No hazard from illegal dumps found

Two illegal dumps on the Leeward Coast have not contaminated ground water and water or fish in nearby streams, a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency news release said yesterday.

The EPA reported Kaupuni and Ulehawa streams and their stream mouths free of the contaminants found at the illegal dump sites, the release said. Fish in the streams can still be eaten.

Federal officials had expressed concern that contaminants would seep into ground water from the illegal dumps at Hakimo Road in Nanakuli and Haleahi Road in Waianae.

On May 13, federal investigators arrested two men during a search of the Hakimo Road property in an investigation of illegal dumping. Investigators found leaking car batteries, paint and other hazardous materials at the site, the EPA said.

The U.S. Attorney's Office was unavailable yesterday to comment on the status of the case.

The same week, the EPA checked the Haleahi Road site, identified as having a problem with illegal waste, and found the toxins polychlorinated biphenals and perchloroethylene in leaky containers adjacent to Kaupuni Stream.

A team of EPA technicians from San Francisco cleaned up much of the 10-acre property on Hakimo Road and contained any dangers in areas with high concentrations of lead, said Dean Higuchi, EPA spokesman.

It was unknown when the EPA would remove the remaining, contained hot spots on the property, Higuchi said.

The cleanup team, which has already returned to the mainland, also mopped up the Haleahi Road property, where investigators found toxins in leaking containers.