The Waimanalo Gulch Landfill can be used an additional five years, if the City Council decides by June 2004 where the next landfill will be. Panel OKs
landfill expansionThe state allows use of
Waimanalo Gulch for five years,
but the city must find a new siteBy Diana Leone
dleone@starbulletin.com
If the Council fails to act by that time, the conditional special use permit approved yesterday by the state Land Use Commission would be revoked.
By a 7-1 vote, the commission approved the city's request for a 21-acre expansion of the landfill, which has been operating since 1989.
City officials only need a permit from the state Department of Health before the expansion can proceed.
A hearing has been set for April 14.
But commissioners said they were unhappy it took the city so long to seek approval of the expansion.
"Why didn't the city and county come here five years ago?" demanded Commissioner Stanley Roehrig. "Why do you wait until two months before you're out of space and we're forced to take the heat for the city and county's failure to act?"
Commission staff said the city requested to be heard on the matter earlier this month, after the city Planning Commission approved Waimanalo Gulch plans.
Peter Yukimura was the lone commissioner present who voted against the measure, saying that although he wants to see the project move along, he does not think the commission can hold a political body like the City Council to a particular deadline.
Among the commission's conditions for the landfill expansion:
>> Although the 200 acres the city owns at Waimanalo Gulch could technically accept garbage for at least 15 more years, it will not be allowed to continue as a landfill after May 2008.The city has promised it would use the landfill only for five more years.
>> Mayor Jeremy Harris' blue-ribbon task force on selecting a new landfill site, which he is to appoint in April, must make a recommendation to the City Council by Dec. 1.
>> The Council must provide funding in its fiscal year 2005 budget for the new landfill.
>> Public comment and environmental review processes should start no later than Dec. 31, 2004.
>> The city must make annual reports to the Land Use Commission regarding its progress toward opening the new landfill.
>> The city must fulfill its promises to reduce the amount of waste that must be sent to the landfill, by expanding the HPOWER waste-to-energy plant, improving recycling rates for wood, metal and gypsum, looking at other ways to improve recycling and supporting the statewide bottle bill.
City & County of Honolulu
