Island Voices
Ameron is being unfairly attacked
By Joan Nolan Cash
Kailua resident
Our family has operated a small plot of cattle and horse property on the edge of the Kawainui Marsh for over 33 years. During that time, we've come to know Ameron (formerly HC&D) to be a caring environmentalist neighbor. For reasons beyond me and many others in our community, the company seems to be on the receiving end of attacks with absolutely no foundation in fact.
Recent Ameron criticism regarding "discharges" from its property into Kapa'a Stream raise questions of reality vs. perception. The reality is that, with two minor exceptions in 2000, nothing leaves Ameron's quarry unless it's in a truck. Certainly the stream is not fed by Ameron. Despite this, some perceive otherwise.
The Advertiser recently attempted to balance a story on an Ameron settlement with the Department of Health and then followed it days later with a photo caption of birds flying out of the marsh while stating the "water has been seeping from the quarry, flowing down along a road and into the marsh." That is false. Water does not seep out of the quarry. Worse, the implication appeared that the birds flew out of the marsh because of Ameron. As the guy on TV says, "Give me a break."
As a start, Kapa'a Stream is mostly a dry gully. Heavy rainfall turns it into a stream, carrying water downhill. Water did break through a catchment dam under construction on the Kailua side of H3. Some topsoil went with the rainwater into the stream. As measured, it was about enough to fill a bathtub.
At the same time, thousands of freeway water gallons, with auto droppings and trash uglies, cascaded from H3 downhill and into the stream. Water also sloshed out of downstream properties, which include Kapa'a Landfill.
Why look to Ameron? Why can't the critics address the greater runoff problem? Rainwater and topsoil described as pollution are a major stretch in reality.
A later monsoon caused a lesser amount to leave the Ameron property. The company quickly acknowledged that minimal release to the DOH. Since then, holding ponds in that part of the property have been increased in size. The company cooperates fully with the DOH on zero tolerance regarding runoff.
A state environmental officer described the Ameron initiative as being "pro-active" — that it was thinking like a good steward.
