Whatever
Happened To...
An update on past news
City and state still
negotiating Waipahu
landfill finesQuestion: What ever happened to the state fine levied against the city for violating solid- and hazardous-waste rules at its Waipahu incinerator and landfill?
Answer: The $542,459 fine, announced May 30, 2003, hasn't been paid, pending negotiations between the city and the state, said Steve Chang, chief of the state Health Department's Solid and Hazardous Waste Branch.
The city proposed a program to reduce illegal dumping in lieu of at least part of the fine, and the state is reviewing the offer.
Chang said he can't comment on the specifics of the city's proposal unless it's approved by attorneys for the state and city. He said it would involve actions that would benefit the public and would be expected to include a monetary fine.
In 2000 his division fined the University of Hawaii $1.7 million for improper handling of hazardous chemicals and explosives on three campuses. The university negotiated a settlement to pay a cash penalty of $505,000 and conduct $1.2 million worth of projects to reduce its pollution.
Carroll Cox, president of EnviroWatch, alleged in February 2003 that the city illegally buried crushed household appliances on the grounds of its closed Waipahu Incinerator.
A Health Department investigation found more than 400 tons of illegally buried solid waste at the incinerator and nearby ash landfill, plus 84,000 pounds of hazardous waste.
The city spent about $500,000 to clean up the mess, which included removing and recycling household appliances and propane tanks; sending hazardous waste to the mainland for disposal; and environmental consultant and contractor costs.
Former city disposal services supervisor Peter Kealoha Jr. resigned rather than face disciplinary action for allegedly ordering the illegal dumping.
"All the corrective actions have been completed," Chang said. "They've cleaned up the site, made sure the material was accounted for and properly disposed of ... but the fines haven't been paid or resolved."
Fines will go into the Health Department's environmental management special fund, to be used for other emergency response activities, Chang said.
This update was written by Star-Bulletin reporter Diana Leone.
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