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September 16, 2002
The State Department of Health (DOH) today issued a municipal solid
waste (MSW) landfill renewal permit to the City and County of Honolulu
to allow for the continued operation of the Waimanalo Gulch Landfill,
located at 92-460 Farrington Highway, Kapolei.
The permit will allow the City and County of Honolulu as owner, and
Waste Management of Hawaii, Inc. as operator to continue MSW
landfilling operations at the existing Waimanalo Gulch Landfill within
its existing footprint until May 30, 2004. It also allows a vertical
expansion to a 430-foot maximum waste fill height, 30 feet above their
current operating limit of 400 feet. The permit does not allow for the
lateral expansion of the landfill, which would increase its overall
footprint. A closure plan is also required as
part of the permit conditions.
The landfill is on the western portion of the island of Oahu. The
site plan consists of the original 64-acre landfill first permitted on
August 24, 1987. The site accepts MSW from County collection routes,
private collection companies, and residential and commercial
self-haulers, and ash from H-Power.
The permit was issued under the provisions of Chapter 342H, Hawaii
Revised Statutes, and Title 11, Chapter 58.1, Hawaii Administrative
Rules. The Federal Regulations 40 CFR 258, Solid Waste Disposal
Facility Criteria, is incorporated within the State rules and
regulations. The site satisfies the location restrictions and operating
criteria set forth in state and federal regulations.
On July 1, 2002 a public notice was published on the draft permit
and application for the renewal and vertical expansion. Public comments
were accepted from July 1 – August 14, 2002. In addition, a
public hearing was held on August 7, 2002 at the Kapolei High School
Cafeteria, where oral comments on the draft permit and application were
accepted.
Based on the comments received, the draft permit was modified to
require the Permittee within 30 days, to submit a Sequencing Plan,
describing how specific areas will be filled. This will help assure
accurate and timely information on remaining landfill capacity in the
future. The Department is also requiring the Permittee to incorporate
improved litter control programs into their revised Operations
Manual.
To respond to public concerns on the visual impact of the landfill,
the permit also requires the City and County to install a final cover,
which includes growing grass over the area upon closure. During the
interim, prior to closure, the State has worked with the City and
County to install a temporary cover of compacted dirt with grass grown
over the most visible face of the landfill.
With the added height provided by the new permit, the City projects
the landfill will be filled to capacity by Spring of 2003. The DOH is
expecting another permit application from the City for a five-year
expansion of the Waimanalo Gulch Landfill. The Department has
instructed the City to complete an Integrated Solid Waste Management
Plan, as required by law, to describe their long-term solution to
Oahu’s solid waste disposal problems.
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