Task force to target pollution violations
By Peter Boylan
Advertiser Staff Writer
A task force has been formed within the attorney general's office to investigate and prosecute environmental crimes, Gov. Linda Lingle announced yesterday.
The Environmental Crimes Unit will pursue individuals or companies who commit crimes that pose "substantial risks to public health and the environment," Lingle's office said. The group's focus will be violation of state and federal laws relating to air and water quality, solid and hazardous waste, underground storage tanks, pesticides, and restricted or regulated chemicals.
"When they (people) don't comply with the law, there will be serious consequences," Lingle said.
State and federal officials say the majority of crimes are the product of cost cutting or "profitable" practices by businesses and individuals. Many environmental law violators find it cheaper to dump waste and chemicals illegally than to comply with the law, officials say.
The unit consists of two investigators, a special agent for environmental investigations and a criminal environmental health specialist. Two deputy attorneys general will prosecute cases in state courts.
The Department of Health has reallocated emergency response money for one year to pay for the two investigators.
"Some people are only deterred by the threat of prison time," said Laurence Lau, the Department of Health's deputy director for environmental health administration.
The unit is handling 12 cases previously investigated by the attorney general's office, officials said. Attorney General Mark Bennett declined to go into specifics, citing a need not to compromise the investigations.
The investigators and prosecutors will work with the Department of Health and the EPA Criminal Investigations Division.
Planning for the unit has taken a year, state and federal officials say. The Environmental Protection Agency's Region IX office will provide support for the unit. The EPA is also working with state and local agencies to improve their ability to identify and investigate environmental crimes.
In March, the EPA paid for both investigators and one of the deputy attorney generals to attend an Advanced Environmental Crimes training program at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center in Georgia. One of the investigators will also attend a similar EPA training course in September.
Wayne Nastri, Regional Administrator for the EPA's Pacific Southwest Region, said the unit is a collaborative effort to ensure further protection of Hawai'i's environment.
"This says to all residents that the environment is important," Nastri said. "To those who knowingly violate those laws (that protect the environment) we must set an example with appropriate criminal sentences."
Lingle said protecting the environment is one of her top five priorities and that the establishment of the unit is a step forward.
Reach Peter Boylan at 535-8110 or pboylan@honoluluadvertiser.com.
