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May 28, 2004
HONOLULU - The Department of Health (DOH) has filed a complaint and
order against Asia Pacific Environmental Technology, dba Hawaii Medical
Vitrification (HMV). The complaint alleges that, among other things,
HMV stored excessive amounts of untreated infectious medical waste at
the HMV facility in Kapolei, Oahu and violated the State’s solid
waste rules. The DOH imposed a penalty of $60,270.00.
Records provided by HMV show that between April 28, 2003 and March
12, 2004, over a period of 319 days, HMV stored between 9,724 and
90,239 pounds of untreated infectious medical waste at their facility,
thereby exceeding their permitted storage capacity of 9,000 pounds of
untreated waste. Records also show that, on 64 days between May 27,
2003 and December 8, 2003, HMV continued to accept waste even though
they exceeded their permitted storage capacity and their processing
system was out of service. In addition, in violation of their permit
and/or solid waste regulations, HMV failed to notify the department in
a timely fashion of permit noncompliance; HMV did not regularly test
the end products of the vitrification process; HMV did not allow DOH
inspectors to take pictures of an area of the facility that was
potentially in violation of the facility’s permit; and HMV
altered or falsified their permit.
DOH cited HMV for storage of excessive amounts of infectious waste,
failure to cease accepting waste while equipment is out of service,
failure to notify the department in a timely fashion of permit
noncompliance, falsifying or altering a permit, failure to adequately
test end products, and failure to allow a complete inspection of the
facility.
In addition to paying the penalty, HMV has been ordered to comply
with state solid waste rules for the cited violations according to a
schedule established by the State.
HMV has twenty days to respond or challenge the order.
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For More Information Contact:
Janice Okubo
Department of Health
Communications Director
Phone: (808) 586-4442
Email: jsokubo@mail.health.state.hi.us
Laura M. Lott
Department of Health
Information Specialist
Phone: (808) 586-4418
Email: lmlott@mail.health.state.hi.us
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