Warning signs go up near Campbell Industrial Park

State officials have posted warning signs along the shoreline near Campbell Industrial Park after discovering that possibly toxic red effluent was discharged along with normal water waste.

The effluent was found during an inspection of the Chevron refinery in Campbell Industrial Park and was going through Chevron's outfall pipe 150 feet from shore, officials with the state Health Department's Clean Water Branch said yesterday.

How much of the red effluent was discharged into the ocean isn't known, but Chevron believes it could be toxic, department officials said.

The company and Health Department are having it tested for toxicity.

Chevron has since diverted the effluent into two stormwater overflow ponds that aren't normally used, health officials said.

Fishermen use the shoreline at Barbers Point as a recreation area, said Keith Kawaoka, manager of the department's Hazard Evaluation and Emergency Response Office.

New generator will provide airport full backup power

The state is moving ahead with plans to build a 10-megawatt emergency power facility at Honolulu Airport that will provide full backup power to the terminal during commercial power interruptions.

Gov. Linda Lingle released $24 million for the project, in addition to a previous $1 million allotment for project design and equipment.

The funding will cover the cost of fuel tanks and a distribution system to run the emergency power plant.

The current emergency backup power system represents about 10 percent of the airport's peak power needs.

That's enough to allow for the evacuation and safe shutdown of the airport until commercial power is restored.

The new system will allow for the continued processing of inbound and outbound passengers.

Neighbor Islands

Barking Sands, Kauai » The Defense Department awarded a $20.68 million contract to Bulltrack-Watts, a joint venture out of Marysville, Calif., to repave the runway, taxiway and aprons at the Navy's Pacific Missile Range Facility at Barking Sands, Kauai. The funding is part of the federal stimulus program. Completion is set for February.

Kalaupapa, Molokai » Crewmembers of the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Kittiwake repainted a historic building at Kalaupapa National Park on Molokai. Last week's volunteer work was coordinated by Kittiwake Chief Petty Officer Shawn Brooks for his last patrol, the Coast Guard said. The 87-foot cutter is based at Nawiliwili Harbor on Kauai.

Hakalau, Hawaii » The Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuge on the Big Island will receive $590,000 in federal stimulus funding, said U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye. The money will be used to replace the Pua Akala barn with a storage and maintenance building at the 32,783-acre reserve, according to a news release.