The Director of Health has selected the Two-Step General Permit approach to regulate Small Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems (Small MS4s) under the State’s National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) program. The first step of the Two-Step process was the adoption of Hawaii Administrative Rules (HAR) Title 11, Chapter 55, Appendix K. The public notice of the SWMP is the second step. Both HAR 11-55, Appendix K and the SWMP will be NPDES permit conditions for the Hawaii Department of Transportation (HDOT), Harbors Division Kalaeloa Barbers Point Harbor and Honolulu Harbor Small MS4s to regulate and impose water pollution control requirements on the discharge of stormwater and certain non-stormwater discharges to receiving State waters, to meet the MS4 permit standard, and to protect water quality.

Both Kalaeloa Barbers Point Harbor and Honolulu Harbor are located on the south shore of Oahu. Honolulu Harbor is the State’s main port-of-entry where all imported goods first arrive before being redirected with tug-and-barge operations to any of the other commercial ports in the State. Kalaeloa Barbers Point Harbor is located approximately 21 miles west of Honolulu Harbor.

Honolulu Harbor is one of the largest container handling ports in the United States (US) with over eight million short tons of cargo handled annually. Honolulu Harbor provides facilities for passenger, excursion, research and fishing vessels and supports numerous tenants engaged in commercial fishing and other maritime-related activities.

Kalaeloa Barbers Point Harbor is the most recently constructed Hawaii commercial harbor and primarily handles liquid such as petroleum products and dry-bulk cargos such as coal, cement and scrap metal, along with lesser amounts of miscellaneous general cargo and containers. Commercial ship maintenance and repair facilities are also located there.

The receiving waters, Kalaeloa Barbers Point Harbor, Honolulu Harbor and Keehi Lagoon are classified as a as Class A Marine Water, Embayment. The objective of Class A waters is to protect their use for recreational purposes and aesthetic enjoyment. The uses to be protected in this class are all uses compatible with the protection and propagation of fish, shellfish, and wildlife, and with recreation in and on these waters.

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.

Please notify anyone you know who would be interested in this matter.