HAWAI'I BRIEFS
Pepe'ekeo man was crash victim
Advertiser Staff
Hilo police have identified the man killed in a one-car crash on Hawai'i Belt Road Saturday night as Aaron Alvarez of Pepe'ekeo.
The accident occurred at 7:30 p.m. near Pepe'ekeo when the car the 25-year-old Alvarez was driving hit an embankment and a telephone pole. Two male passengers suffered minor injuries. Firefighters, who responded to the accident, believe speed and alcohol were likely factors in the crash.
WAHIAWA
CLOG CAUSES NEW WASTEWATER SPILL
Grease and rags clogged a sewer line, causing 2,500 gallons of wastewater to spill onto Rose Street in Wahiawa yesterday morning — the second sewer incident in the community in four days.
The city Department of Environmental Services said an accumulation of grease and rags and a sag in the pipe contributed to a spill from an 8-inch sewer pipe. The roadway was disinfected and deodorized, and the state Department of Health posted warning notices.
On Thursday, two electrical malfunctions at the Wahiawa Wastewater Treatment Plant caused 45,000 gallons of treated wastewater to pour into Lake Wilson. The state DOH clean water branch gave the all-clear Friday and warning signs were removed, said Ross Tanimoto, city monitoring and compliance branch chief.
Thursday's spill was caused by a malfunctioning switch on the UV disinfection light. The light failed twice. Typically, the plant discharges 2 million to 3 million gallons of treated wastewater a day into Lake Wilson, at a depth of 60 feet. Water at the plant undergoes the removal of solids, biological treatment, sand filtering and ultraviolet disinfection.
O'AHU
HEAR TRANSIT IDEAS FROM OTHER CITIES
Mass-transit officials from Salt Lake City, Phoenix and Dallas will participate in a city-sponsored transit symposium at the Hawai'i Convention Center Oct. 5.
The symposium will allow O'ahu residents to learn about transportation solutions being put to use in cities on the Mainland and elsewhere, said Mayor Mufi Hannemann.
Among the speakers will be John Inglish, general manager of the Utah Transit Authority, which secured $250 million in federal funding for a light-rail line; and Gary Thomas, president of the Dallas Area Rapid Transit system.
Deadline to register for the symposium is Sept. 29. For details, call 535-6243.
UTILITY-LINE WORK WILL AFFECT TRAFFIC
Utility-line work will force the closure of several highway lanes around the island this week, according to Hawaiian Electric Co.
STATEWIDE
GRANTS AVAILABLE TO PROTECT LAND
The state Department of Land and Natural Resources is seeking applicants for the 2006 Land Conservation Fund grant that is available to state and county agencies and nonprofit land conservation groups needing money to acquire property for its cultural or natural value.
Those areas include watersheds, coastal areas, beaches and ocean access, habitat protection, cultural and historic sites, recreational and public hunting areas, parks, natural areas, agricultural production and open spaces.
About $3.6 million is available in grants. The process is competitive, and applicants will be reviewed by the Legacy Land Conservation Commission that will nominate projects for funding. Grant applications are available at www.hawaii.gov/dlnr /dofaw/llcp. All applications must be received by Oct. 16.
