Navy fined $90,400 for
hazardous-waste offenses

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By Gregg K. Kakesako
gkakesako@starbulletin.com

The state Health Department has fined the Navy $90,400 for improperly labeling, storing and disposing hazardous wastes and materials at the Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard.

Grace Simmons, environmental health specialist, said the fine was issued Nov. 27 and was based on a five-day inspection of the state's largest industrial employer in July.

The state found five violations ranging from storing hazardous materials longer than 90 days to improperly labeling and storing the materials.

Simmons said rags soaked with solvent were sent to the city's landfill for disposal.

"They (the Navy) use quite a bit of rags throughout the shipyard," she said. "These rags were soaked with solvent, which is considered a hazardous waste."

Private contractors hired by the shipyard and who also improperly stored these paints, oils, thinners and solvents were part of the complaint, Simmons said.

Jason Holm, Navy spokesman, said after the shipyard was notified of the state's findings in October, changes were made "to improve our environmental program, including conducting mandatory environmental briefings, enhanced internal inspections to help personnel follow requirements, and increased education and awareness to improve knowledge requirements."

Simmons characterized the fine as about average, noting that the University of Hawaii was recently fined more than $1 million for similar violations.

Joining the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency two years ago, the Health Department fined UH $1.7 million for mishandling hazardous materials in a chemistry building at the Manoa campus and at agricultural research facilities on Kauai and the Big Island.

A container-load of hazardous chemicals, including flammables, acids, poisons and unknown substances, was discovered at Bilger Hall and the UH's environmental protection facilities in 1997.

Chemical storage violations were also found at the two neighbor island facilities.

More than 4,600 civilians work at the shipyard.