SIX PROPOSED SITES SO FAR BEING REJECTED, IDEAS TOSSED AROUND ABOUT POSSIBLY TAPPING INTO MILITARY OR AGRICULTURAL LAND.

DEADLINES TO NAME A NEW SITE HAVE PASSED AND CITY OFFICIALS HAVE REQUESTED A TEN YEAR EXTENSION TO COME UP WITH A NEW LOCATION.

JOIN THE CONVERSATION ON INSIGHTS ON PBS HAWAII.

AS WE DISCUSS THE UPDATES ON OAHU NEW LAND FILL.

NEXT.

ALOHA AND WELCOME TO INSIGHTS ON PBS HAWAII.

I'M LAUREN DAY.

THE WAIMANALO GULCH SANITARY LANDFILL OPENED IN 1989.

IT IS LOCATED OFF FARRINGTON HIGHWAY JUST PAST KO OLINA IN WEST OAHU.

ACCORDING TO THE CITY, ABOUT 250,000 TONS OF WASTE GOES INTO THE LANDFILL EACH YEAR… ABOUT 72% OF THAT IS ASH AND RESIDUE FROM H‑POWER.

LAST YEAR, THE CITY AND COUNTY’S LANDFILL ADVISORY COMMITTEE VOTED TO NOT RECOMMEND ANY OF THE SIX PROPOSED NEW LOCATIONS LEAVING THE BURDEN OF ISLAND’S WASTE ON THE WAIMANALO GULCH.

WITHOUT A SUITABLE REPLACEMENT THE CITY AND COUNTY RECENTLY FILED A TWO‑YEAR EXTENSION TO KEEP OPERATING THE CURRENT LANDFILL.

AFTER REPEATED FAILED ATTEMPTS BY THE CITY AND COUNTY TO FIND A SUITABLE REPLACEMENT, OAHU RESIDENTS ARE GETTING IMPATIENT.

MAYOR BLANGIARDI IS NOW LOOKING FOR ALTERNATIVES AND NEW SITE LOCATIONS SO THAT THE CITY AND COUNTY CAN FOLLOW THROUGH WITH ITS PLAN TO CLOSE WAIMANALO GULCH.

SO WHAT IS THE LATEST IN OAHU’S SEARCH FOR A NEW LANDFILL?

WE LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR PARTICIPATION IN TONIGHT'S SHOW.

YOU CAN EMAIL OR CALL IN YOUR QUESTIONS AND YOU’LL FIND A LIVE STREAM OF THIS PROGRAM AT PBSHAWAII.ORG AND THE PBS HAWAII FACEBOOK PAGE.

NOW, TO OUR GUESTS.

ROGER BABCOCK, JR., IS THE DIRECTOR OF THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES FOR THE CITY AND COUNTY OF HONOLULU.

HE PREVIOUSLY DIRECTED THE CITY’S DEPARTMENT OF FACILITY MAINTENANCE.

HE HOLDS A PHD IN CIVIL ENGINEERING AND PRIOR TO WORKING FOR THE CITY HE TAUGHT CIVIL AND ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING AT THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII AT MANOA.

GARY WELLER HAS BEEN A MEMBER OF THE KAILUA NEIGHBORHOOD BOARD FOR THE LAST TEN YEARS.

DEDICATED TO PROTECTING KAILUA’S LAND AND RESOURCES.

ERNEST LAU IS THE MANAGER AND CHIEF ENGINEER FOR THE BOARD OF WATER SUPPLY.

HE PREVIOUSLY SERVED AS THE ADMINISTRATOR OF THE STATE’S PUBLIC WORKS DIVISION.

HE WORKED AS THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF THE STATE COMMISSION ON WATER RESOURCE MANAGEMENT AND AS THE MANAGER AND CHIEF ENGINEER OF THE KAUAI DEPARTMENT OF WATER.

KIRAN POLK IS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE KAPOLEI CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, WHICH WORKS ON BEHALF OF MEMBERS TO IMPROVE THE REGIONAL AND STATE ECONOMIC CLIMATE TO HELP KAPOLEI BUSINESSES THRIVE.

SHE’S SPENT THE LAST 17 YEARS OF HER CAREER FOCUSED ON THE WEST OAHU LANDSCAPE AND IS THE EDITOR OF THE ANNUAL KAPOLEI MAGAZINE.

THANK YOU TO EACH OF YOU FOR BEING IN STUDIO TONIGHT.

START WITH YOU.

CAN YOU SORT OF PAINT THE PICTURE FOR US.

>> WHAT IS THE SITUATION, WHERE ARE WE NOW?

WHAT IS THE LATEST FINDING NEW LANDFALL FOR OAHU?

>> YEAH.

SO GLAD TO BE HERE FIRST OF ALL.

THANKS FOR HAVING US THIS FORUM.

SO ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES, WE DO TAKE CARE OF SOLID WASTE AS WELL AS WASTEWATER.

AND WE PRIMARY FUNCTION IS TO MAKE SURE ALL THE WASTEWATER GETS COLLECTED AND PROPERLY TREATED AND DISPOSED OF AS A SOCIETY WE CREATE WASTE, SOLID WASTE AND GARBAGE AND RUBBISH AS WELL AS WASTEWATER.

GOT TO TAKE ALL OF THESE THINGS AND SO HOW MUCH WASTE WE PRODUCE AS PEOPLE, AS A SOCIETY, IS REALLY UP TO US.

WHATEVER THE RESIDUALS ARE, WHAT WE NEED TO DEAL WITH.

ONE OF THE THINGS WE DO NEED TO HAVE LAND FILL.

WE DO LOTS OF THINGS TO MAKE SURE THE LAND FILL, LAND FILL LITTLE AS POSSIBLE.

CAN TALK MORE ABOUT THAT LATER.

BUT THE EXISTING LANDFALLS AS YOU MENTIONED, BEEN IN OPERATION SINCE 1989.

WASTE TO ENERGY FACILITY HPOWER SINCE 1990.

PRIMARILY WHAT GOES THERE ASH.

WE HAVE TO HAVE A LANDFALL TO OPERATE HPOWER PART OF OUR PERMIT.

TO HAVE HAVE A LANDFALL.

LAND FILLS BEEN IN OPERATION FOR A LONG TIME.

LATEST PERMIT EXTENSION WAS IN 2019.

DECISION AND ORDER BY THE LAND USE COMMISSION STATE LAND USE COMMISSION TO ESSENTIALLY GIVING SOME DEADLINES WHEN THE LAND FILL NEEDED TO CLOSE AND WHEN A NEW LAND FILL NEEDED TO BE IDENTIFIED.

NEW LAND FILL NEEDED IDENTIFIED BY DECEMBER 31, OF LAST YEAR.

2022.

LAND FILL NEEDS TO BE CLOSED BY MARCH OF 2028.

SO VARIOUS EFFORTS HAPPENED OVER THE YEARS.

LATEST ONE YOU MENTIONED WAS LAND FILL ADVISORY COMMITTEE THAT WAS BEGAN WORK IN 2021.

SUMMER OF 2021 AND FINISHED IN SUMMER OF 2022.

LAST JUNE.

AS YOU MENTIONED, DID NOT RECOMMEND ANY OF THE SIX SITES THAT THEY HAD EVALUATED, BEEN EVALUATING BECAUSE THEY WERE ALL IN WHAT'S CALLED THE NO‑PASS ZONE AND ERNIE LAU WILL EXPLAIN THAT LATER MORE.

SO BASICALLY, WE KIND OF HAD TO GO BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD AND BECAUSE THOSE SIX SITES WERE NO LONGER ACCEPTABLE.

WITH IT'S TIMING INVOLVED THAT FINISHED THEIR REPORT IN JUNE.

NEEDED TO DO SOMETHING BY DECEMBER.

FILED FOR TWO YEAR EXTENSION.

SO BACK TO YOUR MAIN QUESTION.

WHAT ARE WE DOING?

EVALUATING SITES THAT ARE NOT NO PASS ZONE.

BUT ALL OF THE OTHER RESTRICTIONS THAT EXIST.

DECISION AND ORDER WAS IN 2019.

AS I MENTIONED.

2020 ACT 73 WAS PASSED.

PUTTING FURTHER RESTRICTIONS WHERE A LAND FILL COULD GO.

INCLUDES HALF MILE BUFFER FROM ANY RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY, SCHOOLS AND HOSPITALS.

ALSO ON THAT LIST.

ALSO ELIMINATES ALL CONSERVATION LANDS.

IN ADDITION, WE HAVE OTHER RESTRICTIONS.

TSUNAMI INUNDATION ZONATION.

CAN'T BE TOO CLOSE TO THE COAST.

ALSO CAN'T BE WITHIN 10,000 FEET OR 2‑MILES OF AIRPORT.

AND IT ALSO HAS, THOSE ARE THE MAIN RESTRICTIONS.

ALL OF THOSE COMBINED RULE OUT WHOLE BUNCH OF SITES.

SO WE ARE LOOKING AT SITES THAT MEET ALL OF THOSE REQUIREMENTS.

THAT'S WHERE WE'RE AT NOW A LOT OF MOVING PARTS FOR A SMALL ISLAND.

NOT A WHOLE LOT OF OPTION.

WAIMANALO GULCH IS IN YOUR COMMUNITY.

WHAT IS THE REACTION AND WHAT ARE YOU HEARING FROM RESIDENTS ON WEST OAHU, WHY SUCH A SENSE OF URGENCY TO FINDING LANDFALL LOCATION?

>> WAIMANALO GULCH HAS BEEN THERE SINCE 1989.

BUT WE HAVE HAD LAND FILLS IN OUR COMMUNITY SINCE 40'S.

BEFORE THE PRIVATELY OWNED PVT TODAY, THERE WAS POLAILAI WHERE THE WATER PARK IS.

AND BEFORE THE WAIMANALO GULCH, NANAKULI.

LAND FILL.

WHERE PVT IS TODAY.

WHERE THE WAIANAE COMMUNITY CENTER, THERE WAS WAIANAE LAND FILL.

WE'VE ENDURED LANDFALLS FOR LONG ENOUGH.

ORIGINALLY, THE WAIMANALO GULCH LANDFALL WAS SCHEDULED TO CLOSE IN 2004.

SO EVEN TODAY, WE ARE WAY PAST WHEN THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO END FOR WHEN IT WAS ORIGINALLY SET FORTH.

>>Lauren: ERNIE, PUT THIS NEXT QUESTION FOR YOU.

CAN YOU TALK ABOUT THE NO PASS ZONES A LITTLE BIT MORE AND WHY THE BOARD OF WATER SUPPLY DID NOT SUPPORT THOSE SIX PROPOSED SITES?

WHAT ARE THE RISKS ESSENTIALLY THAT LAND FILLS CAN POSE TO OUR ISLAND'S WATER?

>> THANK YOU LAUREN.

MAYBE I'LL START OFF WITH THE CONCEPT OF QUESTION WHERE DOES OUR DRINKING WATER COME FROM.

COMES FROM UNDERGROUND AQUIFERS UNDERGROUND BELOW OUR ISLAND.

FRESH WATER.

LANDFALL SEEPS BELOW OUR ENTIRE ISLAND.

FRESH WATER RESOURCES AMAZING.

GOT A LOT OF CAPACITY.

ALSO VERY FRAGILE.

WHAT WE SEE WITH THE SITUATION AT RED HILL NAVY'S FUEL TANKS BROUGHT HOME THE IMPORTANCE OF SAFE DRINKING WATER FOR OUR COMMUNITY.

BECAUSE OLA KIA WAI WATER IS LIFE.

ISLAND'S GEOLOGY LOOKS LIKE, SOMETHING THAT'S BOARD OF WATER SUPPLY, ON THIS POSITION SINCE 1976.

ALMOST 50 YEARS AGO.

1982, ESTABLISHED SOMETHING CALLED NO PASS ZONE.

COASTAL AREAS WHERE THERE IS GEOLOGIC FORMATION CALLED CAP ROCK, WHICH IS MARINE SEDIMENT IT'S AND DEPOSITS FROM EROSION ALSO CHANGES SEA LEVEL OVER TIME, IS A THICK GEOLOGIC FORMATION THAT IS ACTUALLY NOT VERY PERMEABLE.

NOT VERY PARSE.

HELPS PROTECT THE PRECIOUS FRESH WATER RESOURCES BELOW IT.

CAP BOX CIRCLES ISLAND LIKE A LEI AROUND ISLAND.

IN THESE AREAS THAT WE WHAT WE CALL PASS ZONE.

WASTE DISPOSAL FACILITIES SUCH AS SANITARY LAND FILLS ARE ALLOWED ACCORDING TO THE BOARD OF WATER SUPPLY RULES AND REGULATIONS.

HAVE BEEN IN SIDE EFFECT ALMOST 50 YEARS NOW.

ANYTHING ON THE INTERIOR OF THE ISLAND OF MAUKA OF THE SNOW PASS OR CAP ROCK, THE GEOLOGY IS SUCH THAT'S UNDERGROUND AQUIFERS EXPOSED.

TO PROTECTING CAP ROCK OVER IT.

WHATEVER YOU PUT ON THE GROUND, INTERIOR PARTS OF ISLAND CAN EVENTUALLY GET INTO THE GROUND WATER.

WE SEE THAT FROM LEGACY PESTICIDE CONTAMINATION FROM LARGE SCALE PINEAPPLE SUGAR CULTIVATION.

STILL DEALING WITH THAT.

FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, FROM THE PERSPECTIVE THAT WE HAVE HAVE A SOURCE OF SAFE DRINKING WATER FOR OUR COMMUNITY, THE ONLY REAL AREAS LAND FILL COULD SAFELY BE CONSTRUCTED IS OVER THE CAP ROCK IN THE PASS ZONE ON MAKAI FRINGES OF OUR ISLAND.

>>Lauren: GOING BACK TO NOT A WHOLE LOTS OF OPTIONS WHEN WE'VE GOT.

>> THIS IS VERY CHALLENGING ISSUE.

I FEEL FOR ROGER AND DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES.

BECAUSE WE ALL GENERATE WASTE AND THAT WASTE HAS TO BE MANAGED SOMEHOW IN A SAFE MANAGER.

BUT WE ALSO NEED SAFE DRINKING WATER FOR OUR COMMUNITY.

BECAUSE WE CAN'T SURVIVE ON THIS ISLAND.

DECISIONS ON LAND FILLS TO FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, ARE ACTIVITIES THAT COULD POTENTIALLY CONTAMINATE OUR DRINKING WATER.

>> WE NEED TO WEIGH THOSE DECISIONS ON LOCATIONS FROM A LONGTERM VIEW.

YOU THINK ABOUT THIS FROM GENERATIONS TO COME, PROTECTING OUR WATER RESOURCES FOR THE BOARD OF WATER SUPPLY IS OUR PRIMARY AND ONLY MISSION.

>>Lauren: TWO ISSUES ALSO.

WE HAVE NO PASS ZONES.

BUT ALSO, ACT 73.

MY UNDERSTANDING THAT CORRECTLY?

WOULD YOU MIND EXPLAINING A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT IS ACT 73 AND WHY DOES THE CITY WANT THAT REPEALED?

>> WELL, SO ACTUALLY, WE'RE NOT SEEKING TO ACT 73 TO BE REPEALED.

ACT 73 PUT ADDITIONAL RESTRICTIONS ON WHERE THESE FACILITIES COULD GO.

IN ORDER TO NOT HAVE THEM LOCATED CLOSE TO RESIDENTS, FOR EXAMPLE.

>> OR SCHOOLS OR HOSPITALS.

AND ALSO, NOT IN CONSERVATION LAND AREAS.

THAT ELIMINATED SOME OF THE PREVIOUSLY EVALUATED SITES.

LAND FILL SITES HAVE BEEN EVALUATED FOR A LONG TIME.

BLUE RIBBON PANEL IN 2002‑202, FIRST TIME WAIMANALO GULCH WAS SUPPOSED TO BE, ENVISIONED TO BE CLOSED.

2002‑2004.

MAY ADVISORY COMMITTEE IN 2011 TO 2012 LOOKED FOR SOME SITES IDENTIFIED SITES.

SOME RE‑EVALUATION DONE IN 2017.

AND THEN THAT DECISION AND ORDER CAME INTO 2019.

GOT TO SOMETHING.

22 DEADLINE WAS SET.

'28 DEADLINE.

SO ELIMINATED SOME OF THE SITES EVALUATED PREVIOUSLY.

ALSO MADE IT SO THAT THE PVT LAND FILL COULDN'T EXPAND ANY FURTHER.

>> IN A RESIDENTIAL AREA.

THE PVT, ONLY CONSTRUCTION AND DEMOLITION WASTELAND FILL ON THE ISLAND, HAS TO CLOSE IN ABOUT FIVE YEARS BASED ON EXISTING CAPACITY.

SO ABOUT THE IN TERMS OF THE TYPE OF AMOUNTS OF WASTE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE COMES TO THE CITY ROUGHLY SIZE OF THAT WASTE STREAM ROUGHLY A MILLION TONS PER YEAR.

AND THE C AND D WASTE VARIES BY YEAR.

DEPENDING ON AMOUNT OF CONSTRUCTION.

SAME SIZE.

ANOTHER MILLION TONS PER YEAR.

VERY SIGNIFICANT QUANTITY OF MATERIAL AND WHEN THAT LAND FILL CLOSES, IT'S GOING TO COME TO THE CITY UNLESS SOME OTHER COMMERCIAL OPERATION OPENS UP TO TAKE THAT WASTE.

IT WILL HAVE TO COME TO THE CITY.

AND THEN SO THE NEW LAND FILL THAT WE ARE TRYING TO SITE HAS TO ACCOUNT FOR THE BOTH OF THOSE WASTES.

WASTE STREAMS.

>>Lauren: GARY I WANT TO GIVE YOU SOME TIME.

YOU REPRESENT OUR KAILUA COMMUNITY.

WHAT ARE THE NEW PROPOSED SITES IS IN YOUR BACKYARD.

WHAT ISSUES ARE THERE WITH THAT SITE AND WHAT ARE YOU HEARING FROM YOUR COMMUNITY?

>> WELL, I WROTE A LITTLE STORY HERE.

KAILUA HAD SIX LAND FILLS.

FIRST ONE IN 1940.

AT THE AREA THAT IS NOW AIKAHI SHOPPING CENTER.

THAT LASTED TILL 1953.

THAT WAS BACK IN THE AREA WHEN KAILUA HAD HAD A LITTLE AIRPORT AND HORSE RACING PLACE.

A LITTLE HISTORY THERE.

NEXT SITE WAS WHERE WE HAVE OUR REMOTE CONTROL AIRPORT OUT THERE FOR HOBBIESTS TO FLY THEIR HELICOPTERS AND PLAINS THAT WAS ABOUT TEN ACRES.

ASH LAND FILL 1953 AND 1963.

IMPORTANCE THERE IS RIGHT ON THE EDGE OF THE MARSH.

NO BUFFERS.

RIGHT ON THE MARSH.

NEXT WE HAVE THE KAILUA DUMP.

AS IT WAS CALLED.

IN KAPAA VALLEY.

ONLY QUARRY SITE FROM 1953 TO 1972.

THEN FINALLY WE HAD THE KAPAA CENTRAL LAND FILL WHICH CONSISTS OF THE TRANSFER STATION IS TODAY, AND ALSO INDUSTRIAL PARK WHICH IS CALLED KAPAA INDUSTRIAL PARK.

THERE WAS A LAND FILL THERE.

THEN FINALLY, THEY HAD KALAHEO LAND FILL, 1986 TO 1990.

ALL THESE LAND FILLS HAVE HAD IMPACTS ON THE MARSH.

THE MARSH IS KIND OF LIKE THE CENTERPIECE OF KAILUA.

VERY SPECIAL PLACE.

HAS I THINK SIX DIFFERENT ENDANGERED BIRD SPECIES THERE.

MARSH IS RAM STAR SITE.

THE MARSH IS AN AREA THAT FEEDS THROUGH KAILUA, THROUGH ENCHANTED LAKES AND OUT TO THE OCEAN.

WE'VE HAD MANY ISSUES WITH BROWN WATER PROBLEMS AND DEVELOPMENT IN KAILUA FLOODING THAT AND GETTING INTO THE OCEAN.

SO WE ALSO FEEL THAT THE CLEAN WATER ACT IS INVOLVED IN THIS PICKING OF OUR LOCATIONS FOR POSSIBLE LAND FILL.

THE SITE THAT WAS CONSIDERED WAS OUR QUARRY.

KAPAA QUARRY.

TWO SITES THERE.

ONE THAT HAS A LAKE IN IT THAT IS USED AS A RETENTION POND.

AND NEW SITE THAT IS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE H‑3.

WHICH STARTED ITS PROCESS ABOUT, I DON'T KNOW, ABOUT 15 YEARS AGO.

OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

AND MOST OF THE ROCK THAT WENT FROM THERE WENT TO THE RAPID TRANSIT SYSTEM.

SO FOR US, THE QUARRY ROAD IS NOT DESIGNED TO HAVE THE AMOUNT OF TRUCKS IT HAS RIGHT NOW BETWEEN THE QUARRY TRUCKS CEMENT TRUCKS AND TRANSFER TRUCKS, AND IN TALKING TO ROGER BEFORE THIS HAPPENED TONIGHT, I HAD A FIGURE OF 200 TRUCKS MORE A DAY WOULD BE BRINGING TOWARDS, HE SAID IT WOULD BE CLOSER TO 300 TRUCKS MORE TO ERODE SUBSTANDARDS, THAT'S WITH NO DIVIDER LINES, NO SHOULDERS ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD.

AND NO LIGHTS AT NIGHT AT ALL BECAUSE OF THE BIRDS FROM THE MARSH.

WE DON'T WANT ANY LIGHTS THERE.

OTHER ISSUE FOR US INVOLVES HAWAIIANS AND THEY HAVE HEIAU SITE THAT IS SMACK IN THE MIDDLE OF THAT KAPAA CENTRAL LAND FILL.

WHICH IS KIND OF EMBARRASSMENT THAT WE SURROUNDED HEIAU SITE WITH TRASH.

SO THAT'S TALKED ABOUT A LOT.

WHEN WE HAD A BIG RAINSTORM, BUNCH OF YEARS AGO, QUARRY LAKE ACTUALLY SPILLED OVER.

CAME ALL THE WAY DOWN THE QUARRY ROAD AND WENT INTO THE MARSH.

AND THEY ACTUALLY GOT FINED FOR THAT.

SINCE THAT TIME.

>> THERE'S BEEN SOME WORK DONE TO PREVENT THAT HAPPENING IN THE FUTURE.

BUT THAT'S NO GUARANTEE.

ONE OF THE BIGGEST THINGS IS ERNIE'S NO PASS ZONE.

GOES ALL THE WAY TO BOTH OF QUARRIES IN THE AREA.

AND THEN THE WINDWARD SIDE JUST HAS A LOT MORE RAINFALL.

SO THAT IS NOT CONDUCIVE TO HAVING ANOTHER LAND FILL IN OUR AREA.

SO THOSE ARE THE REASONS WHY KAILUA NEIGHBOR BOARD DOES NOT WANT A LANDFALL AGAIN IN KAILUA.

>>Lauren: CURIOUS TO HEAR YOUR RESPONSE TO WHAT GARY HAD TO SAY.

BECAUSE WE'VE GOT THESE TWO COMMUNITIES THAT KIND OF FEEL THE SAME SENTIMENTS WHEN IT COMES TO HAVING A LAND FILL IN THEIR BACKYARD.

>> YES.

YOU KNOW, THANK YOU FOR SHARING IT.

GOOD TO HEAR THE WHOLE BIG PICTURE OF THAT AND YOUR STORY AND EVERY PLACE ON THIS ISLAND HAS A STORY.

WHEN IT COMES DOWN TO IT, IT'S ABOUT THE AINA.

AND I THINK AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE'RE LOOKING AT THAT ISSUE UNDERNEATH ALL OF IT.

COMPLETELY RESPECT EVERYTHING THAT YOU SHARED.

YOU KNOW, I THINK IT'S BEEN SAID SINCE DAY ONE, BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN THE LAST ONE ON THE TICKET, THAT SOMEONE ELSE'S TURN.

AND I THINK THAT'S UNDERLYING SENTIMENT.

ALSO, WE HAVE IN WEST OAHU, NOT ONLY JUST WAIMANALO GULCH LAND FILL, WE HAVE THE POWER PLANTS.

WE HAVE HPOWER.

AND QUITE HONESTLY, QUITE A BIT OF SOLAR POWER, EVERYTHING ELSE IN BETWEEN.

WE ARE GROWING SECOND URBAN CORE IN KAPOLEI.

IT'S HAPPENING.

WITH ALL OF THAT BEING SAID, IT'S TIME.

IT'S TIME TO MOVE THAT TO ANOTHER PART OF THIS ISLAND.

I DO COMMEND, I DO COMMEND THE CITY AND THEIR EFFORTS TOO FOR ALL THAT'S BEING DONE TO REUSE AND REGENERATE BECAUSE I THINK THAT IS KEY PIECE WE NEED TO KEEP FOCUSING ON IN THIS BIG PICTURE.

MULTIFACETED.

OUR TURN IS DONE.

THAT'S REALLY THE HEART OF IT.

I KNOW THAT ROGER MENTIONED ACT 73 AND THAT'S GREAT NEWS TO HEAR THAT'S NOT LOOKING TO BE REPEALED BECAUSE THAT IS HUGE ISSUE FOR OUR COMMUNITY.

CAME UP IN 2019.

WHEN THERE WAS AN EXTENSION, LOOKING AT PVT'S EXTENSION.

IN OUR COMMUNITY.

LOOK, THERE IS A REASON WHY THERE IS THERE NEEDS TO BE A BUFFER ZONE.

WHEN YOU HAVE A LAND ZONE IN YOUR BACKYARD, HEALTH ISSUES THAT A RESULT OF THAT.

THERE ARE ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES AS WELL.

I MEAN, SWELL CONTAMINANTS WILL BE THERE 30 YEARS AFTER IT'S BEEN CLOSED.

PROVEN THAT WHERE A LANDFALL IS, THERE'S HIGHER RATES OF CANCER.

THERE'S RESPIRATORY ILLNESSES.

INCLUDING ASTHMA.

THAT OCCUR.

SO ALL THESE THINGS NEED TO BE TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION.

IN OUR COMMUNITY IS SAYING ENOUGH.

WE'VE HELD IT FOR LONG ENOUGH.

>>Lauren: I DO WANT TO GET SOME OF OUR VIEWER QUESTIONS BECAUSE WE HAVE A LOT OF THEM.

KIND OF JUST PIGGYBACKING OFF WHAT YOU MENTIONED ABOUT HEALTH REPERCUSSIONS HAVING A LANDFALL SO CLOSE IN YOUR BACKYARD.

THIS QUESTION FROM VIEWER NAMED SHEILA.

ARE THERE LAWS OR RESTRICTIONS PROHIBITING PEOPLE FROM DUMPING HARMFUL CHEMICALS AT THE LAND FILL THAT COULD POSSIBLY LATER EFFECT OUR WATER SUPPLY?

ROGER, LET EITHER OF YOU CHIME IN ON THAT.

>> YES.

ABSOLUTELY.

SO LANDFALLS ARE REALLY HIGHLY REGULATED OPERATIONS.

SO THERE ARE SOLID WASTE DISPOSAL PERMIT THAT'S REQUIRED.

AIR PERMITS.

AND THERE IS STORM WATER PERMIT AND SO IT'S VERY REGULATED IN TERMS OF WHAT CAN GO IN THERE.

ALSO, SO YEAH, NO HAZARDOUS WASTE IS ALLOWED AS A LANDFALL.

IT'S A PERMITTED CLASS D LAND FILL, MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTELAND FILL, ONLY A CLASS C LAND FILL IS ALLOWED TO TAKE HAZARDOUS WASTE.

WE HAVE NOTHING LIKE THAT HERE.

ALL HAZARDOUS WASTE GENERATED ON THE ISLAND, SHIPPED OFF ISLAND.

THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN.

HARMFUL CHEMICALS ARE NOT ALLOWED.

VERY LITTLE ACTUAL RESIDENTIAL USE OF THE LANDFALL DIRECTLY.

SO MOST WASTE IS COLLECTED CURBSIDE.

WE HAVE THE GRAY CART, GREEN CART AND BLUE CART.

GRAY CART GOES TO HPOWER.

GETS TURNED INTO ASH.

AND LOTS OF ELECTRICITY.

10% OF OUR ELECTRICITY.

GREEN CART IS GREEN WASTE.

GETS CONVERTED INTO COMPOST AT A COMPOSTING FACILITY.

AND THEN BLUE WASTE IS, BLUE CART IS RECYCLABLES.

SHIPPED SOMEWHERE ELSE TO BE REUSED.

HAZARDOUS WASTE, TWICE A YEAR OR QUARTERLY, HAVE HAZARDOUS WASTE COLLECTION DAY.

PEOPLE CAN DROP OFF THOSE MATERIALS.

PAINT AND SOLVENTS AND OTHER BATTERIES AN OTHER THINGS LIKE THAT.

COLLECT AT THAT TIME.

>>Lauren: WHAT HAPPENS IF SOMEONE DOESN'T FOLLOW THOSE RULES MAYBE THEY PUT THE HAZARDOUS WASTE IN THE GREEN BIN OR IN A TRASH BAG IN THEIR REGULAR BLACK BIN?

COULD THAT LEAK OUT AND IMPACT WATER SUPPLY?

>> WELL, SO IF GOES IN THE GRAY BIN, GRAY CART, GOING TO HPOWER.

GOING TO BE BURNED.

BUT IT'S LIQUID WASTE IS ARE NOT PART OF OUR PERMIT.

PROBABLY THERE IS SOME.

THAT ENDS UP THERE.

WHAT GOES TO LAND FILL AS YOU MENTIONED IS PRIMARILY ASH.

AND ASH DOES HAVE METALS AND OTHER THINGS IN IT.

ASH IS PROCESSED BEFORE IT GOES THERE.

AND TO REMOVE METALS, BUT IT'S NOT 100% REMOVABLE.

AND SO ALL LAND FILLS, D LAND FILL, HAS A LINER.

SO IT HAS A LINER SYSTEM THAT'S REQUIRED BY LAW.

AND THE LINERS ACTUALLY A CALLED LINER SYSTEM.

BECAUSE IT ACTUALLY HAS TWO PARTS OF A LINER.

HAS A SYNTHETIC PLASTIC, THICK PLASTIC LAYER AND ALSO HAS A CLAY LAYER.

AND THOSE ARE ON THE BOTTOM.

THEN THERE'S A DRAINAGE LAYER.

BEFORE THE MATERIAL IS PLACED.

AND THEN THERE'S A SUMP AREA.

SO INFILTRATION THROUGH THE LAND FILL BECOMES LEACHATE.

COMES TO SUMP AND PUMPED OUT CONTINUOUSLY FROM EACH CELL.

AND SO THAT MATERIAL WOULD CONTAIN ANYTHING THAT WOULD CONTAIN ANY WASTE THAT WASN'T AUTHORIZED OR LIQUID MATERIALS THAT IS THERE.

PROTECT THE WASTE BELOW IS THE LINER SYSTEM.

AND SO LEACHATE IS TAKEN OUT, TREATED AND DISPOSED.

IF THERE WAS A, SO IN ADDITION REQUIREMENTS YOU HAVE TO MONITOR THE GROUND WATER BELOW THE LAND FILL THAT COULD BE IMPACTED.

GROUND WATER COMES, HITS MOUNTAINS AND FLOWS DOWN AND THEN TOWARDS THE OCEAN.

SO GROUND WATER GENERALLY ALWAYS MOVING.

MOVING UNDERNEATH THE LAND FILL.

AND SO REQUIREMENTS THAT YOU HAVE TO HAVE MONITORING WELLS BEFORE AND BELOW THE LAND FILL.

WE HAVE TO MONITOR THOSE FOR OUR PERMITS ON A QUARTERLY BASIS.

FOR THAT LAND FILL, NEVER BEEN ANY INDICATION ANYTHING HAS LEAKED OUT.

IF IT DID, WE WOULD KNOW ABOUT IT.

AND SO YEAH, THAT'S HOW THE GROUNDWATER PROTECTED DIRECTLY RELATED TO THAT QUESTION.

>>Lauren: ANYTHING WHERE DO WE GO.

>>Lauren: HOW DOES THE BOARD OF WATER SUPPLY GET INVOLVED OR HEAR ABOUT THAT AND THEN FIND A SOLUTION OR CLEAN IT UP?

>> SO ONCE GETS OUT OF LAND FILL, SALINE LINERS DON'T KEEP THE LEACHATE IN THE FIELD EFFECTIVELY, THINK THEM AS PERMANENT FACILITIES.

UNTS, ONCE PUT THERE, THEY'RE THERE FOREVER.

HOW LONG WILL A LINER LAST AND PERFORM, IF IT FAILS, AND LEAKS, DETECTED IN THE GROUNDWATER WELLS REQUIRED TO BE INSTALLED ALONG THE LANDFALL, IN THE GROUNDWATER AND LIKE ROGER SAYING FLOWING WITH THE WATER IN THAT AQUIFER.

WE HAVE A LOT OF WELLS PUMP FROM THE VERY SAME CONNECTED AQUIFER.

IF WE START TO DETECT CONTAMINANTS FROM THE LAND FILL AND THE LEACHATE IS PRETTY CONTAMINATED STUFF.

NO WAY AROUND THAT.

PICK EVERYTHING IN THE LAND FILL.

PFAS ONE OF THE CONTAMINANTS GROWING CONCERN NATIONALLY ON LAND FILLS.

SO ONCE THAT REACHES DRINKING WATER WELLS, START TO DETECT IT.

OPTIONS ARE IF IT'S POSSIBLE, CAN WE TREAT THE WATER TO MAKE SAFE TO DRINK TO REMOVE THE CONTAMINANTS?

NOT POSSIBLE, TO TREAT THEM, HAVE TO GO LOOK FOR ANOTHER WELL AT A DIFFERENT LOCATION THAT WON'T BE IMPACTED BY THE PLUME CONTAMINANT PLUME EMANATING FROM THE LANDFALL.

SO JUST REMEMBER THAT OUR UNDERGROUND AQUIFERS ARE ALL HYDRAULICALLY CONNECTED.

A LOT OF VARIABILITY.

REALLY HARD TO PREDICT WHERE THE CONTAMINANT PLUME COULD END UP.

WE HAVE THE MOST FRESH WATER THAT IS EASY TO BE DEVELOPED.

IN THE CAP ROCK AREAS, NOT A GOOD AREA DEVELOP A WATER WELL FOR DRINKING PURPOSES.

SALTIER AND LOWER CAPACITY.

WE GO TOWARDS THE INTERIOR OF ISLAND.

>> THAT'S WHY OUR POSITION IS THAT THESE TYPES OF FACILITIES SHOULD BE ON THE COASTAL AREAS OVER THE CAP ROCK IN THE PASS ZONE.

>>Lauren: GIVEN NAVY'S DISASTER AT RED HILL RECENTLY, DO YOU THINK THEY WILL BE WILLING TO HELP OUT WITH THE NEW LAND FILL?

>> I'M NOT ONE THAT'S IN DISCUSSION WITH THEM ON THAT.

I CANNOT LEAVE IT UP TO ROGER AND MAYOR TALKING TO THE MILITARY.

I AM IN DISCUSSIONS WITH THEM ABOUT RED HILL.

THEIR IMPACT ON OUR WATER RESOURCE.

CRISIS THEY'VE CREATED THERE.

HOPEFULLY, THERE WILL BE VERY OPEN IN TRYING TO WORK COLLABORATIVELY WITH THE COMMUNITY.

BECAUSE TELL YOU, TRUST IN THE MILITARY RIGHT NOW IS PROBABLY AT ITS ALL TIME LOW.

THEY NEED POSITIVE THINGS I THINK TO HELP REBUILD THAT TRUST WITH THE COMMUNITY.

WHAT BETTER WAY THAN TAKING SOME OF THEIR LAND THAT THEY'RE NOT FULLY UTILIZING FOR SOME OF THESE FACILITIES THAT OUR COMMUNITY ALSO NEEDS.

>>Lauren: WE HAVE BUNCH MORE VIEWER QUESTIONS.

COUPLE OF THESE ARE PEOPLE ASKING ABOUT HAVE SPECIFIC SITES BEEN CONSIDERED.

MAYBE I'LL READ THESE THREE OFF.

ROGER ANYONE CAN CHIME IN.

ALL TALKING ABOUT SPECIFIC LOCATION.

XYZ CONSIDERED.

>> FIRST ONE IS WHAT ABOUT NEXT TO SCHOFIELD BARRACKS NEAR THE CURRENT SITE OF NEARBY CONVENIENCE CENTER FROM PAULO ON FACEBOOK.

HAVE YOU CONSIDERED KUNIA AREA IN THE OLD PINEAPPLE FIELDS AS LOCATION.

WHAT ABOUT KAMILOIKI VALLEY IN HAWAII KAI.

ALL OF THOSE SITES WERE CONSIDERED.

THE SCHOFIELD BARRACKS SITE WOULD BE EXCLUDED BY THE RESIDENTIAL HALF MILE LIMITATION AS WELL AS IN THE NO PASS ZONE.

HAWAII KAI, WOULD ALSO BE THERE'S NO SITES OUT THERE THAT ARE NOT WITHIN THE HALF MILE BUFFER.

AND OUTSIDE OF THE NO PASS ZONE.

KUNIA IS SAME THING.

ACT 73 EXCLUDES THOSE AREAS.

WE'RE THE ONLY SITE THAT IS ARE AVAILABLE ARE SOME MILITARY OR SOME MILITARY LANDS.

SO AS ERNIE MENTIONED, IN DISCUSSIONS WITH THEM.

BUT THAT IS TO BE DETERMINED WHETHER THAT IS GOING TO WORK OUT FOR US.

THAT IS, YEAH, THERE'S NOT TOO MANY OPTIONS.

>>Lauren: IS THERE A POSSIBILITY OF CHANGING SOME OF THOSE RESTRICTIONS TO FIND A NEW HOME FOR A LANDFALL?

>> SO RIGHT.

SO NOT PROPOSE TO GO REPEAL ACT 73.

COULD BE AMENDMENT OR SOMETHING THAT WOULD FREE UP A SITE SOMEWHERE.

BUT WITHOUT IN CONSIDERATION OF NO PASS ZONE, VERY LITTLE POSSIBILITY OF THAT HAPPENING.

>>Lauren: WOULD I KNOW THIS WAS MENTIONED PREVIOUSLY, NOT TONIGHT, BUT IN THE NEWS.

WOULD THE CITY USE EMINENT DOMAIN TO FIND A NEW LOCATION FOR LAND FILL?

>> THAT'S POSSIBLE.

WE'VE LOOKED INTO THAT.

WE'RE STILL LOOKING INTO IT A LITTLE BIT MORE.

THERE'S VERY LITTLE PROMISING POTENTIAL THERE.

SITE NEEDS TO BE QUITE LARGE.

100 ACRES ROUGHLY WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT.

WAIMANALO GULCH LAND FILL 200 ACHE,.

EXPANDED.

DOING A ASH RECYCLING PROJECT RIGHT NOW.

WHICH WILL REDUCE AMOUNT OF ASH THAT WE PRODUCE BY ABOUT 60%.

WHICH WITH ESSENTIALLY KIND OF DOUBLES THE LIFE OF THE LAND FILL.

EARLY PHASES OF PERMITSING AND DESIGN.

IN PERMITTING PHASE.

FULLY ANTICIPATE WE'LL BE ABLE TO IMPLEMENT THAT PROJECT AND TAKE A FEW YEARS.

THAT'S HELPFUL BUT DOESN'T ELIMINATE NEED FOR A LANDFALL.

>>Lauren: TURN THINGS BACK.

STARTED CHATTING, YOU HAD MENTIONED WHEN YOUR COMMUNITY HEARD WORDS EMINENT DOMAIN.

>> PEOPLE GOT VERY NERVOUS.

>> CERTAINLY DID.

RECEIVED A LOT OF EMAILS AND PHONE CALLS FROM PEOPLE WANTING TO KNOW WHAT THAT WOULD BE ABOUT.

MAY HAVE BEEN MISCONCEPTION BUT NEWS DID A STORY WHERE THEY SHOWED WHOLE GROUP OF HOMES IN THE BACKGROUND OF THE STORY WHERE THEY WOULD DO THAT.

REALLY MADE PEOPLE ANXIOUS TO FIND OUT IF THAT WAS GOING TO BE TRUE OR NOT.

I DON'T THINK THE PUBLIC WOULD STAND FOR THAT.

BUT I DID WANT TO MENTION ONE THING THAT ROGER SAID.

WE HAVE TO REMEMBER SOME.

LAND FILLS IN HER AREA AND MY AREA WAS BEFORE THE EPA TOOK OVER MANAGING LAND FILLS AND MAKING RULES.

SOME OF THE LANDFALLS DID NOT HAVE THAT BARRIER THAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.

AND WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THE LONGTERM EFFECTS OF THOSE LANDFALLS MIGHT BE.

ESPECIALLY IF WE EVER HAD A TREMENDOUS 40 DAYS OF RAIN AGAIN OR TSUNAMI OR SOME OTHER ACT LIKE THAT THAT WOULD BE DIFFERENT THAN THE NORMAL SITUATIONS.

SO SOME OF US ARE STILL VULNERABLE TO THOSE OLDER PLACES THAT AREN'T REALLY BEING TESTED THE WAY THEY SHOULD.

OF THE CLOSURE OF SOME OF OURS IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD BOARD, CITY AND DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH IS SUPPOSED TO BE ONGOING TESTING.

TEST FOR VERY LITTLE AMOUNTS OF ELEMENTS THAT COULD POSSIBLY BE POLLUTING THE MARSH.

THERE'S A SITE BY WHERE THAT AIRPLANE PARK IS AND I DON'T THINK ANYBODY IS TESTED THERE IN YEARS.

IT WAS A REQUIREMENT OF CLOSURE OF THAT ASH PLACE.

SO OUR RESEARCH, WE STARTED ASKING DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH FOR THEIR TESTING AT ALL LOCATIONS.

KAPAA STREAM, OVER THERE, RIGHT BY THE TRANSFER STATION IS THE PUMP, WHAT DID YOU CALL IT?

PUMP OUT THE REDUE?

>> LICHEN COLLECTION.

USED TO SEE THE TRUCK THERE ALL THE TIME.

I HARDLY SEE THE TRUCK ANY MORE.

MAYBE THERE'S NOT ENOUGH LEACHATE, ENOUGH TO TAKE OUT OF THERE ANY MORE.

SOME OF ISSUES THAT HAVE AFFECTED US.

IN KAILUA, WE BASICALLY TELL PEOPLE WE DON'T KNOW WHETHER THERE WOULD BE ANY 100‑ACRE SITES YOU COULD POSSIBLY USE IN KAILUA.

DID GET SOME PEOPLE FROM WAIMANALO TALKING TO US THAT THEY WOULD BE LAND IN WAIMANALO THAT WOULD BE EQUIVALENT TO 100 ACRES PROBABLY IN THE NO PASS ZONE WHERE THE OLD CATTLE RANCH WAS WHERE I THINK IT WAS MEADOW GOLD HAD A DAIRY UP THERE.

THAT'S THE ONLY LAND THAT WE COULD FIND THAT WAS LIKE CLOSE TO 100 ACRES THAT COULD BE POSSIBLY A LAND FILL.

THAT'S STILL VACANT.

AG LAND AND I DON'T THINK THAT THAT WOULD BE POTENTIAL.

>>Lauren: ARE YOU HEARING ANYTHING FROM YOUR COMMUNITY OR DO YOU HAVE A PREFERENCE ON WHERE NEW SITE MAY GO?

>> YOU KNOW, LEAVE THE SELECTION UP TO THE ADMINISTRATION.

I MEAN, THAT'S THEIR TASK HAS BEEN SO MUCH WORK AND TALKED ABOUT THAT OVER THE YEARS.

THIS ISN'T JUST SOMETHING THAT HAS HAPPENED ONE TIME.

I THINK AT THE END OF THE DAY, REPEATING MYSELF A LITTLE BIT, BUT IT'S REALLY ABOUT WE ARE DONE.

>> ONE OF THE CONCERNS IS I HEAR IT FROM MY COMMUNITY, IS OKAY, SELECTION TIMES EXTENDED.

WHEN ARE THEY GOING TO EXTEND?

AGAIN.

THAT LAND FILL DATE.

AND IT GOES ON AND ON AND ON.

THEN I KNOW ROGER MENTIONED, THE CONSTRUCTION WASTE PIECE OF IT.

THERE WILL BE A TIME WHERE OUR CONSTRUCTION FACILITIES PRIVATE CONSTRUCTION FACILITY WILL TERM OUT.

THEN THAT EFFECTS THE COST OF GOODS COST OF CONSTRUCTION, SO THERE'S LAYERS TO THAT.

BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, MY COMMUNITY IS LIKE, OKAY, WE'RE DONE.

AND WE DON'T NEED TO CARRY THAT BURDEN ANY MORE.

FOR THAT MATTER WE ARE GOING TO BE LIVING WITH THIS FOR YEARS TO COME.

SO I DON'T KNOW THAT THERE ARE POINTING FINGERS.

THERE'S A LOT OF, THERE'S A LOT OF RESTRICTIONS.

YES.

I THINK SENSITIVITY ON OUR SIDE IS DEFINITELY ACT 73.

THAT HALF MILE BUFFER ZONE.

THERE WERE HUNDREDS IN MY COMMUNITY THAT CAME OUT.

TO SPEAK AGAINST IT.

IN 2019.

AT THE HEART OF IT, IT'S ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE.

AND SOCIAL JUSTICE.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT IT.

AND DOING WHAT IS PONO, WHAT'S RIGHT.

>>Lauren: THAT'S A GREAT TRANSITION BECAUSE WE HAVE A LOT OF VIEWER QUESTIONS.

>> KIND OF ASKING ABOUT MAYBE SOME OTHER SOLUTIONS.

BESIDES JUST FINDING A LAND FILL ON OAHU.

THIS FIRST QUESTION IS FROM ONE OF OUR VIEWERS.

HAS SHIPPING RUBBISH OUT OF STATE BEEN LOOKED AT?

>> YES.

IT'S BEEN LOOKED AT MANY TIMES.

MOST RECENTLY, IN 2009, IT WAS PILOTED.

SERVICES OFFERED BY OUT OF STATE COMPANY.

IN WASHINGTON STATE.

AND THEY WERE GOING TO SHIP ALL THE RUBBISH TO A LAND FILL.

AND SO THE OPERATION WOULD INVOLVE BAILING OF REFUSE AND HAVING IT THEN LOADED AND IN CONTAINERS AND SHIPPED TO WASHINGTON.

AND THE BAILING OPERATIONS STARTED WAS PILOTED AND BUT THE SHIPPING NEVER HAPPENED BECAUSE THEY COULDN'T GET THE PERMITS THEY NEEDED TO FOR THE DISPOSAL.

SO THAT'S A KIND OF A, INTERESTING CONCEPT.

ONE OF THE THINGS YOU GOT TO REMEMBER IS FOR EXAMPLE, WE HAVE AN ORDINANCE ON OAHU THAT SAYS, WE WILL NOT ACCEPT WASTE FROM OUTSIDE ANYWHERE.

OTHER COUNTIES HAVE THAT SAME ORDINANCE.

SO WE HAVE HARD ENOUGH TIME DISPOSING OF OUR OWN WASTE SO WE NEED TO HAVE AN ORDINANCE THAT SAYS, NO, NO MATTER WHAT, WE'RE NOT GOING TO TAKE WASTE FROM OUTSIDE.

THAT MEANS PRIVATE COMPANY CAN'T DO THAT EITHER.

NOT JUST THE CITY.

SO SOMEBODY CAN'T JUST BUY SOME PROPERTY AND DECIDE, WELL, I'M GOING TO TAKE IN WASTE FROM CALIFORNIA OR KAUAI OR SOMEWHERE LIKE THAT.

OTHER COUNTIES HAVE THE SAME KIND OF THING.

IT'S QUITE DIFFICULT.

TO GET THAT TO HAPPEN.

NOT JUST BECAUSE OF OF THE DISTANCE, BECAUSE NOBODY WANTS THE WASTE FROM HONOLULU TO COME TO THEIR COMMUNITY EITHER.

>>Lauren: I KNOW CONCEPT OF ZERO WASTE IS A GOLDEN IDEA.

WE DO HAVE SOMEONE ASKING ABOUT THAT.

WHY ARE WE EVEN USING LAND FILLS IN THE FIRST PLACE?

COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE ZERO WASTE THAT GO TO LAND FILLS LIKE HUNTINGTON BEACH, CALIFORNIA.

ANOTHER QUESTION.

>> I'M NOT SURE IF SOMEBODY WANTS TO WEIGH IN ON THAT ONE.

EVEN SOMETHING THAT COULD BE FEASIBLE, LET'S SAY, TEN, 20 YEARS DOWN THE ROAD?

>> YEAH.

I DON'T KNOW IF TEN OR 20 YEARS.

EVENTUALLY, THAT IS THE GOAL.

IS TO STEADILY REDUCE THE WASTE STREAM, WASTE STREAM IS REDUCED.

BEING REDUCED.

REDUCED LESS WASTE OVER TIME.

WE'RE GOING TO DO THE ASH RECYCLING ET CETERA.

AND ZERO WOULD OF COURSE BE TARGET.

THAT REQUIRES LARGE LIFESTYLE CHANGES FOR ALL OF US.

SO IT MEANS THAT THAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN INCLUDING WAY WE NEED TO RECYCLE ALL OF OUR CONSTRUCTION WASTE.

NEED TO RECYCLE EVERYTHING THAT IS RECYCLABLE.

AND THAT WOULD INVOLVE BUSINESSES, INDIVIDUAL HOMEOWNERS, RESIDENTS, AND KIND OF REALLY CHANGING OUR LIFESTYLE A LOT.

THE WAY WE DO ALL OF OUR PACKAGING.

WAY THINGS ARRIVE.

THERE'S BOXES AND SHIPPING AND MATERIALS AND PLASTIC AND ALL OF THIS STUFF THAT WE ARE USED TO USING AND WAY WE BUY THINGS AND PACKAGING THIS DISPOSABLE, WILLING TO BRING OUR OWN PLASTIC CONTAINERS TO THE STORE AND EVERYTHING AND REUSE THAT AND NOT HAVE ANY PAPER OR ANY OTHER PACKAGING.

THEORETICALLY POSSIBLE.

I THINK WE'RE CONTINUALLY WORKING TOWARDS THAT.

BUT IN THE END, I THINK THAT WILL TAKE A LONG TIME FOR THAT TO BE FULLY ACHIEVABLE.

>>Lauren: SPEAKING OF SORT OF LIFESTYLE CHANGE FOR ALL YOU HAVE OF US BOARD OF WATER SUPPLY ISSUES NOTICES WHEN RESIDENTS NEED TO CONSERVE WATER.

DO YOU THINK THAT RESIDENTS AND THE COMPANIES SHOULD BE THINKING REDUCING AMOUNTS OF TRASH THAT WE PRODUCE?

>> IN SUPPORT OF MY FRIEND ROGER I WOULD SAY YES.

BUT COMING BACK TO WATER CONSERVATION, I THINK WE CAN DO MORE.

COMPANIES AND BUSINESSES LOOK FOR WAYS TO USE LESS WATER.

AND I'VE BEEN TALKING TO A LOT OF BUSINESSES IN THE LAST YEAR PLUS, BECAUSE OF THE RED HILL CRISIS AND THEY ARE REALLY OPEN TO EVEN GRAY WATER RECYCLING ON THE PROPERTY.

REDUCING STORM WATER RUNOFF USING ON SITE REDUCING HOW MUCH WHICH HAVE TO PUMP OUT OF OUR UNDERGROUND AQUIFERS, THOSE ARE ALL STEPS IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

APPRECIATE THAT.

WE'LL NEED EVERYBODY'S HELP WITH WATER CONSERVATION.

ESPECIALLY EVERY SUMMER COMING UP ON ANOTHER SUMMER.

EVERY SUMMER BECAUSE OF THE RED HILL SITUATION, HAD TO SHUT DOWN ONE OF OR LARGEST WATER SOURCES HALAWA SHAFT.

NEED HELP REDUCING USAGE.

>> ESPECIALLY HONOLULU AND AIEA SYSTEMS.

>>Lauren: YOU HEAR FROM BUSINESSES ON THE WEST SIDE PROBABLY EVERY DAY.

ARE THERE ANY TALKS IN THAT COMMUNITY AND I WOULD HOPE FOR OTHER COMMUNITIES AS WELL, BUT TO MAYBE CONSERVE ON TRASH AND SHIRT OUR MINDSET?

>> I THINK IN THE MINDS MOST WE'RE IN A SUSTAINABLE WORLD.

THAT AS WELL DRIVEN TO DO THAT.

I THINK WITH CLIMATE CHANGE AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONSCIOUSNESS COMING TO FOREFRONT, SO THAT IS DEFINITELY THERE.

THE CHALLENGE IN THAT BUSINESS COMMUNITY AT LARGE AND SMALL BUSINESSES ESPECIALLY HAVE THE COST INCURRED PIECE TO MAKE THESE CHANGES.

AND THE WANT AND THE DESIRE AND THE INTENT IS THERE.

BUT IT ALSO COMES DOWN TO CAN THESE SMALL BUSINESSES ESPECIALLY SUSTAIN THOSE CHANGES OR HOW IS THAT TRANSITION, THOSE ARE THE THINGS I THINK AS A BUSINESS COMMUNITY, AS A WHOLE, WE'RE TRYING TO FIND THOSE WAYS WHERE WE DON'T HAVE MOM AND POP BUSINESSES GOING OUT OF BUSINESS BECAUSE THEY CAN'T AFFORD TO FOOT THE BILL FOR HIGHER DOLLAR CHANGES.

OR HOW DO WE TRANSITION OF A WAY THAT MAKES SENSE.

IT'S A BALANCE.

SO I THINK THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT WE'RE CONSTANTLY LOOKING AT.

AND HAVING THOSE DISCUSSIONS AND FINDING WAYS TO BE CREATIVE.

AND LOOK AND I THINK SOME OF IT IS AWARENESS AND CONSCIOUSNESS.

AND LIKE ERNIE MENTIONED, I MEAN, THERE'S SO MANY WAYS TO CONSERVE WATER.

PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE SOMETIMES BRINGING IT TO THEIR AWARENESS AND CONSCIOUSNESS, DID YOU KNOW IF YOU DO X, Y, Z.

YOU'LL SAVE THIS MUCH IN WATER.

AT THE END OF THE DAY, PEOPLE WANT TO DO THE RIGHT THING.

PARTS IN MY COMMUNITY WERE AFFECTED BY THE RED HILL CRISIS.

FRONT AND CENTER.

ONE OF MY MEMBERS OF THE CHAMBER.

>>Lauren: RECENTLY MAYOR SPOKE TO CIVIL BEAT AND MENTIONED THE IDEA OF SEARCHING FOR SOLUTIONS POSSIBLY ON MILITARY OR AGRICULTURAL LANDS.

MAYBE ARE THERE ANY REALISTIC OPTIONS IN EITHER AREA?

>> WELL, NOT IN AGRICULTURE.

AGRICULTURAL LANDS TYPICALLY ALL IN THE NO PASS ZONE.

I DID WANT TO MENTION THAT'S WAIMANALO GULCH LAND FILL IN THE PASS ZONE.

NOT IN THE NO‑PASS AREA.

ONE OF THE AREAS, IT'S OKAY.

AND SO BUT THERE ARE SOME MILITARY SITES OUTSIDE OF THE NO‑PASS ZONE THAT ARE FEASIBLE IN THAT SENSE.

ALSO WOULD NOT RUN ASTRAY OF ACT 73.

SO TECHNICALLY, THEY'RE POSSIBLE.

AND SO WE ARE, WE ARE LOOKING AT THAT, WITH MILITARY TO TRY TO SEE IF WE COULD USE SOME OF THOSE SITES.

MILITARY OF COURSE HAS USES FOR THEIR LANDS AND ALSO WOULD ALWAYS BE THINKING ABOUT THE FUTURE.

AND WHAT COULD CHANGE OR HAPPEN THAT THEY WOULD THEN SOMEHOW NEED THESE PLACES.

COULD FOREVER POSSIBLY BE ALTERED AND NOT BE AVAILABLE IF IT BECOMES LAND FILL.

I DID WANT TO MENTION IF I MAY, THAT WHEN WE TALKED LICHEN AND LAND FILLS PRODUCING TOXIC THINGS, THEY ARE SEALED ON THE BOTTOM.

WHILE THEY'RE IN OPERATION.

AS THEY GO THROUGH THEIR LIFE, IT'S CLOSED AS YOU MOVE ALONG.

SO ONLY THE WORKING AREA REMAINS SORT OF OPEN AND CLOSURE IS A REQUIREMENT OF OPERATION OF LAND FILL.

PUT IMPERMEABLE.

LINER GOES ON THE TOP.

NO MORE RAINFALL GOES NO THERE.

NO MORE LICHATE PRODUCED.

PRODUCED WATER COMES IN.

CLOSED LIKE THAT, NOT GOING TO PRODUCE LICHATE ANY MORE.

REALLY NO MORE RISK.

IN ADDITION WHILE IT'S IN OPERATION AND WE'RE COLLECTING LICHEN.

ALLOWED TO HAVE 18 TO 24 INCHES OF LICHEN BOTTOM OF THE LAND FILL AT ANY TIME.

HAVE TO CONTINUOUSLY PUMP IT OUT AND TREAT THAT AND DISPOSE OF IT.

NOT A BIG TANK OF WATER, SOMEHOW A LEAK, THAT WHOLE BUNCH OF STUFF IS GOING TO LEAK OUT.

WE HAVE TO CONTINUOUSLY REMOVE THAT MATERIAL.

SO IT'S VERY DIFFERENT LIKE FROM A RED HILL TANK OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

>>Lauren: ALREADY ONE MILITARY LAND FILL ON KANEOHE MARINE CORPS BASE.

DO YOU THINK THE MILITARY WOULD BEING WILLING TO HOST ANOTHER LAND FILL?

ROGER OR ERNIE.

BEEN IN TALKS WITH THEM.

NOT SURE IF YOU GATHERED ANY INTEL.

>> TALK TO THE MILITARY.

>> I DON'T TALK ABOUT LANDFALLS.

>> >> WE THINK IT'S POSSIBLE.

DISCUSSIONS ARE ONGOING.

>>Lauren: REALISTICALLY, EVEN IF LET'S SAY MAYOR PICKS A LOCATION BY THE END OF THIS YEAR, WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

HOW QUICKLY CAN THAT GET MOVING?

>> SO I MEAN, WE ACTUALLY HAVE MONEY BUDGETED TO PURCHASE LAND AND DEVELOPMENT A LAND FILL.

ALREADY BUDGETED.

DEVELOP A LAND FILL.

THAT IS POSSIBILITY.

BUT YOU'RE CORRECT.

THERE WOULD BE SEVERAL STEPS THAT HAVE TO HAPPEN.

ENVIRONMENTAL STUDY DONE.

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT.

THAT INVOLVES PUBLIC HEARINGS AND LOTS OF STUDIES AND EVALUATIONS.

SO HAVE TO GET THROUGH THAT PROCESS.

THEN ONLY AFTER THAT, ARE LAND ACTUALLY BE PURCHASED.

IF IT WAS MILITARY LAND, PROBABLY BE A LEASE.

WOULDN'T BE A SALE.

YOU GOT TO GO THROUGH THAT WHOLE PROCESS.

THEN YOU'VE GOT TO DESIGN IT, GET PERMITTED, CONSTRUCTED, AND THEN OPEN IT IF.

PROCESS WILL TAKE SOME TIME.

AND BUT IT'S NECESSARY TO IN ORDER TO OPEN AND LEGALLY OPERATE A LAND FILL.

>>Lauren: I BOTH OF YOU START WITH YOU, BECAUSE YOU'RE CLOSEST, ANYTHING YOU WOULD LIKE TO SAY TO YOUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHEN IT COMES TO HOW THEY SHOULD THINK ABOUT THIS SITUATION.

TOUCHY ONE FOR FOLKS WHO LIVE ON THE WEST SIDE.

>> FIRST OF ALL, I WOULD LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE, MAYOR HAS EXPRESSED THAT HE DOESN'T HAVE THE INTENT TO HAVE THE LAND FILL ON THE WEST SIDE.

AND SO I THANKED HIM FOR THAT AND THAT IS A HOPEFUL STATEMENT AS WELL.

BUT I THINK I JUST WOULD SAY OVERALL, TO OUR COMMUNITY, THAT I APPRECIATE ALL OF THE FERVOR AND HEART OF HOW WHICH FEEL.

AND WE SHOULD HOLD TO THAT.

BUT KNOW THAT THINGS ARE GOING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

AND I REFER BACK TO SOME OF THE THINGS THAT ROGER SHARED TONIGHT AS WELL.

LIKE I SAID, MAYOR'S WORDS.

AND I THINK YOU KNOW, IT GOES BACK TO WHAT I WAS JUST TALKING ABOUT.

THAT ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE AND SOCIAL JUSTICE PIECE.

AND DOING WHAT IS PONO.

AND I THINK THAT IS WHAT AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE'RE TRYING TO DO.

AGAIN, WE HAVE ALL OF THESE RESTRICTIONS.

ALL OF THESE TO WORK AROUND.

TAKING LONGER TO GET THERE.

HANG IN THERE.

BECAUSE WE'RE CLOSE.

AND I THINK THAT IS THE HARD PART FOR WEST OAHU.

BECAUSE I JOKE ABOUT THIS ALL THE TIME.

I HAVE TO JUMP UP AND DOWN FOR THE WEST SIDE.

BECAUSE WE'VE HAD THOSE CHALLENGES AND MANY FACETS I THINK THIS ONE IS GOING TO BE OKAY.

>>Lauren: GARY, ANYTHING FOR YOU ON THE WINDWARD SIDE?

>> POSITIVE NOTE, OVER MY LIFE IN HAWAII STARTED IN '74, I'VE SEEN SOME VERY INTERESTING CHANGES, WHETHER OR NOT IT WAS GOVERNMENT FORCED THESE UPON CONTRACTORS AND PEOPLE, OR PEOPLE STARTED TO DIP THEIR CONSCIOUSNESS IN THE RIGHT PLACE.

BUT I REMEMBER WHEN THEY TOOK DOWN KAISER HOSPITAL IN WAIKIKI.

BURYD IT IN WAIMANALO.

BACK IN THOSE DAYS, IT WAS YOU JUST DID WHATEVER YOU HAD TO DO.

FOUND A LANDOWNER, PLACE WAS DEEP VALLEY AND JUST MADE A DEAL WITH HIM AND THEY COVERED IT OVER WITH DIRT.

AND IT WASN'T DISCOVERED FOR YEARS LATER.

AND NOW, TODAY, PROBABLY CAN'T GET AWAY WITH THAT ANY MORE.

THAT'S ON THE POSITIVE NOTE.

THAT ATTITUDE IS CHANGED.

MORE CONTRACTORS, THEY NOW KNOW TO SORT OUT THEIR SITE.

CONCRETE NO ONE BIN.

METAL IN ANOTHER BIN.

WOOD GOES IN ANOTHER BIN.

SOME POSITIVE THINGS THAT ARE OCCURRING.

I THINK EDUCATION IS STILL IMPORTANT.

IT SEEMS LIKE WE'RE DRIVING TOWARDS GETTING KIDS AT A VERY YOUNG AGE TO UNDERSTAND WASTE COMPOSTING, THINGS THAT COULD BE DONE TO LESSEN THIS AMOUNT.

I THINK MORE COULD BE DONE FOR RECYCLING IN TERMS OF LIKE I NOTICED THAT BOTTLES AN CANS ARE STILL FIVE CENTS.

THAT RULE BEEN IN FOR A VERY LONG TIME NOW.

MAYBE THAT SHOULD BE TEN OR 15 CENTS.

OTHER STATES HAVE DONE THAT.

BECAUSE IT'S DIPPING RIGHT NOW.

THE STATE IS GETTING MORE AND MORE MONEY THAT THEY DON'T HAVE TO REFUND TO THE PEOPLE.

SO THAT TELLS ME THAT RECYCLING PROGRAM THAT WE'RE STARTED WHEN I HAD MY GREEN WASTE RECYCLING FACILITIES ARE NOT WORKING ANY MORE.

IT'S GOT TO BE INCENTIVE FOR PEOPLE TO DO THIS.

PEOPLE NEED TO BE REMIND.

TELLING ROGER EARLIER, IN THE BEGINNING OF RECYCLING OVER HERE, WE HAVE ENTERTAINERS SINGING ABOUT IT.

ON TV.

PEOPLE THERE WAS A CONSCIOUSNESS TO RECYCLE MATERIALS.

I DON'T SEE THAT ANY MORE.

SO WE'RE KIND OF FORGOT WHAT WE WERE DOING WITH ALL OF THAT.

>>Lauren: IN ITS CORE, ALL OF US HAVE TO.

>> THINK TWICE ABOUT IT.

IS IT THE RIGHT THING TO DO?

LIKE I CAN'T TELL YOU THAT PEOPLE ARE NOT GOING TO TURN OVER SOME BOTTLE AND SEE IF IT'S RECYCLABLE OR NOT.

GOT TO BE SOMETHING THAT IS VERY EASY FOR PEOPLE TO DO.

>>Lauren: I DON'T WANT MEAN TO CUT YOU OFF.

MAKE SURE WE LAST COUPLE OF SECONDS HERE.

TO BOTH OF YOU.

ANYTHING YOU WOULD LIKE TO SAY TO THE COMMUNITY?

THIS TOPIC THAT HAS BEEN YEARS AND YEARS TO GET TO THE FINISH LINE.

ANYTHING YOU WOULD LIKE TO SAY TO THE COMMUNITY ABOUT BOARD OF WATER SUPPLY'S EFFORTS TO BE INVOLVED IN DISCUSSION AND WHAT IS NEXT?

>> YEAH, MAYBE I COULD START.

SO WORK CLOSELY WITH BOARD OF WATER SUPPLY.

WANT TO MAKE SURE WE PROTECT THE DRINKING WATER.

AND SO WE'RE COMPLETELY COMMITTED TO THAT.

ON THE SAME PAGE.

AND WE ARE GOING TO DO NEED FIND A NEW SITE FOR NEXT LAND FILL.

MAYOR COMMITTED AS KAREN MENTIONED, NOT BE ON THE WEST SIDE.

THERE'S VERY FEW SITES AVAILABLE.

NONE OF THEM ARE IN KAILUA.

LOOKING AT MILITARY SITES.

I WANTED TO JUST ADD ON THAT RECYCLING IS REALLY IMPORTANT PART OF WHAT WE DO.

AND PEOPLE NEED TO DO THAT.

SOON, WE'LL BE PUTTING OUR GREEN, FOOD WASTE INTO THE GREEN WASTE.

COMPOSING.

>>Lauren: SORRY SO CUT YOU OFF.

FORTUNATELY RUNS OUT OF THE TIME.

THANK ALL FOR JOINING US TONIGHT.

TONIGHT, AND WE THANK OUR GUESTS: ROGER BABCOCK, JR., DIRECTOR OF THE CITY’S DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES; ERNEST LAU, MANAGER WISH I COULD HAVE GIVEN YOU LAST WORD.

AND CHIEF ENGINEER FOR THE BOARD OF WATER SUPPLY; GARY WELLER, KAILUA NEIGHBORHOOD BOARD MEMBER; AND KIRAN POLK, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FROM THE KAPOLEI CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

NEXT WEEK ON INSIGHTS, WHAT IS THE LATEST ON THE ALA WAI FLOOD CONTROL PROJECT?

THE ALA WAI WATERSHED IS ONE OF MOST DENSELY POPULATED AND ECONOMICALLY IMPORTANT AREAS ON OAHU.

WHAT IS THE PLAN TO PROTECT BUSINESSES AND RESIDENTS FROM SEVERE WEATHER?

PLEASE JOIN US THEN.

I’M LAUREN DAY FOR INSIGHTS ON PBS HAWAI`I.

ALOHA!

HAVE A GREAT NIGHT.