Posted on: Thursday, July 1, 2004
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BUREAUCRACY BUSTER
No work without permits
By Robbie Dingeman
Advertiser Staff Write
Q. The owners of a property on Ahapii Place in the Wai'alae Nui area recently knocked down their house and are building another one with no permit posted and no dust barricades. Who do I contact to find out if they are in compliance with the law?
A. On O'ahu, the city Department of Planning and Permitting issues such permits. Director Eric Crispin said the owners had a permit to demolish the house on that property but started work on the foundation while the permit for new construction was being processed. He said city officials raised a question about the plans, which stopped the project.
The city cited the owners for a violation last week, he said. He said it would be up to the state Health Department to determine if the project needs dust barricades.
Crispin said people should get the proper permits before starting any construction "to avoid any misunderstanding as to what is or isn't required and what is or isn't allowed."
Citizens who have questions like this can call the city Department of Planning and Permitting at 523-4505.
• • • Q. Where can I dispose of used motor oil from my vehicles? I have three or four gallons that I've saved up over the last few years.
A. City officials said that oil change boxes, sold in local retail stores, can be used to dispose of your motor oil. Or you can use rags, newspaper or sawdust in a plastic bag to absorb the oil, then throw it away in your household trash container for pickup by the city.
That "absorb and trash" method also can be used for antifreeze, brake and transmission fluid, furniture polish and some other liquid wastes.
For more information about how to dispose of household hazardous wastes, call the city Refuse Division at 692-5411 or visit www.opala.org.
• • •
Do you ever get frustrated or confused trying to navigate the various layers of government? Are you looking for an answer to a simple question but can't figure out where to start? If you have a question or a problem and need help getting to the right person, you can reach The Bureaucracy Buster one of three ways:
• Write to:
The Bureaucracy Buster
The Honolulu Advertiser
605 Kapi'olani Blvd.
Honolulu, HI 96813
• E-mail: buster@honoluluadvertiser.com
• Phone: 535-2454 and leave a message.
Be sure to give us your name and daytime telephone number.
