Two firms accused of illegal dumping
By Karen Blakeman
Advertiser Staff Writer
The state Health Department has cited two O'ahu companies for allegedly operating illegal dumps.
Both companies, Leeward Auto Wreckers and Hawaiian Steam, have requested hearings to fight the charges, state officials said.
The two companies and the citations against them are unrelated, said Lene Ichinotsubo, an engineer with the Health Department's solid- and hazardous-waste branch.
Tom Rack, hearings officer for the department, said hearing dates will be set for each company during a prehearing session on June 6.
The state says that on 28 occasions Hawaiian Steam dumped solid waste at Wayne's Dairy in Wai'anae and operated an open dump that measures 83 feet by 120 feet and is 4 feet deep.
Materials dumped there included lumber, roofing material, PVC pipes, concrete, metal, plastic, rubber and soil contaminated with petroleum, according to the Health Department. Cleanup efforts are ongoing.
The state also says Hawaiian Steam dumped and buried trash at Onipaa Ranch in Pearl City.
Hawaiian Steam should take remedial action and pay a fine of $396,749, the Health Department contends.
An employee who answered the phone at Hawaiian Steam said the company had no comment on the citation.
The second case involved citations against Leeward Auto Wreckers in Kapolei.
That company, the Health Department says, has operated without a permit since September 2000, when its initial permit was revoked because the company had not complied with an earlier consent agreement.
The company had agreed in March 1999 to remove tires stored on an adjacent property and to take other remedial actions, but failed to live up to the bargain, according to the state.
The Health Department sent a warning letter in December 2003, saying the company was storing 40 junk vehicles, 3,000 scrap tires and 845 lead batteries on the property.
Leeward Auto Wreckers should comply with state solid-waste standards and pay a penalty of $205,900, the Health Department contends.
The owner of Leeward Auto Wreckers did not return a telephone call yesterday.
Reach Karen Blakeman at 535-2430 or kblakeman@honoluluadvertiser.com.
