NOTICE OF LODGING OF PROPOSED CONSENT DECREE
UNDER THE CLEAN WATER ACT
On April 29, 2019, the Department of Justice lodged a proposed Consent Decree with the United States District Court for the District of Hawaii in the lawsuit entitled United States and State of Hawaii Department of Health v. Waste Management of Hawaii, Inc. and City and County of Honolulu, Civil Action No. 19-cv-00224.
The United States and the State of Hawaii Department of Health filed this lawsuit under the Clean Water Act and Hawaii State law. The complaint seeks penalties and injunctive relief for discharges of pollutants, including contaminated storm water and solid waste, from the Waimanalo Gulch Sanitary Landfill located in Oahu, Hawaii. The landfill is operated by defendant Waste Management of Hawaii, Inc., and owned by defendant the City and County of Honolulu. The proposed Consent Decree requires the Defendants to perform injunctive relief to improve storm water management and address effluent limit violations at the landfill. The proposed Consent Decree also requires payment of civil penalties to the United States of $150,000 by Waste Management of Hawaii, Inc., and $62,500 by the City and County of Honolulu. The proposed Consent Decree further requires payments to the Hawaii State Department of Land and Natural Resources of $150,000 by Waste Management of Hawaii, Inc., and $62,500 by the City and County of Honolulu, with these funds to be used for research and restoration of coral and coral habitat.
A copy of the proposed Consent Decree can be downloaded from the following website: https://www.justice.gov/enrd/consent-decree/us-et-al-v-waste-management-hawaii-and-city-and-county-honolulu-hawaii or by contacting the Clean Water Branch (CWB) at (808) 586-4309. The proposed Consent Decree will also available for public review Monday through Friday between 7:45 am and 4:30 pm in the CWB office.
The publication of this notice opens a period for public comment on the proposed Consent Decree. Comments should be addressed to the Director of Health, and should refer to United States and State of Hawaii Department of Health v. Waste Management Hawaii, Inc., and City and County of Honolulu, D.J. Ref. No. 90-5-1-1-10729. All comments must be submitted no later than thirty (30) days after the publication date of this notice. Comments may be submitted either by mail to the Director of Health, Clean Water Branch, State of Hawaii Department of Health, located at 2827 Waimano Home Road #225, Pearl City, Hawaii 96782, or email to CleanWaterBranch@doh.hawaii.gov.
Bruce Anderson, PhD.
Director of Health
(SA1199311 5/16/19)
