents in an April 4, 2017, letter to the State
Department of Health’s Office of Environmental Quality Control.
“The Proposing Agency, the County of Hawai'i Department of Environmental Management,
Solid Waste Division, has withdrawn the (Draft Environmental Assessment) published on
September 8, 2016 due to concerns that the location of the proposed facility could impose
additional impacts on the local communities, many of whom claim a disproportionate share of
undesirable land uses,” Kucharski’s letter said.
The letter also withdrew an Anticipated Finding of No Significant Impact for the proposed facility.
In the letter, Kucharski noted that the proposed East Hawai'i Organics Facility was intended to
divert organic waste such as green waste, food waste, paper and compostable material from
Hawai'i County’s landfills.
The facility’s aim was to generate compost from mulch and food wastes to support agriculture
and homeowners.
Withdrawal of the document puts an end to the concerns of the local community about the
location of the proposed compost facility at the Hilo landfill site. While The EA was held pending
since the December 2016 meeting between Mayor Kim and the local community, the formal
withdrawal of the EA closes this chapter. The County will be pursuing new locations and is in
the process of renegotiating the composting contract to allow for alternate locations.
For further information, please call Bill Kucharski at DEM at (808) 217-2750.
County of Hawai‘i is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer.
County of Hawai`i is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer.