NOTICE OF DRAFT SOLID WASTE PERMIT
FOR THE KEKAHA LANDFILL, KEKAHA, HAWAII
The Hawaii State Department of Health (DOH) is making available for review the permit application and draft solid waste management permit renewal and modification for the continued operation and vertical expansion of Phase 2 of the Kekaha Municipal Solid Waste Landfill (Kekaha MSW Landfill), Kekaha, Kauai, Hawaii. The draft permit will allow the landfill to 1) accept non-hazardous leachate and condensate from the closed Halehaka landfill, 2) increase the vertical height of Phase 2 of Kekaha MSW Landfill to 171.5 feet above mean sea level (AMSL) from the current limit of 120 feet AMSL, and 3) increase its daily acceptance of waste from 200 to 275 tons per day. It is anticipated that the vertical expansion will increase the landfill capacity by approximately 408,000 cubic yards which equates to an estimated 2 to 4 additional years of useful life to the landfill. The permit’s expiration date will be five years from its issuance date. The permit applicant is the County of Kauai, Department of Public Works, Solid Waste Division located at 4444 Rice Street, Suite 275, Lihue, Hawaii, 96766.
The draft permit has been prepared under the provisions of Chapter 342H, Hawaii Revised Statutes (HRS), and Title 11, Chapter 58.1, Hawaii Administrative Rules (HAR). Federal solid waste regulations, 40 CFR 258, are generally incorporated into state regulations.
The Kekaha MSW Landfill is located on the island of Kauai, at 6900-D Kaumualii Highway, Kekaha, Hawaii, TMK (4) 1-2-002:001(por.) and 009. The existing Kekaha MSW Landfill includes a 33.78-acre closed Phase 1 and the active 44.03-acre Phase 2. The total acreage of the site is approximately 200 acres, including appurtenant operational uses.
The facility accepts non-hazardous MSW municipal, commercial, and industrial sources, construction and demolition waste, and certain designated special wastes from public and private collection companies. MSW is defined as residential and commercial solid waste, non-hazardous industrial solid waste, and construction/demolition debris. The site will not accept regulated hazardous or polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) wastes, non-household bulk or non-containerized liquid waste, and other designated unacceptable wastes.
Interested parties may review the draft permit, the permit application, and supporting documents online at https://health.hawaii.gov/shwb/kekaha-landfill-public-notice-documents. The DOH, Solid and Hazardous Waste Branch, 2827 Waimano Home Road #100, Pearl City, Hawaii, 96782 (phone: 808-586-4226) has a computer workstation to view the documents. The Lihue Public Library,
4344 Hardy Street, Lihue, Hawaii 96766, (phone: 808-241-3222), the
Kapaa Public Library, 4-1464 Kuhio Highway, Kapaa, Hawaii 96746 (phone:
808-821-4422), the Hanapepe Public Library, 4490 Kona Road, Hanapepe, Hawaii 96716 (phone: 808-335-8418) and the Princeville Public Library, 4343 Emmalani Dr, Princeville, Hawaii 96722 (phone 808-826-4310), maintain computer stations with internet access available to the public.
All written comments should be submitted within the 30-day comment period to the DOH, Solid and Hazardous Waste Branch via email at doh.solidwaste@doh.hawaii.gov or by mail to 2827 Waimano Home Road #100, Pearl City, Hawaii, 96782 (phone: 808-586-4226). The 30-day comment period will begin March 11, 2026, the publication date of this Notice of Draft Permit. The DOH will accept written comments until April 13, 2026. The DOH will respond to all comments received, with copies forwarded to the County of Kauai, Department of Public Works, Solid Waste Division. The DOH may revise the draft permit conditions and/or hold a public hearing if comments raise significant issues.
(TGI1518122 3/11/26)
