Wai‘anae Ecological Characterization

Natural Resource Management

Responsibility for the implementation and oversight of rules, regulations, and guidelines pertaining to natural resources and environmental management in the State of Hawai‘i and the Wai‘anae moku lies with multiple levels of government: federal (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency [EPA] and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration [NOAA]), State of Hawai‘i (Hawai‘i Coastal Zone Management, Department of Health, and Department of Land and Natural Resources), and local (City and County of Honolulu). Much of the state's federal funding for natural resource protection comes through the EPA and NOAA. While EPA has the authority to implement federal environmental regulations, they have delegated many of their responsibilities to the State of Hawai‘i.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The mission of the EPA is to protect human health and the environment. In July of 1970, the White House and Congress worked together to establish the EPA in response to the growing public demand for cleaner water, air and land. Prior to the establishment of the EPA, the federal government was not structured to make a coordinated attack on the pollutants that harm human health and degrade the environment. The EPA was assigned the task of repairing the damage already done to the natural environment and establishing new criteria to guide Americans in making a cleaner environment a reality.

EPA works to develop and enforce regulations that implement environmental laws enacted by Congress. EPA is responsible for researching and setting national standards for a variety of environmental programs, and delegates to states the responsibility for issuing permits and for monitoring and enforcing compliance. EPA provides direct support through grants to the State environmental programs. EPA provides financial assistance to the State of Hawai‘i through programs such as the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund, the Clean Water State Revolving Fund, and the Brownfields program. More information regarding EPA can be found at http://www.epa.gov.

U.S. EPA Pacific Islands Contact Office (PICO). EPA's PICO is based in Honolulu to help the public in Hawai‘i and the Pacific Islands access EPA's extensive environmental information resources. PICO serves as a contact point and liaison between EPA and the State of Hawai‘i and other Pacific Islands. PICO handles the logistics of EPA-sponsored meetings, conferences, hearings, workshops, and training seminars held in Hawai‘i. PICO staff conduct outreach to Hawai‘i schools, colleges, and community groups and participate in environmental events. Teacher information packets with environmental lesson materials are available.

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. NOAA's mission is to understand and predict changes in the Earth's environment and conserve and manage coastal and marine resources to meet our nation's economic, social, and environmental needs. NOAA was formed in 1970 by joining together individual organizations dedicated to physical and atmospheric sciences and conservation. Today, NOAA supports scientific research, service, and stewardship for our ocean and coasts, fisheries, weather and climate, and charting and navigation.

As the United States becomes more populous, coastal areas, fisheries, and marine species are coming under increasing pressure. NOAA is leading efforts to balance commerce with conservation by providing scientific information and environmental change predictions and by fostering global environmental management. Through these efforts, NOAA is helping to manage coastal and marine resources to benefit future generations and the economy.

State and local coastal resource managers are one of NOAA's primary customers, since their programs play important roles in determining the fate of the nation's coasts. In addition to providing federal funds, NOAA assists this community in a variety of ways. More information on NOAA's roles and responsibilities can be found at http://www.noaa.gov.

In Hawaii and the Pacific, NOAA's presence is represented by local and regional offices throughout the islands. The publication, NOAA in the Pacific, provides more information on NOAA's efforts in this region.

State of Hawai‘i Coastal Zone Management Program

The Hawai‘i Coastal Zone Management Program is responsible for administering and upholding the Coastal Zone Act Reauthorization Amendments. The state's program addresses a comprehensive list of resources, including:

• Marine resources
• Coastal ecosystems
• Shoreline and beach protection
• Special management areas and shoreline setback programs
• Coastal hazards
• Recreational resources
• Historic resources
• Scenic and open space resources
• Economic uses
• Federal consistency program
• Managing development

The Hawai‘i Coastal Zone Management Program works with other state and federal partners, as well as the community to inspire island stewardship and promote a sustainable coastal environment. More information on Hawai‘i Coastal Zone Management can be found at http://www.czmhawaii.com.

State of Hawai‘i, Department of Environmental Health

The Department of Health is entrusted with protecting the health of Hawai‘i residents through the protection of the state's environment and through regulation of goods, services, and facilities used by the general public.

Clean Air Branch. The Clean Air Branch is responsible for the implementation of a statewide air pollution control program as well as working to ensure that air conditioning and ventilation rules are enforced and that the public is protected from exposure to lead and asbestos.

Compliance Assistance Office. The Compliance Assistance Office helps small businesses overcome the hurdles they face in their effort to succeed in business while following environmental regulations.

Environmental Planning Office. The Environmental Planning Office develops strategic plans, supports land use reviews, and helps to get new programs underway. This office has been instrumental in developing the polluted runoff control program and is involved in coordinating watershed management projects.

Hazard Evaluation and Emergency Response Office. The Hazard Evaluation and Emergency Response Office provides risk assessments, responds to the release of hazardous substances and oversees the cleanup of contaminated sites. The office responds to at least 150 incidents a year. Office activities include evaluating health effects of air and water pollutants when no standards exist.

Sanitation Branch. The Sanitation Branch is responsible for the implementation and enforcement of the statutes, rules, and policies relating to environmental sanitation. The branch regulates food and service establishments, public swimming pools, housing, milk, recreational trailer camps, tattoo artists, licensing for sanitarians, mortuaries, cemeteries, and embalmers.

Solid and Hazardous Waste. This office has three main areas of responsibility: the management of solid waste, management of hazardous materials, and the regulation of underground storage tanks.

Water Quality. The Department of Health is responsible for three primary areas of water quality. The Clean Water Branch administers and enforces statewide water pollution laws and rules, the Safe Drinking Water Branch administers federal and state safe drinking water regulations, and the Wastewater Branch implements the construction of county wastewater facilities.

More information on State of Hawai‘i, Department of Health, as well as state environmental laws, can be found at http://www.hawaii.gov/health/environmental/.

State of Hawai‘i, Department of Land and Natural Resources

The Department of Land and Natural Resources oversees the many programs conducted in the state to protect the natural and cultural resources of the state.

Division of Aquatic Resources. DAR manages the state's aquatic resources and ecosystems through programs in commercial fisheries and resource enhancement; aquatic resources protection, habitat enhancement and education; and recreational fisheries.

Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation. DBOR is responsible for the management and administration of statewide ocean recreation and coastal areas programs pertaining to the ocean waters and navigable streams of the state (exclusive of commercial harbors), including small boat harbors, launching ramps, offshore mooring areas, designated ocean water areas, designated ocean recreation management areas, associated aids to navigation throughout the state, and beaches encumbered with easements in favor of the public.

Division of Conservation and Resource Enforcement. This division is responsible for enforcement activities of the Department of Land and Natural Resources. The division has full police powers to enforce laws of state lands, parks, historical sites, forest reserves, aquatic life and wildlife areas, coastal zones, conservation districts, and shores.

Division of Forestry and Wildlife. DOFAW is responsible for managing state-owned forests, natural areas, public hunting areas, and plant and wildlife sanctuaries. Program areas cover watershed protection; native resources protection, including unique ecosystems and endangered species of plants and wildlife; outdoor recreation; and commercial forestry.

Land Division. The Land Division is responsible for managing state-owned lands in ways that will promote the social, environmental and economic well-being of Hawai‘i's people and for insuring that these lands are used in accordance with the goals, policies and plans of the state.

Office of Conservation and Coastal Lands. The mission of this office is to protect and conserve Conservation District lands and beaches within the state, consisting of terrestrial and marine environments, with special emphasis on coastal areas and beaches, and marine lands out to the seaward extent of the state's jurisdiction (three miles).

Commission on Water Resource Management. The Commission administers the State Water Code, which was created by the 1987 Hawai‘i State Legislature.  Primary responsibilities are to implement and administer the provisions of the code by planning, surveying, regulating, monitoring, and conserving the state's water resources within established plans that have been adopted by the Commission.  Overall responsibilities include the following:

• Administer the Hawai‘i Water Plan and its constituent parts, except the Water Quality Plan which is administered by the State of Hawai‘i Department of Health.
• Regulate the use of water resources in water management areas, and coordinate activities necessary to insure the protection of native Hawaiian water rights.
• Administer the instream use protection program by recommending appropriate interim and final instream flow standards.
• Receive and process water-related citizen complaints.
• Receive and process permit applications for stream channel alterations, well drilling, pump installations, and diversion works construction.
• Conduct hydrologic investigations and recommend appropriate action regarding designation of water management areas.

More information regarding the State of Hawai‘i, Department of Land and Natural Resources can be found at http://www.hawaii.gov/dlnr.

City and County of Honolulu, Department of Environmental Services

Their mission is to protect public health and the environment by efficient and effective management of storm water, wastewater, and solid waste systems of the City and County of Honolulu.

Solid Waste.   The City and County of Honolulu provides refuse collection and disposal for residents to dispose of their household rubbish.  The Wai‘anae Convenience Center is located off Plantation Road and may be contacted at (808) 696-4203.  Additional information regarding solid waste disposal and recycling programs can be found at http://www.opala.org.

Storm Water.  The City and County of Honolulu initiated a Storm Water Management Program in 1994 to reduce the amount of pollutants discharged into the O‘ahu storm water system.  The system must conform to a set of federal rules called the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) regulations. These rules, part of the Federal Clean Water Act, are aimed at keeping land and surface water clean.  For information on program activities, including public outreach, enforcement and permitting of storm water discharges, go to http://www.cleanwaterhonolulu.com.

Wastewater Treatment.  The City and County of Honolulu operates eight wastewater treatment plants, including one in Wai‘anae.  Wastewater treatment is completed through enhancements to naturally-occurring conditions. Microorganisms which break down the waste products are cultured with added nutrients and oxygen so they break down the wastewater more quickly than usual. In general, obnoxious and unhealthy compounds are broken down and removed from the system.  Remaining water that contains some impurities is returned back to the ecosystem. This type of treatment is called secondary treatment. The treated wastewater is then injected into the ground, discharged into a lake, or discharged into the ocean, as in Wai‘anae. For more information see http://www.co.honolulu.hi.us/env/envinfo.htm.

More information regarding the City and County of Honolulu's Department of Environmental Services can be found at http://www.envhonolulu.org/index.html.

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