NOTICE OF PROPOSED WATER POLLUTION CONTROL PERMIT
FOR THE STATE OF HAWAII, DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION (DOT), HIGHWAYS DIVISION (HWYS) MUNICIPAL SEPARATE STORM SEWER SYSTEM (MS4) AND KEEHI, KAKOI, PEARL CITY, WAIANAE, AND WINDWARD BASEYARDS
ISLAND OF OAHU
NPDES PERMIT NO. HI S000001
DOCKET NO. HI S000001
May 27, 2020
The State Department of Health (DOH) tentatively proposes to reissue a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit to discharge municipal storm water and certain non-storm water discharges as identified in Part B.2 of this proposed permit from the DOT-HWYS Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (hereinafter referred to as “the MS4”); storm water runoff from the Keehi, Kakoi, Pearl City, Waianae, and Windward Baseyards; and additional storm sewer outfalls that may be identified from time to time by the Permittee, to receiving State waters or into adjacent separately-owned storm drainage systems subject to special conditions to:
STATE OF HAWAII
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
HIGHWAYS DIVISION (DOT-HWYS)
869 PUNCHBOWL STREET
HONOLULU, HAWAII 96813
The proposed draft NPDES permit for the discharge will expire five (5) years from the date of issuance.
The DOT-HWYS owns and operates the MS4 which is a system of conveyances, including storm drains, catch basins, curbs, and gutters, designed to collect and convey storm water runoff on the Island of Oahu. The DOT-HWYS also owns and operates industrial facilities (i.e., Keehi, Kakoi, Pearl City, Waianae, and Windward Baseyards) which discharge storm water. The volume of discharge is dependent upon rainfall-induced runoff and is highly variable.
The goal of this proposed draft NPDES permit is to reduce storm water runoff pollution from the MS4 to the maximum extent practicable. The discharge of pollutants from the Permittee’s industrial facilities shall be reduced to the appropriate discharge limitations based on the Best Available Technology currently available (BAT)/Best Conventional Pollutant Control Technology (BCT) discharge requirement. This is to be achieved through the implementation of the Permittee’s Storm Water Management Program and Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan, which are enforceable components of the proposed draft NPDES permit.
The receiving waters include all classes of inland and marine State waters. The majority of the discharges enter into receiving waters classified as “Class A, Marine Waters” under Hawaii Administrative Rules (HAR) Section 11-54-6. The objective of Class A waters is their use for recreational purposes and aesthetic enjoyment be protected. Any other use shall be permitted as long as it is compatible with the protection and propagation of fish, shellfish, and wildlife, and with the recreation in and on these waters. These waters shall not act as receiving waters for any discharge which has not received the best degree of treatment or control compatible with the criteria established for this class. No new sewage discharges will be permitted within embayments.
Other discharges enter into receiving water classified as “Class AA, Marine Waters” and “Class 1 and 2, Inland Waters.” The objectives of Class AA and Class 1 are the same as for Class A, with an additional objective that they shall retain their natural and pristine state as nearly as possible, with an absolute minimum of pollution or alteration from any human-caused source of pollution. The objective of Class 2 waters is to protect their use for recreational purposes, the support and propagation of aquatic life, agricultural and industrial water supplies, shipping, and navigation. The uses to be protected in this class of waters are all uses compatible with the protection and propagation of fish, shellfish, and wildlife, and with recreation in and on these waters. These waters shall not act as receiving waters for any discharge which has not received the best degree of treatment or control compatible with the criteria established for this class.
Persons wishing to comment upon or object to the proposed NPDES permit or to request a public hearing, should submit their comments or requests in writing no later than 30 calendar days after the date of this notice, either through e-mail at: cleanwaterbranch@doh.hawaii.gov or by mail at 2827 Waimano Home Road, Room 225, Pearl City, Hawaii 96782.
Copies of the proposed public notice permit and other information are available for public inspection, Monday through Friday (excluding holidays) from 7:45 a.m. until 4:15 p.m., at the DOH Clean Water Branch office located at the 2827 Waimano Home Road, Room 225, Pearl City, Hawaii 96782. Copies may be bought. The public notice permit and fact sheet are also available on the internet at: http://health.hawaii.gov/cwb/site-map/home/public-notices-and-updates. For more information or if you have special needs due to disability that will aid you in inspecting and/or commenting on the public notice permit and related information, please contact Mr. Darryl Lum, Supervisor of the Engineering Section, Clean Water Branch, at the above address or (808) 586-4309 (Voice) at least seven (7) calendar days before the comment deadline. For those who use a TTY/TDD, please call through Sprint Relay Hawaii, at 1-711 or 1-877-447-5991.
All written comments and requests received on time will be considered. If DOH determines that there is significant public interest, a public hearing may be held after at least 30 calendar days of public notice.
If DOH’s position is substantially unchanged after considering all timely written comments and all oral comments at any public hearing that may be held, then the DOH will issue the NPDES permit and this action will be final.
Please notify anyone you know who would be interested in this matter.
BRUCE S. ANDERSON, Ph.D.
Director of Health
(SA1280319 5/27/20)
