STATE OF HAWAII
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
NOTICE OF PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD AND PUBLIC HEARING ON
PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO
HAR CHAPTER 11-55 AND HAR CHAPTER 11-55 APPENDICES B, E, F, G, K
DOCKET NO. CWB-1-26
April 10, 2026
The Department of Health (DOH), Clean Water Branch (CWB) is scheduling a public comment period from the date of this notice until May 11, 2026, to solicit written input from the public and other stakeholders about the proposed amendments to Hawaii Administrative Rules (HAR) Chapter 11-55 entitled “Water Pollution Control,” and readopted National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) general permits which are specified in Appendices B, E, F, G, and K of HAR Chapter 11-55.
HAR Chapter 11-55, Water Pollution Control
HAR Chapter 11-55 Appendix B, NPDES Multi-Sector General Permit for Storm Water Discharges Associated with Industrial Activity
HAR Chapter 11-55 Appendix E, NPDES General Permit Authorizing Discharges of Once Through Cooling Water Less Than One (1) Million Gallons per Day
HAR Chapter 11-55 Appendix F, NPDES General Permit Authorizing Discharges of Hydrotesting Waters
HAR Chapter 11-55 Appendix G, NPDES General Permit Authorizing Discharges Associated with Construction Activity Dewatering
HAR Chapter 11-55 Appendix K, NPDES General Permit Authorizing Discharges of Storm Water and Certain Non-Storm Water Discharges from Small Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems
The above five (5) NPDES general permits cover authorized discharges to all receiving State waters except for discharges into natural freshwater lakes, saline lakes, or anchialine pools, or discharges occurring within lands of exclusive federal jurisdiction.
The CWB will hold a public hearing pursuant to HAR 11-55-13 with in-person and virtual options. Individuals wishing to attend the public hearing virtually are encouraged to register in advance. Instructions for registering and virtually attending from a computer or a phone, guidelines for submitting written comments, Ramseyer formats of the proposed amendments, and fact sheets are available online. Please visit the DOH CWB website at https://health.hawaii.gov/cwb/active-public-notices-and-upcoming-public-hearings/, and search for the post titled CWB Begins Public Comment Period and Schedules Public Hearing for Proposed Amendments to HAR Chapter 11-55 and HAR Chapter 11-55 Appendices B, E, F, G, K.
Date: Monday, May 11, 2026
Time: 10:00 AM (Hawaii Standard Time)
In-Person at: DOH Environmental Health Administration Conference
Room
Street Address: 2827 Waimano Home Road #100, Pearl City, HI 96782
Hearing Dial-In Phone Number: 808-829-4853
(Conference ID 626 875 909#)
Persons wishing to comment upon the proposed amendments may submit written comments no later than 4:30 pm on the date of the public hearing. Oral testimony may be given at the public hearing, provided that persons offering oral testimony also submit a written copy of their testimony by 4:30 p.m. on the date of the public hearing. Submitted comments should address only the proposed amendments and not the existing NPDES rules. All written comments, including written copies of oral testimony must be received either through E-mail at cleanwaterbranch@doh.hawaii.gov or by mail at P.O. BOX 3378, Honolulu, HI 96801-3378.
NPDES Permits serve as enforceable tools for implementing the State Water Quality Standards, which are designed to safeguard all designated and existing uses of State Waters including, but not limited to, Native Hawaiian traditional and customary practices. The DOH does not anticipate that the proposed amendments to the NDPES rules and general permits will affect or impair these rights. Nevertheless, the DOH welcomes input from stakeholders who may hold a different view.
Copies of the proposed amendments and fact sheets are also available for public inspection, Monday through Friday (excluding holidays) from 7:45 AM until 4:15 PM, at the following locations. Photocopies of the proposed amendments and fact sheets may be bought.
Clean Water Branch at 2827 Waimano Home Road #225, Pearl City, HI 96782,
Hilo District Health Office at 75 Aupuni Street #201, Hilo, HI 96720,
Kona District Health Office at 79-1015 Haukapila Street, Kealakekua, HI 96750,
Waimea District Health Office at 67-5189 Kamamalu Street, Kamuela, HI 96743,
Kauai District Health Office at 3040 Umi Street, Lihue, HI 96766, and
Maui District Health Office at 54 South High Street #301, Wailuku, HI 96793.
If you need an auxiliary aid/service or other accommodation due to disability, please contact Mr. Reef Migita, Supervisor of the CWB Engineering Section, at 808-586-4309 or CleanWaterBranch@doh.hawaii.gov as soon as possible. If you use a TTY/TDD, please call through Sprint Relay Hawaii, at 1-711 or 1 877-447-5991. Requests made as early as possible have a greater likelihood of being fulfilled.
KENNETH S. FINK, MD, MGA, MPH
Director of Health
(MA1524697 4/10/26)
