Landfill sites influenced by community concerns

By Treena Shapiro
Advertiser Staff Writer

Expanding the Waimanalo Gulch landfill would extend its life by 20 years and be cheaper than building a new one, but community concerns pushed it off the list of sites recommended by the mayor's committee for selecting O'ahu's next landfill.

However, the existing Waimanalo Gulch landfill still figures prominently in the executive summary of a report by the Mayor's Advisory Committee on Landfill Selection made public yesterday.

In their report, committee members said more weight was given to community concerns than expenses, but the costs relating to acquiring, developing and operating the landfills were also considered in deliberations because "the committee agreed that costs are a very significant factor and have a larger impact on the taxpayer."

The committee recommended four sites: the Ameron Kapa'a Quarry in Kailua and three Leeward locations — Makaiwa Gulch, a site referred to as Nanakuli B and a quarry in Ma'ili. Expansion of Waimanalo Gulch would cost $13.1 million, the report said. Costs of the others: $22.7 million for Ma'ili, $24.9 million for Nanakuli B, $26.6 million for Ameron Kapaa Quarry and $41.1 million for Makaiwa Gulch .

The decision to remove Waimanalo Gulch from the list of recommended sites prompted the surprise resignation of four committee members on Monday before the remaining nine members approved the report recommending the four sites.

Those who resigned — former state Health Director Bruce Anderson, Kathy Bryant Hunter, Eric Guinther and state Rep. Cynthia Thielen, R-50th (Kailua, Mokapu) — argued it was irresponsible to walk away from an operating landfill with 20 years of possible life left.

However, the nine who favored the removal argued that the city had committed to closing the landfill and it was the committee's mission to find an alternative site for a landfill when Waimanalo Gulch's permit expires in 2008.

The committee report is to be forwarded to the City Council which is not bound by the group's recommendation, but the council must select a site by June 1 or risk losing a state permit that extends the use of the Waimanalo Gulch landfill through 2008.

The committee's report also said an expanded Waimanalo Gulch would last longer than three of the four recommended sites. Makaiwa Gulch would last for 25 years, but the property, owned by Campbell Estate, would be the most expensive to acquire and develop, according to the report.

A landfill at Ma'ili would last 15.3 years; at Nanakuli, 15.6 years; and at the Ameron Kapa'a site,15 years.

According to the report, the nine committee members did not feel the city had made its promise to close the landfill lightly, and they expected it to be honored. "The commitment to leave Waimanalo Gulch Landfill resulted from two years of study," the report said.

Representatives of Ko Olina Resort, directly across from the landfill, have said millions of dollars have been invested in the property with the belief the landfill would shut down in 2008.

Reach Treena Shapiro at tshapiro@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8070.

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