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ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT COMMISSION <br />MINUTES <br />July 26, 2017 <br />West Hawai'i Civic Center Community Hale, Kailua-Kona, HI <br />COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: <br />James Fritz, Chair <br />Richard Bennett, Vice Chair <br />Jeffry Fear <br />Jon Olson <br />Susan Osborne <br />Rick Vidgen <br />STAFF: <br />William Kucharski, Director <br />Diane Noda, Deputy Director <br />Marcie Toguchi, Private Secretary <br />Keyra Wong, Deputy Corporation Counsel <br />Jessica Yeh, Deputy Corporation Counsel <br />1. CALL TO ORDER & ANNOUNCEMENTS: <br />The meeting was called to order at 9:04 a.m. by Chair Fritz. <br />2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF MAY 24, 2017 & JUNE 28, 2017 MEETING: <br />Chair Fritz stated May's minutes were missed being approved last meeting, so we need to do so <br />today. Chair Fritz moved to approve the May 24, 2017 minutes. Mr. Fear seconded, and it carried <br />unanimously. <br />Chair Fritz moved to approve the June 28, 2017 minutes. Mr. Olson seconded, and it carried <br />unanimously. <br />3. STATEMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC ON ITEMS LISTED ON AGENDA: <br />• Joy Gold — Consultant to Dexter Yamada and KYD Inc. KYD Inc. and its sister company <br />Hawaii's Finest Products manufacture and distribute packaging material including compostable <br />food ware. KYD continues to oppose PS food ware bans because it stands by its manufactured <br />products and employees. This ban is tied to the assumption that compostable food ware can be <br />delivered to the County's compost facility which does not exist or have a known on-line date. <br />Mandating the use of compostable food ware will economically impact East Hawai`i food <br />operators and Senior Programs. Without a composting facility, compostable food ware will go <br />to the Landfill and will not degrade due to the absence of air, water and bacteria. Plastics and <br />Styrofoam in the oceans are a concern to all, but the ban excludes coolers and ice chests made <br />out of Styrofoam even though they are found along coastal waters more than food ware. More <br />research is still needed to determine how much of marine debris is actually from PS food ware. <br />Instead of imposing this ban, a stronger litter management is suggested. The exemption for <br />packaging of raw meat, fish and eggs acknowledges that there is no alternative. Likewise, there <br />are no alternatives to PS food ware that can compete on safety, functionality and affordability. <br />• Jerome Warren — Has two objective points to make about Styrofoam. Take-out food is an <br />impulse purchase decision. You can force the restaurants to stop using Styrofoam but you can't <br />force their customers to keep eating there. The local manufacturer of Styrofoam containers <br />should be invited back to the table when the Council discusses the Styrofoam ban. Please <br />consider these two things when making your recommendation to Council. On the subjective <br />side it leads us to life under the green thumb. <br />Has been in close contact with the EPA regarding the Naalehu and Pahala LLC. EPA has sent <br />Mr. Warren a copy of the order of consent and anyone can see that this project is worth more <br />1 <br />