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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2018-03-28 EMC Agenda and Director's Informational Report ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT COMMISSION COUNTY OF HAWAIʻI MEETING AGENDA DATE: March 28, 2018 TIME: 9:00 a.m. PLACE: West Hawaiʻi Civic Center, Community Meeting Hale (Building G) 74-5044 Ane Keohokalole Highway, Kailua-Kona, Hawaiʻi 1. CALL TO ORDER 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF FEBRUARY 28, 2018 3. STATEMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC ON AGENDA ITEMS 4. UNFINISHED BUSINESS a. Continued discussion and recommendations on policy considerations for the Department of Environmental Management pursuant to the February 1, 2018, Ninth Circuit Court ruling in Hawaiʻi Wildlife Fund vs. County of Maui, No. 15- 17447), regarding wastewater discharges to the sea and NPDES permitting. 5. NEW BUSINESS a. Discuss the need for scientific monitoring data on sodium chloride in the sewage influent as well as the targets for nutrient reduction of nitrogen and phosphorus for the proposed Kealakehe Wastewater Treatment Plant R-1 water upgrade. Propose an advisory statement and letter to the Department of Environmental Management. b. Recognition of Commissioner Fear’s service to the Environmental Management Commission. 6. REPORTS/CORRESPONDENCE a. Director’s Informational Report. (Note: The report is available on the County’s website at http://records.co.hawaii.hi.us/weblink/Browse.aspx?startid=8405&dbid=1 or go to County of Hawaiʻi.gov / Boards & Commissions / Environmental Management Commission / Agendas / 2018.) The Director will provide informational updates on the following: (1) Status of Kealakehe Wastewater Treatment Plant Maintenance. (2) Discussion of R-1 water management. 7. COMMISSIONERS’ DISTRICT UPDATE REPORTS AND ISSUES The commissioners have requested the following items be placed on the agenda for discussion. a. Vice Chair Olson: (1) the problem of abandoned vehicles. (2) update on transfer station operations and management. (3) question the Director on whether the County has plans to expand its capacity to handle additional solid waste as the population grows (requested by Mr. Olson at the 1/10/18 meeting). b. Commissioner Fear: (1) the discharge of water on Aliʻi Drive next to Huliheʽe Palace. c. Commissioner Fritz: (1) Discussion on the separation of organic items such as wood prior to disposal at the landfill. d. Chair Bennett: (1) Request for Director’s update on the Keauhou area sewer service and cesspool data and options study, including an assessment of sewered and non-sewered homes in the region. 8. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS Commissioners can suggest items they would like placed on the next agenda. 9. ANNOUNCEMENTS a. The next meeting is scheduled for April 25, 2018, in Hilo at the Aupuni Center Conference Room. 10. ADJOURNMENT The regular meeting place is accessible to persons with disabilities. To request an auxiliary aid or language translation, please call 961-8083 five days prior to the meeting date. Comments may be sent to the Department of Environmental Management, 345 Kekūanāoʻa Street, Suite 41, Hilo, Hawaiʻi 96720, or emailed to cohdem@hawaiicounty.gov. Notice to lobbyists: If you are a lobbyist, you must register with the Hawaiʻi County Clerk within five days of becoming a lobbyist. \[Article 15, Section 2-91.3(b), Hawaiʻi County Code.\] A lobbyist means “any individual engaged for pay or other consideration who spends more than five hours in any month or $275 in any six-month period for the purpose of attempting to influence legislative or administrative action by communicating or urging others to communicate with public officials.” \[Article 15, Section 2-91.3(a)(6), Hawaiʻi County Code.\] Registration forms and expenditure report documents are available at the Office of the County Clerk-Council, 25 Aupuni Street, Hilo, Hawaiʻi 96720. DIRECTOR’S INFORMATIONAL REPORT TO THE ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT COMMISSION MARCH 28, 2018 CURRENT LEGISLATION ITEM: Res 521-18 DESCRIPTION: Authorizes the Mayor to enter into a five-year lease agreement for five copiers at an approximate monthly cost of $300 each. Four copiers would replace units at various Solid Waste scalehouses and baseyards and one copier would be used at the Pu‘uanahulu scalehouse. CURRENT STATUS: 3/13/18 adoption recommended at Finance Committee. 3/28/18: First reading at Council. ITEM: Res 524-18 DESCRIPTION: Authorizes the Office of the Mayor to enter into an agreement with the State of Hawaiʻi Department of Health, pursuant to Hawaiʻi Revised Statutes Section 46-7, for a $45,000 grant to the Department of Environmental Management’s Electronic Waste Recycling Program. CURRENT STATUS: 3/14/18: Adopted at Council meeting. ITEM: Bill 117 DESCRIPTION: Amends Ordinance No. 17-39, as amended, the operating budget for the County of Hawaiʻi for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2018 (appropriates $45,000 in state grants to be used towards the Solid Waste Division’s Electronic Waste Recycling Program. CURRENT STATUS: 3/14/18: Passed first reading at Council. 3/28/18: Second reading at Council. ITEM: Bill 124: Increases revenues in the Environmental Management Lono Kona Improvement District – County project by $4 million, bringing the total amount to $5,698,000. Funds for this project shall be provided from General Obligation Bonds, Capital Projects Fund – Fund Balance and/or Other Sources. These additional funds for the acquisition of easements, design, and construction of this public sewer system improvement project is due to initial bid responses that came in higher than anticipated. DIRECTOR’S INFORMATIONAL UPDATES 1. Status of Kealakehe Wastewater Treatment Plant Maintenance. 2. Discussion of R-1 water management. SOLID WASTE DIVISION PROJECTS AND UPDATES 1. OPERATIONS A. COMMERCIAL DRIVERS LICENSING (CDL) TRAINING: • The Department received a letter from UPW accepting the driver training program that was proposed. This will allow the Division to move forward with hiring EOII positions. • One participant in Hilo began the evaluation process so that he may be able to be temporarily assigned to an EO II position. B. WEST HAWAI‘I SANITARY LANDFILL: • The Division held discussions between the low bid contractor for the scale replacement project and Waste Management. We are attempting to lower the price for this project. • The contractor has begun repair work for the shop building. C. EQUIPMENT • The Division took delivery of new trailers, roll-off trucks, and a grapple truck. 2. ADMINISTRATION The Division held interviews for an Abandoned Vehicle Coordinator. 3. SOLID WASTE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS • The Kealakehe Scrap Metal Facility Remediation Project is currently in progress. The contractor is expected to begin hauling materials from Kealakehe to the West Hawaiʻi Sanitary Landfill in the coming weeks. • The SWD expects that the restated contract with Hawaiian Earth Recycling will be reviewed in the coming weeks. This will reestablish the contract for greenwaste and composting services. This work is ongoing. • The consultant who performed the site evaluation for the East Hawaiʻi Compost Facility finished the evaluation and submitted a draft report to the Division. • The consultant that was selected to perform the environmental assessment for the future East Hawaiʻi Compost facility has started the work. 4. COMPLIANCE • The Mayor has selected the members of the Solid Waste Advisory Committee, and the first meeting was held on March 19, 2018. 5. RECYCLING SECTION A. ORGANICS DIVERSION PROGRAM: • The SWD is in the process of revising the contract for the provision of greenwaste and composting services. B. TRANSFER STATION RECYCLABLES (“TWO-BIN”) COLLECTION AND RECYCLING: • The current contract will end on September 30, 2018. The SWD is now enforcing the ban on illegal commercial usage of self-haul resident-only recycling bins at Recycling & Transfer Stations. Commercial generators/ collectors should work directly with recycling companies to manage recyclables. Redesign of the Hilo site is proposed to better handle traffic and customers. The Hilo Sort Station recyclables diversion has tentatively resumed for commercial-only usage. We are working with the vendor to update and replace signage and repair ramps. The Hilo ramp was fixed and painted. C. DO-IT-YOURSELF (DIY) USED MOTOR OIL RECYCLING: • IFB 3625 resulted in contract award to HFN and Cameron Corp. The NTP issued on October 16, 2017. • A list of island-wide year-round collection locations (seven) is on our website at http://www.Hawaiizerowaste.org/recycle/motor-oil. Residents can also recycle DIY used motor oil at all County Household Hazardous Waste collection events. Used motor oil is not accepted at the Recycling and Transfer Stations. The DOH ended funding of the program in FY2015. DEM has funded the continuation of the UMO program in the FY2017 Budget. D. REUSE CENTERS: • RFP 3693 was published on February 14, 2018. Bids will close March 14, 2018. • The County operates seven Reuse Centers at Recycling and Transfer Stations located in Hilo (opened June 5, 2017), Kea‘au, Pāhoa, Kealakehe, Keauhou, Waimea, and Wai‘ōhinu (opened August 14, 2017). E. ELECTRONICS RECYCLING: • The IFB 3514 contract awarded to Mr. K’s R&R expires April 17, 2018. A memo requesting to extend the contract was sent to the Business Services Section, and the vendor indicated willingness to extend. • Residents are allowed no-charge household electronics recycling on Saturdays at Mr. K’s R&R. Businesses, non-profits, schools, and others are offered discounted fees on Saturdays. An acceptable list and more information is at http://hawaiizerowaste.org/recycle/e-waste. Mr. K’s is open and accepting electronics daily. • The County provides free monthly electronic recycling collections in Hilo, Kona, Waimea and Wai‘ōhinu for residential electronics only. Details of the County collections and any changes to private collections will be posted on our website at http://hawaiizerowaste.org/recycle/e-waste. • No manufacturer currently offers convenient on-island take-back of electronics; manufacturers only offer convenience on O‘ahu to comply with Electronic Waste and Television Recycling & Recovery Act mandatory take- back provisions. DOH has issued MOA to COH to resume grant funding in FY2018 Q4 partially reimbursing SWD electronics recycling expenditures, it is awaiting approvals. F. HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE (HHW): • March’s Waimea and Pāhoa HHW turnouts and quantities collected were similar to last year. • The next HHW Collection Events are scheduled for June 2, 2018, in Kealakehe and June 16, 2018, in Hilo. More information is available at http://www.hazardouswaste.org/recycle/household-hazardous-waste/. G. GREEN WASTE DIVERSION: • The State Department of Agriculture finalized a permanent rule (HAR § 4-72- 13) prohibiting the interisland transport of ‘ōhi‘a plant material to prevent the spread of Rapid Ōhiʽʽa Death caused by Ceratocystis fimbriata. They also recommend not transporting ‘ōhi‘a plant material from an infected area to a non-infected area. DEM has recommended that people not bring any ‘ōhi‘a plant material to our green waste collection sites and recommends composting on-site. The County’s new contract with Hawaiian Earth Recycling continues green waste recycling. Enhanced mulch is available at the East Hawai‘i Organics Facility. The mulch is treated for invasive species at EHOF since the modified State Department of Health permit was issued. The SWD relocated the green waste recycling at the Waimea Recycling and Transfer Station to make it more convenient for residents. H. SCHOOL RECYCLING AND TOURS: • Requests for school and HCC/UHH tours continue. Many are scheduled around Earth Day in April. These tours are helpful in educating the next generation on recycling and sustainability. Several tours have already taken place for various schools island wide. I. SPECIAL EVENT RECYCLING: • The Recycling Section continues to offer free rental HI-5 Event Recycling Bins for fundraisers at community, sports or family events. Bins can be requested via an online application form at http://www.hawaiizerowaste.org/event-planning. Please submit applications for reservations well in advance of events to make sure bins are available and to schedule pick-up/drop-off. The hawaiizerowaste.org website also provides helpful resources for planning zero-waste events. J. HI-5 CERTIFIED REDEMPTION CENTERS (CRCs) • IFB 3552, to “Provide Certified Redemption Center Services at County Recycling & Transfer Stations,” has been awarded to Business Services Hawaiʻi for the following CRCs: Hāwī, Hilo, Honoka‘a, Puakō; and to Atlas Recycling for the following CRCs: Kealakehe, Kea‘au, Keauhou, Ocean View, Volcano, Waimea and Wai‘ōhinu. Sherri Izuno, Deposit Beverage Container Program-Kona, started February 1, 2018. DBC staff is currently working on a budget request to the State Department of Health for 2018-2019. K. RECYCLING EDUCATION AND OUTREACH: • The Recycling Section’s website, www.hawaiizerowaste.org, completed its transition to a mobile-ready format with enhanced location features. The Recycling Section is researching upgrades to website to improve functionality and visitor experience. • Information is continually updated on the site. • The staff continues to give presentations to community organizations. The next big event is the 30th Earth Day Fair at UH Hilo on April 20, 2018. L. TIRE RECOVERY/RECYCLING EDUCTION AND OUTREACH: • The contractor has completed the second round six-month follow-up of tire retailer/wholesaler education and site inspections, educating tire retailers/wholesalers of their responsibility to charge a disposal fee for tires sold and accept used tires from customers when tires are being replaced. One- year follow-up site visits start in April. • The contractor completed an initial and second round of consumer education (media release, radio, newspaper, social media, posters/flyers, etc.) during the September through December period, encouraging consumers to leave used tires at the retailer when purchasing new ones, as customers already paid the mandatory fee for disposal. Ads can be seen at https://www.facebook.com/Return-Your-Tires-853709718126074. • More information is at: http://www.hawaiizerowaste.org/recycle/tires/ 6. DERELICT AND ABANDONED VEHICLE (DAV) PROGRAM • Bids were opened for the vehicle disposal contracts. Hilo Impound Lot was awarded to HMP, Inc., dba Business Services Hawaiʻi; NTP issued on February 22, 2018. Kona and Puʻuanahulu Impound Lots were awarded to Big Island Scrap Metal; NTP issued on March 19, 2018. • DAV coordinators continue to meet with the Hawaiʻi Police Department, Traffic Services Section, to explore ways of improving the tagging and removal of abandoned vehicles. • Monthly towing numbers: AV Towing 2017-18 July: 46 in Hilo; 37 in Kona August: 35 in Hilo; 64 in Kona September: 47 in Hilo; 51 in Kona October: 34 in Hilo; 55 in Kona November: 37 in Hilo, 51 in Kona December: 29 in Hilo; 52 in Kona January: 45 in Hilo; 59 in Kona February: 33 in Hilo; 40 in Kona. The total tow requests sent for the month of February 2018 was 80; however, 7 were not on location at the time of arrival. 7. SORT STATION UPDATE (FY 17-18) Month/Year Total Tons Taken to Sort Station Total Tons Diverted Jul 2017: 1,091.43 taken; 0 diverted Aug 2017: 1,261.89 taken; 0 diverted Sept 2017: 1,128.11 taken; 0 diverted Oct 2017: 1,534.62 taken; 0 diverted Nov 2017: 1,484.47 taken; 0 diverted Dec 2017: 1,353.19 taken; 0 diverted Jan 2018: 1,456.82 taken; 0 diverted Feb 2018: 1,239.54 taken; 0 diverted Totals 10,550.07 tons; 0 diverted Per the Solid Waste Division, Total Tons Diverted has been zero for some time because they have not been conducting active sorting. Much of this is due to the storage of tires in the Sort Station collected during the dengue outbreak. Waste is received at the Sort Station early in the day, then the remainder is sent to the landfill. Just recently is the SWD at the point where they have enough space in the sort station to receive waste. 8. MONTHLY LANDFILL TONNAGES (FY 17-18) Month/Year SHSL (South Hilo Sanitary Landfill) WHSL (West Hawaii Sanitary Landfill) Jul 2017: SHSL: 6,285.01; WHSL: 11,599.78 Aug 2017: SHSL: 6,363.62; WHSL: 11,580.58 Sept 2017: SHSL: 6,037.19; WHSL: 10,132.09 Oct 2017: SHSL: 6,404.06; WHSL: 11,406.20 Nov 2017: SHSL: 5,956.18; WHSL: 11,773.83 Dec 2017: SHSL: 6,906.55; WHSL: 10,988.65 Jan 2018: SHSL: 6,510.36; WHSL: 10,134.36 Feb 2018: SHSL: 5,730.29; WHSL: 9,517.57 Totals: SHSL: 50,193.26; WHSL: 87,133.06 WASTEWATER DIVISION PROJECTS AND UPDATES 1. COMPLIANCE • TREATMENT AND DISPOSAL: No report. • COLLECTION SYSTEM: No report. 2. OPERATIONS A. TREATMENT/COLLECTION SYSTEMS AND PUMPING STATIONS/ FORCE MAINS: • Unscheduled repairs/upgrades/replacement of failing equipment due to age and prolonged wear and tear continue where necessary throughout the wastewater facilities. B. SAFETY PRACTICES/TRAINING: • WWD Administration continues to review and update the Emergency Response Procedures and the Standard Safety Procedures. 3. ADMINISTRATION A. VACANT POSITIONS: • Progress continues in filling vacant positions in Operations: Operator I and II (Hilo); Sewer Maintenance Working Supervisor (Hilo); WWTP Operator Supervisor III (Kona); WW Working Supervisor III (Kona). • Interview in progress: CE III; CE IV. 4. WASTEWATER CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS A. NĀ‘ĀLEHU LARGE CAPACITY CESSPOOL REPLACEMENT: • “Talk story” sessions to start the initial public outreach efforts are being scheduled for April 10 - 12, 2018. • The State Environmental Assessment process is to be completed prior to the acquisition of land for the treatment/disposal facility. • Closure of the large capacity cesspools as mandated by the EPA will occur once the treatment and disposal system has been constructed and properties have been connected to the new collection system. • The project is funded by Clean Water State Revolving Funds (CWSRF) monies. B. PĀHALA LARGE CAPACITY CESSPOOL REPLACEMENT: • Public outreach meetings following the talk story sessions are tentatively planned to take place in early to mid-May 2018. • As a result of EPA funding for this project, the NEPA process in addition to the State EA process are required. Both processes are to be completed prior to the acquisition of land for the treatment/disposal facility. • The WWD has been teleconferencing with the EPA and their consultants on a bi-weekly basis to ensure all items in the NEPA process are completed. • Closure of the large capacity cesspools as mandated by the EPA will occur once the treatment and disposal system has been constructed and properties have been connected to the new collection system. • The project is funded by Clean Water State Revolving Funds (CWSRF) monies and partially by a federal EPA grant. C. NORTH KONA SEWER AND EFFLUENT REUSE UPGRADE: • The revised draft Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the last re-design and additional construction cost attributed to project delays for the sewer and reuse lines has been signed by the County and returned to the State DOT for continued processing. • The State DOT began the overall project construction in September 2015. Currently, the anticipated completion date is August 2018. The project continues with installation of reuse piping and gravity sewer lines. • The project is funded by Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) monies. D. LONO KONA SEWER IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT: • Due to prices exceeding available funding, the current bid solicitation was cancelled by the chief procurement officer. The project was re-bid on 2/21/18. Bid opening is scheduled for 3/29/18. • Loan closing is scheduled to occur in April 2018. Construction NTP is estimated to be issued in mid-2018. • The USDA Rural Development has obligated loan and grant funds of $2,437,000 and $4,024,800 respectively to this project. E. KEALAKEHE AERATION UPGRADE AND SLUDGE REMOVAL: • Final approval of the project will be issued pending completion of all punchlist items. • With respect to the Endangered Species Act for Hawaiian Stilts and Coots, the County is in the process of executing a contract with Ho’omaluo LLC to continue the predator control and bird monitoring of endangered bird species. • The project is funded by CWSRF monies which is being increased from $18 million to $23 million. F. KEALAKEHE WWTP EFFLUENT R-1 UPGRADE: • R-1 design process had begun with a design kick-off meeting that took place on 3/8/18 when the consultant’s design team visited the Kealakehe WWTP. • The environmental process for the R-1 system is ongoing. A draft EIS is anticipated to be published in mid-2018 followed by a 45-day comment period. • The long range plans for R-1 quality effluent began in 2007 as a phased approach. Phase I, which installs a reuse line between the Kohanaiki area and Kealakehe Parkway, is planned under the State DOT’s Phase II Queen Ka‘ahumanu Highway Project (see item C above). • The DOH has earmarked SRF monies in the amount of $54 million to fund both design and construction of the R-1 upgrade at the Kealakehe WWTP. G. NORTH KONA SEWER PUMP STATION • This new sewer pump station will be located on the mauka side of Queen Kaʻahamanu Highway. It is to receive wastewater from a portion of the area below Ane Keohokalole Highway between Hina Lani Street and Kealakehe Parkway. The wastewater will be pumped to the Kealakehe WWTP via new forcemains tentatively scheduled to be installed by mid-2020. • The pre-design phase, including the archaeological and permitting assessments, has begun. The archaeological and cultural consultation began with a site visit on 2/8/18 conducted by Cultural Services Hawaiʻi (CSH) and invitees representing various interest groups in the local area. A summary report of the site visit is being prepared by CSH. H. WASTEWATER EQUIPMENT REPLACEMENT PROJECTS: • Pua Sewage Pump Station (SPS) Upgrade: Design of the upgrade to the Pua SPS is in progress. It includes a complete renovation to include the structural, electrical and mechanical upgrades to the pump station. Cause for renovation is due to deterioration of the wet well from H2S; electrical component damage due to H2S corrosion and the overall age of the facility; and mechanical damage due to faulty discharge line valves due to hydraulic surging. Work is to include upgrading the HVAC; replacing/upgrading components of the electrical system; replacing corroded duct work; upgrading the wet well level control system and improving on safety issues by eliminating fire and electrical hazards to achieve compliance with NFPA 820 and 70E. The project is funded by CWSRF monies. • Hilo WWTP Administration Building Reroofing: Work on mold remediation is complete. The remaining work is sheetrock installation, painting, and HVAC work. This work will commence once the Contractor’s change order request receives County approval. • ZOM Dilution and Assimilative Capacity Study: Due to inclement weather conditions, the field work for the Dilution and Assimilative Capacity Study for the Pāpa‘ikou, and Kula‘imano WWTPs has been re-scheduled to early May 2018. I. ULU WINI WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT: • The WWD continues to maintain stability of the treatment plant with the goal of achieving consistent process data and meeting the regulatory as well as expected effluent limits. The treatment system currently meets DOH regulatory requirements, and nutrient removal is taking place. The longer term goal is to cut down on operation and maintenance. • Progress on the design plans and specifications (for the installation of the immediately planned treatment plant upgrades aimed at maintaining treatment plant stability and reliability plus lowered operations and maintenance cost for the next several years) is on hold due to OHCD’s notification to the Department that they are working with a Consultant to assess the condition of the treatment plant . • The State DOH is being kept apprised of the progress. J. SEWER RATE STUDY UPDATE: • Work on the Sewer Rate Study continues. DEM is currently working with the consultant on finalizing the rate study. K. UPDATE ON WATER SHUT-OFF FOR NON PAYMENT OF SEWER BILLS: • DEM is currently drafting administrative rules for the implementation of water shut-off for non-payment of sewer fees. The Department of Water Supply (DWS) is also drafting amendments to its rules to allow for water shut-off due to non-payment of sewer fees. Both DEM and DWS rules need to be amended for the water shut-off to be implemented. In the meantime, we continue to work with delinquent customers to bring their accounts current and refer accounts to the Office of the Corporation Counsel to pursue judgments when necessary.