Cleanup starts
for illegal dump

Work began this week to dig up, identify and properly dispose up to 500 tons of construction and demolition waste illegally dumped at Wayne's Dairy in Waianae last year.

State Department of Health officials have approved a plan for the cleanup of roofing materials, concrete, asphalt, dirt, wood and piping that were hauled between May and November 2003 to a former waste-water holding area at the now-closed dairy.

They have not yet decided whether fines will be sought, pending discovery of the total amount of material and whether any hazardous substances, such as lead-based paint, will require special treatment.

Digging up the material, sorting it by type and disposing of it in approved landfills is expected to take 11 weeks, according to a cleanup plan developed by consultant EnviroServices & Training Center for landowner Buddy Costa.

The cleanup cost, which has not been estimated, is the responsibility of the landowner, said Steve Chang, administrator of the department's Division of Solid and Hazardous Waste. Health Department workers will monitor the cleanup, he said.

According to Costa's cleanup plan filed with the department, haulers Hawaiian Steam and International Roofing brought the construction debris to the dairy in 50 to 100 five-ton truckloads and buried it 5 to 15 feet deep. The illegal dump is within 2,000 feet of Kauaopuu and Miliilii streams, the plan says.

Carroll Cox, president of EnviroWatch, reported the dump to the state in May. He said yesterday he is disappointed it took this long for a cleanup to begin. He also said he is skeptical about the state allowing the workers for Hawaiian Steam, one of the companies that originally dumped the materials, to help clean it up and that an environmental consultant is testing for hazardous substances.

"I don't trust that," said Cox. "I think the state should do its own testing."

Cox also has complained about alleged illegal dumping at two other sites: Onipaa Ranch, which leases state Department of Health land behind Pearl City High School; and Hawaiian Steam's baseyard at 96-1100 Waihona St. in Pearl City.

Onipaa Ranch told the state in June that it believed it was getting fill dirt, but got construction waste topped with dirt.

Chang said he expects the three sites to be dealt with one at a time.

Costa, of Wayne's Dairy, and Benson Lee, of Hawaiian Steam, couldn't be reached for comment yesterday.