Navy fined for alleged
illegal dumping
The state has fined the Navy $81,600 for allegedly dumping paint thinner and contaminated air vents in the trash at Pearl Harbor -- the third time the Navy has been accused of hazardous waste violations in three years.
Lt. Cmdr. Jeff Davis, Pearl Harbor spokesman, said the Navy has taken action to address the latest concerns raised by state Health Department inspectors.
"We are reviewing the complaint and may hold further discussions with the Health Department," Davis added.
Steven Chang, chief of the Department of Health's solid and hazardous waste branch, said the latest citations for three violations of the state's hazardous waste rules were issued Aug. 3. The Navy has 20 days to respond to the order and could ask for a hearing, Chang said.
The violations were discovered during Health Department inspections in summer 2002 and May 2003.
Chang said one violation dealt with improper disposal of air filters used in painting booths. "They were just thrown out with the trash," Chang said.
Another violation was because the Navy mismanaged the collection and disposal of hazardous waste materials stored in 55 gallon drums, state officials said.
The last violation was because the Navy failed to correctly label containers holding hazardous waste materials, the state said.
The other two times the Navy was accused of violating state hazardous waste rules are:
>> On Nov. 27, 2002, Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard -- the state's largest industrial employer -- was fined $90,400 by the state Health Department for improperly labeling, storing and disposing hazardous wastes and materials.The Navy held the contractor liable for the $217,640 fine. The company had been hired to remove paint from the exterior of four large storage tanks.
>> In August 2001, the Navy suspended a civilian contractor after the Health Department discovered that Robison-Prezioso had treated hazardous waste materials without a permit, failed to properly mark containers, mismanaged containers and was storing waste without a permit.
www.state.hi.us/health/
