County Wastewater Division to Conduct Dye Test of Wastewater Treatment Plant Outfall Pipe

The County of Hawaii, Department of Environmental Management, Wastewater Division, will be conducting a dye test of the Hilo Wastewater Treatment Plant outfall pipe.

The dye test will be completed September 21, 2018, and will provide information for inspection of the outfall pipe.  The inspection is being done to confirm the integrity of repairs completed in 2017.

Process:

• Yellow dye will be discharged in Puhi Bay, approximately 4,400 feet from the shoreline.
• The dye may be visible at the ocean surface.
• The dye is non-toxic, biodegradable, and is not harmful to the environment.

For further information, please call the County of Hawai’i Wastewater Division at 808-961-8279.

Celebration of 25^th Anniversary of West Hawaiʻi Sanitary Landfill in Puʻuanahulu

The County of Hawaiʻi Department of Environmental Management’s Solid Waste Division would like to acknowledge the 25^th anniversary of the opening of the West Hawaiʻi Sanitary Landfill (WHSL) in Puʻuanahulu (Waikoloa), South Kohala, located on Puʻu Pōhaku Road.

The WHSL is the only solid waste facility on the Island of Hawai’i that meets all current State and Federal requirements.  The site includes areas for solid waste disposal, green waste processing, recycling, and abandoned vehicle impound.  Among the unique aspects at the facility are an active landfill gas collection system and a landfill leachate recovery system.

In conjunction with its landfill contractor, Waste Management Hawaiʻi, the Solid Waste Division is planning to recognize this historic milestone at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, October 26, 2018, at the WHSL main facility office.  The Division will also open the site to the public for tours throughout the day on October 26, 2018, from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

The Division will provide transportation, within the facility, to all those interested in a short tour of the facility.  Each tour is expected to last 30 minutes.  To schedule a tour, please contact the Solid Waste Division office at 961-8270.

Extension Public Comment Period for the Pāhala Large Capacity Cesspool (LCC) Replacement Project Draft Environmental Assessment

October 26, 2018

The County of Hawaii Department of Environmental Management (DEM) with the concurrence of U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has granted the request of local citizens to extend the thirty (30) day comment period set by Hawaii Revised Statutes, Chapter 343 and by EPA NEPA regulations 40 CFR 6.203(b).

The DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT for the Pāhala Large Capacity Cesspool (LCC) Replacement Project EPA Grant XP-96942401 Pāhala, District of Ka‘u, County of Hawai‘i, Hawai’i (DEA) has been re-submitted to the State Office of Environmental Quality Control (OEQC) with the expectation that it will be re-published on November 8, 2018.  Comments will be due no later than December 10, 2018.  There have been no changes, additions or modifications to the DEA document which was previously published in the September 23, 2018 Environmental Notice

The DEA is currently available at the following locations:

• OEQC’s web site: http://oeqc2.doh.hawaii.gov/The_Environmental_Notice/2018-09-23-TEN.pdf)
• COH web site: http://records.co.hawaii.hi.us/weblink/1/edoc/96064/Pahala%20FINAL%20DRAFT%20EA%20and%20Appendices_508_9-11-18.pdf
• -EPA’s web site: https://www.epa.gov/uic/proposed-pahala-community-large-capacity-cesspool-lcc-replacement-project-draft-environmental
• Pahala and Naalehu libraries.

Under this extension, written comments on the DEA may be submitted through December 10, 2018.

Additional information will be sought to address more fully Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act requirement.

All interested members of the community are encouraged to submit comments to:

Wilson Okamoto Corporation

1907 S, Beretania St., Suite 400

Honolulu, HI 96826

Email: PahalaEA@wilsonokamoto.com

Availability of the Preliminary Engineering Report (PER) for the Proposed NĀʻĀLEHU Wastewater Treatment Plant

A Preliminary Engineering Report (PER) for the proposed Nā‛ālehu Wastewater Treatment Facility was submitted to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) on October 25, 2018, as required by the Administrative Order on Consent (AOC) signed by the County of Hawaiʻi (COH) and finalized on June 22, 2017.

In 1998, the USEPA promulgated regulations—40 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 144.14—which required the elimination of Large Capacity Cesspools (LCCs).  As a result, the County of Hawaiʻi will close the existing LCCs in Nāʻālehu and construct a new sewer collection system located primarily within public right-of-way (ROW) and replace the existing LCCs with a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) to address the wastewater treatment and disposal needs of the community.

The Nāʻālehu PER:

• Summarizes the evaluations carried out to design and locate a proposed WWTP in Nā‛ālehu, which will be constructed to treat and dispose of the wastewater flow that is currently discharged untreated to the LCCs, plus accommodate additional sewer connections in support of the Kaʻū Community Development Plan (CDP);
• Recommends a collection, treatment, and disposal system in compliance with the State of Hawaiʻi Department of Health and EPA requirements for the replacement of the three LCCs and deteriorating collection system in Nā‛ālehu;
• Studied technology options for the proposed wastewater treatment system in Nā‛ālehu; and
• Recommends a preferred site and conceptual layout for the new facility.

The next step is preparation of a Draft Environmental Assessment (DEA) in accordance with Chapter 343, Hawaiʻi Revised Statutes.  The PER will be part of the DEA framework.  The DEA is targeted for completion by the end of May 2019   Public comment on the DEA will be solicited.

A new preferred site for the Nāʻālehu wastewater treatment plant is described in detail in the October 2018 PER.  Siting was and is a critical factor for the community, and the PER considered community input.  A total of 32 sites were evaluated in Nā‛ālehu.  The sites were each ranked based on 21 physical, cultural and social factors, including, but not limited to, soil type, locations of subsurface and surface water resources, archaeological and cultural resources, and social implications, such as land ownership and proximity to public uses.

For further information, please call the Department of Environmental Management at 808-961-8083 or view and/or download the PER at the County website:

http://www.hawaiicounty.gov/dem-wastewater-division

FREE RESIDENTIAL HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE COLLECTION EVENT INFORMATION

 Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) collection events will be held between 7:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. on the following dates:

• Saturday, December 1, 2018 at the Hilo Recycling and Transfer Station.
• Saturday, December 8, 2018 at the Kailua-Kona (Kealakehe) Recycling and Transfer Station.

The County of Hawai‘i’s Department of Environmental Management holds these regular collection events, at no charge to the public, so households can conveniently dispose of acceptable household hazardous waste in a manner that protects both public health and the environment.

These events are for household-generated and self-hauled waste only.  Business, government agency, non-profit agency, or farm wastes are not allowed.  No electronic waste and no tires will be accepted.

Acceptable household hazardous waste includes automotive fluids, used batteries, fluorescent lights, and pesticides.  Latex paint will be accepted at the Hilo and Kona events for reuse.  For a more complete list of acceptable or unacceptable household hazardous waste, please visit our website at http://www.hawaiizerowaste.org/recycle/ household-hazardous-waste/. The website includes other useful information on solid waste diversion and recycling.

If you are unable to attend the Hilo or Kona HHW collection events, the next scheduled collection events will be on March 2, 2019, in Waimea, and on March 3, 2019, in Pāhoa.

If you have any questions regarding these Household Hazardous Waste collection events, please contact Chris Chin-Chance, Recycling Specialist with the Department of Environmental Management, at 961-8554, or email recycle3@co.hawaii.hi.us.  Mahalo for your kōkua in keeping our island a clean and safe paradise!

ABANDONED VEHICLE SECTION’S 6^TH AUCTION WILL BE HELD IN DECEMBER 2018

The County of Hawai‘i’s Abandoned Vehicle Section will be holding its sixth auction in December in Kona.  Prospective bidders are encouraged to view the vehicles prior to bidding.  In no case will failure to view constitute grounds for the withdrawal of a bid.  All prospective bidders must sign in at the designated sign-in table.  Vehicles available for auction will be clearly labeled with an item number.  No person may enter or touch any vehicle in the impound lot.  This impound lot is paved; however, appropriate footwear is recommended.

Children under the age of 12 will not be allowed in the impound lot.

Location: Kona Abandoned Vehicle Impound Lot, located at 74-598 Hale Makai Place, Kailua-Kona, Hawaiʻi 96740 (across from the Kealakehe Police Station). The viewing days and hours are as follows:

• Friday, December 7, 2018             7:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
• Saturday, December 8, 2018               9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
• Sunday, December 9, 2018 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Bidders must deposit twenty five percent (25%) of the bid price with their sealed bid. Bids must be at or above upset price, and will be accepted in whole dollar amounts only. Only signed bids will be accepted.  Any bidder defaulting on the payment or cancelling their bid shall forfeit their deposit.  Bid deposits of unsuccessful bidders will be refunded. Bid deposits of successful bidders will be applied to their bid price.  Bidders may submit a completed bid form during viewing hours.

For further information please contact Juliana Holzman-Escareno, Abandoned Vehicle Coordinator 961-8552

Please look for the publication (list of vehicles included) in the Hawaiʻi Tribune-Herald and West Hawaiʻi Today on the following dates:

Sunday, December 2

Tuesday, December 4

Sunday, December 9

All County of Hawaiʻi Recycling and Solid Waste Transfer Stations and Landfills Closed on Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving:  Thursday, November 22, 2018

The County of Hawaiʻi’s Recycling and Transfer Stations and Landfills will be closed on Thursday, November 22, 2018, in observance of Thanksgiving.

We respectfully ask for your kōkua.  Please do not litter or illegally dump any materials at the closed Recycling and Transfer Stations.

Mahalo for your cooperation!

If you have any questions, please contact the Solid Waste Administrative Office at 961-8270.

TREECYCLING!  COUNTY RECYCLES HOLIDAY TREES

To help make the holidays greener, the Solid Waste Division of the Department of Environmental Management will again offer Tree-cycling.

Residential customers are encouraged to tree-cycle at the following Recycling and Transfer Stations which accept greenwaste and treecycling: Hilo, Keaʻau, Pāhoa, Volcano, Kealakehe (Kailua-Kona), Ke‘ei, and Waimea.

Please be aware that all decorations, stands, lights, tinsel, and ornaments must be removed prior to treecycling.  Please note that artificial trees, flocked trees, or trees with decorations cannot be tree-cycled, but may be disposed of in the regular trash chutes.

Residential customers may leave holiday trees in designated tree-cycling areas (but not in the rubbish chutes) during normal business hours between December 26, 2018 and January 15, 2019 only.  Facility attendants will direct the public to the proper treecycling drop-off point.  For more information or a map and directions to drop-off locations, go to http://www.hawaiizerowaste.org/facilities/.

At the Hilo Recycling and Transfer Station, residential customers with only holiday trees for tree-cycling may proceed directly to the East Hawaiʻi Organics Facility and look for the designated tree-cycling area.  There is no need to go to the County scalehouse, as is normally required.  Residential loads with both greenwaste and holiday trees must first go to the County scalehouse to be weighed, prior to recycling.  All commercial haulers or commercial holiday tree collectors must proceed to the County scalehouse prior to disposal.

Commercial customers may tree-cycle at the East Hawaiʻi Organics Facility in Hilo or the West Hawaiʻi Organics Facility in Waikoloa.

Please note that tree-cycling is not available at the Miloli’i or Oceanview Transfer Stations.

Also, kadomatsu decorations may be placed in the normal tree-cycling areas.   Kadomatsu decorations are normally a combination of bamboo, pine and flowers. Kadomatsu is a tradition that began more than 600 years ago in Japan as a way of attracting good luck in the New Year.

Mahalo for recycling and keeping these resources out of the County landfills!

For more information on Recycling in Hawai‘i County, visit www.hawaiizerowaste.org or call our Solid Waste Division at 961-8270.

Due to unexpected staff shortages in East Hawaiʻi, the Pāpaʽikou Transfer Station will close at 11:00 a.m. today (Tuesday, January 22, 2019), and will reopen as regularly scheduled on Friday, January 25, 2019, at 6:00 a.m. For this afternoon, the public can take their trash to the Hilo Transfer Station, which is open seven days a week from 6:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

We apologize for the inconvenience and thank you for your patience and understanding during this extremely busy post-holiday week.

Please visit our www.hawaiizerowaste.org website for future closure information and locations, or call our Department of Environmental Management, Solid Waste Division Office, at 961-8270.