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ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT COMMISSION <br />MINUTES <br />June 28, 2017 <br />Hawai'i County Building, Puna Conference Room, Hilo, HI <br />COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: <br />James Fritz, Chair <br />Richard Bennett, Vice Chair <br />Jeffry Fear <br />Luana Neff <br />Jon Olson <br />STAFF: <br />William Kucharski, Director <br />Diane Noda, Deputy Director <br />Marcie Toguchi, Private Secretary <br />Renee Schoen, Assistant Corporation Counsel <br />Keyra Wong, Deputy Corporation Counsel <br />Gregory Goodale, SW Division Chief <br />Charmaine Felipe, Accountant IV <br />1. CALL TO ORDER & ANNOUNCEMENTS: <br />The meeting was called to order at 9:10 a.m. by Chair Fritz. <br />2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF APRIL 26, 2017 & MAY 24, 2017 MEETING: <br />Chair Fritz stated at the last meeting there was a correction and subsequently an addendum to the <br />April 26, 2017 minutes. Chair Fritz moved to approve the April 26, 2017 minutes as corrected. <br />Mr. Olson seconded, and it carried unanimously. <br />3. STATEMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC ON ITEMS LISTED ON AGENDA: <br />• James Sartoris stated he found the Bio Energy presentation last meeting to be interesting and <br />promising. However, he does have one concern, how will they raise biofuel crops in the future <br />to use as feedstock. Currently only 15% of our agricultural products are grown locally, the rest <br />is imported. Of which, 90% are from imported fossil fuels. There are more than 500 tons of <br />waste material being sent to the Landfill every day. To take up agricultural land to make fuel <br />will hurt us. <br />• Cory Harden of the Sierra Club stated Bio Energy's presentation was interesting however she <br />has a lot of questions about their proposals. If Bio Energy goes out of business how will the <br />County handle the amount of rubbish that would have gone there? According to the Draft <br />Environmental Assessment, there will be no significant impact. How can that be true for a <br />$125 million facility? Concerned that the County and public had little or no involvement in the <br />planning process. How much waste does this facility need to collect in order to say in <br />business? How will recycling programs be affected? Will the digester consume water? If so, <br />where will the water come from as the annual rainfall in that area is about 11"? Is there an <br />agreement with the Department of Water Supply? <br />4. OLD BUSINESS: <br />a. Review draft Resolution supporting an anti -litter ethic for Hawaii Island (attached to <br />original minutes) <br />o Ms. Schoen stated she took the draft Resolution that was presented at the May 24, 2017 <br />meeting and created a new draft in the correct Resolution format. She changed a few things <br />mainly giving direction to the Department to explore incentives. <br />o Next step is for the Commission to decide which Council Member they would like to ask to <br />introduce this Resolution. Mr. Fear volunteered to ask Council Member Eoff for her <br />1 <br />