Posted on: Friday, March 21, 2003

City continues illegal dump investigation

Advertiser Staff

The city yesterday concluded an interview of refuse disposal facility superintendent Peter M. Kealoha as it continued an internal investigation into illegal dumping at the city's old waste incinerator site in Waipahu.

The city also said it received a report on the analysis of soil samples taken from the site, which may have been contaminated.

City spokeswoman Carol Costa said no results of interviews with city employees covered by civil service regulations would be released at this time and said she did not know the results of the soil sample analysis.

Maunalei Trucking Inc., of which Kealoha is vice president and part-owner, is also under investigation by the city for possible improper disposal of construction material at the site.

Kealoha has been placed on administrative leave with pay.

Frank Doyle, acting director of the city Department of Environmental Services, earlier said the investigation would seek to determine "why all this took place, what form of action we have to take and what preventive measures we need to make sure this won't happen again."

He said the city has interviewed city employees and trucking companies to determine who is responsible for the improper disposal of appliances, construction debris, and ash and bricks from an incinerator.

Because the dumping occurred on city property, the city is responsible for paying any fines handed down by the state Health Department, which is also investigating.

The city began testing the soil at the incinerator site on Monday and results were sent to Doyle yesterday, but he had not seen them yet, Costa said.

Consultants from EnviroServices were hired to test the soil for eight heavy metals, including barium, lead and mercury.

Insulation material left from the incinerator, which was shut down in 1994, was to be tested for asbestos.

Costa said that while she was not aware of the results of the testing, Mayor Jeremy Harris would immediately take steps to prevent any harm to the public if harmful substances were found.

She said the site, which was partially fenced, is being completely enclosed as a precaution.

Crushed white goods — appliances such as stoves, water heaters and washers — were buried in an acre of the 7-acre site. About 30 tons of material were removed from the site on March 1 and sent to the Waimanalo Gulch Landfill.

The federal Environmental Protection Agency and the state attorney general's office also are conducting investigations.