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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Tuesday, June 23, 2009

EPA orders state to comply with stormwater rules at Honolulu, Kalaeloa harbors


Advertiser Staff

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said today it recently ordered the state Department of Transportation’s Harbors Division to comply with federal Clean Water Act stormwater regulations at Honolulu and Kalaeloa-Barbers Point Harbors.

Fuel, oil and debris carried by stormwater from the Harbors Division and tenant facilities discharge directly into harbor waters and through municipal storm drains running to harbor waters.
“We’ve identified many stormwater permit violations and compliance issues to be resolved to protect Oahu’s coastal waters,” Alexis Strauss, Water Division director in the EPA’s Pacific Southwest region, said in a statement.
“We’ll oversee HDOT as they take these actions under this order and ensure we have stronger public health and environmental protections in place.”
The order comes after EPA and state Department of Health inspectors conducted audits at Honolulu and Kalaeloa-Barbers Point Harbors in December.
For information on the EPA and the inspections/audits of the Hawaii DOT facilities and to view the order go to:
http://www.epa.gov/region09/water/ports/#hdot