Kapolei residents not sold on landfill
By James Gonser
Advertiser Leeward Bureau
KAPOLEI — Just two weeks after the city issued a revised draft of an enviromental impact statement intended to answer residents' questions about its proposal to expand the Waimanalo Gulch Landfill, renewed concerns have compelled the city to extend the public comment period.
The city also plans a meeting next month for residents to air concerns and speak one-on-one with city officials familiar with the impact report, said Herb Lee, a consultant representing the city.
Lee said the comment extension will likely be an additional two weeks past the original deadline, which was Saturday, but he is waiting for approval by city officials.
About 100 people heard a presentation on the project at the Makakilo/Kapolei/Honokai Hale Neighborhood Board meeting June 20. The presentation was based on the latest impact statement, which the city revised after community opposition arose when the first document was released last fall.
Attendees said the city needs to give the community more time to review the impact statement and to respond. As was the case last fall, opponents said the city has not thoroughly considered alternative technologies or different sites.
Tim Steinberger, deputy director of the city's Environmental Services Department, told the meeting that expansion is the most cost-effective option and that the city continues to study alternative technology.
Board chairwoman Maeda Timson said the issue is too big to be presented only at the neighborhood board level. A presentation dedicated to the subject needs to be made by city decision-makers, she said.
"Because they came without the key players and the comment date was before our next board meeting, we didn't think it was a fair opportunity to make an informed comment," Timson said. "We asked for a meeting dedicated to the landfill expansion and, more importantly, to bring the players involved who ... could make a difference."
What: Open house to answer questions about the city's proposed landfill expansion When: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. July 16. Where: Kapolei Hale ground-floor meeting room on Uluohia Street. On the Web: The environmental impact statement is available at www.opala.org
Timson would like to include representatives of landfill operator Waste Management of Hawai'i Inc., the head of city Environmental Services and people who understand the technology involved , so they can answer questions.
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Landfill session
"This is a city issue, not just a Kapolei issue," Timson said. "We need our other City Council members out here."
Lee said the intent of the meeting will be to share information from the impact statement and answer questions.
"We want to make people available that can provide information and were responsible for preparing the document so they can answer questions and residents can make an informed comment by the deadline," he said.
The city wants to expand the Kahe Valley landfill by 60.5 acres to provide space for O'ahu's rubbish though 2017. The landfill uses 86.5 acres at the 200-acre site and at its current size is expected to reach capacity in 2002.
