A World War II era torpedo was discovered yesterday at the Air Force environmental cleanup site at Bellows Beach in Waimanalo.

Air Force Master Sgt. Robert Burgess of the 15th Airlift Wing public affairs office said a Marine Corps Explosive Ordnance Disposal team is researching technical data to be sure the torpedo was for practice only and not a hazard.

The team will ensure proper identification and disposal of the torpedo, Burgess added.

The torpedo, 12 feet long and 21 inches in diameter with fins, was uncovered by a contractor at the Landfill 24 cleanup site at about 1:30 p.m., Burgess said.

Traffic around the site was diverted for safety reasons.

The environmental landfill cleanup began Sept. 22 and should be completed by December, Burgess said.

NOTARY FACES UP TO 20 YEARS FOR FRAUD

A Honolulu notary who pleaded guilty Tuesday to falsely certifying information on visa applications faces up to 20 years in prison when sentenced early next year by a federal judge.

Henry Hung Nguyen, 39, admitted in court to listing individuals as "joint sponsors" without their permission and falsely notarizing their signatures on 10 occasions. Nguyen can be sentenced to two years in prison and fined up to $250,000 for each of the 10 counts.

He will be sentenced Jan. 26, 2009, by U.S. District Judge David A. Ezra.

U.S. Attorney for Hawai'i Edward Kubo Jr. credited the two investigative agencies — Immigration and Customs Enforcement and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services — for their work in the Nguyen case.

"Immigration fraud poses a threat to national security and public safety because it creates a vulnerability that may enable terrorists, criminals and others to illegally enter and remain in the United States," Kubo said.

FIRE MARS BIG ISLE MULCH GRINDER

A mulch grinder at the Big Island's Kailua Solid Waste Disposal and Transfer Station was damaged yesterday by a fire that was prevented from spreading to an adjacent humane society facility.

Firefighters responding to the 12:18 alarm found the mulch grinder on fire and exposure fires in two separate green waste piles. The fires were deemed under control at 1 p.m. and extinguished an hour later. Damages are estimated at $350,000.

Cause of the fire is under investigation and there were no injuries, said Kailua Fire Capt. Sean Sommers.

REPEAT OFFENDER GETS 39-YEAR TERM

A 40-year-old man with 56 prior arrests and 13 state convictions was sentenced in Honolulu on Monday to 470 months or more than 39 years in prison for federal drug trafficking and firearm offenses.

Silver Jose Galindo, also known as Daniel S. Galindo, was convicted by a jury of four firearm, two drug trafficking and two other drug-related firearm offenses. He was sentenced by U.S. District Judge David A. Ezra.

U.S. Attorney for Hawai'i Ed Kubo said Galindo was prosecuted under the "Project Safe Neighborhood" initiative, which targets repeat firearm offenders.

KALIHI WATER MAIN WORK NEARLY DONE

Board of Water Supply repair work on a 24-inch main on Kamehameha IV Road at Pi'o Place and Rose Street in Kalihi is expected to be completed early today.

BWS spokeswoman Moani Wright-Van Alst said crews initially responded to repair a leaking main at the location Tuesday at 5 p.m. The main ruptured at 1 a.m. yesterday while fixes were being made.

The broken 24-inch main is being replaced as part of an ongoing water system improvement project.