Monday, November 30, 2009
Landfill Facts
Choosing a new landfill site requires planning and foresight, not simply keeping an election promise!
Fact: Mana will be full in seven years. Pau!
Fact: A&B will not sell their land to the County for the Umi project.
Fact: The County must file condemnation proceedings (a court action) to take the A&B land under “eminent domain.”
Fact: Condemnation proceedings will take a minimum of 10 years.
Fact: The county will hire “legal experts” to fight A&B’s legal team and will cost $1 million-plus in taxpayer money, likely much more!
Fact: If the county were to win out over A&B, it will take at least another year minimum to permit and construct the Umi landfill.
Think! That’s four years or more past the end of Mana landfill’s life expectancy before Umi can be opened. What will our county do with the trash during the 4-plus years we do not have a landfill?
Fact: Two public schools are two miles from the Umi site. ‘Ele‘ele School will be downwind most of the time. Kalaheo School will be downwind during Kona or Ni‘ihau winds. ‘Ele‘ele School already contends with KIUC’s diesel exhaust during Kona wind episodes.
Fact: A shopping center with grocery store and eateries are within two miles of the Umi site, downwind.
Fact: Port Allen — a visitor destination, local jobs and businesses, Coast Guard, harbor and fishing club — is two miles downwind of the Umi site.
Fact: Two communities will have this landfill in their “front yard.” Brydeswood and New Mill are not NIMBY!
Fact: Two towns will have justifiable NIMBY status. Kalaheo and ‘Ele‘ele. Add Hanapepe too!
Jeff Kritz, Kalaheo
Fact: Mana will be full in seven years. Pau!
Fact: A&B will not sell their land to the County for the Umi project.
Fact: The County must file condemnation proceedings (a court action) to take the A&B land under “eminent domain.”
Fact: Condemnation proceedings will take a minimum of 10 years.
Fact: The county will hire “legal experts” to fight A&B’s legal team and will cost $1 million-plus in taxpayer money, likely much more!
Fact: If the county were to win out over A&B, it will take at least another year minimum to permit and construct the Umi landfill.
Think! That’s four years or more past the end of Mana landfill’s life expectancy before Umi can be opened. What will our county do with the trash during the 4-plus years we do not have a landfill?
Fact: Two public schools are two miles from the Umi site. ‘Ele‘ele School will be downwind most of the time. Kalaheo School will be downwind during Kona or Ni‘ihau winds. ‘Ele‘ele School already contends with KIUC’s diesel exhaust during Kona wind episodes.
Fact: A shopping center with grocery store and eateries are within two miles of the Umi site, downwind.
Fact: Port Allen — a visitor destination, local jobs and businesses, Coast Guard, harbor and fishing club — is two miles downwind of the Umi site.
Fact: Two communities will have this landfill in their “front yard.” Brydeswood and New Mill are not NIMBY!
Fact: Two towns will have justifiable NIMBY status. Kalaheo and ‘Ele‘ele. Add Hanapepe too!
Jeff Kritz, Kalaheo
138 Acres for What?
It’s been over a month since our County Council signed bills to “purchase” 138 acres of questionably useful land assessed at $599,600 by our real estate tax office. (“County land deal finalized,” The Garden Island, Oct. 22)
This $599,600 land gift was “given” to the county in exchange for an extraordinarily massive surrender of precious “rezoning assests” amounting to “added values” somewhere from $250 million to $500 million for the Lagoons facility, depending on how the re-zoning sites are developed.
That’s a quarter to one-half billion dollars. Now it only takes the mayor’s signature to make this dream come true.
The International Billionaire Investment Group (I-BIG’s I call them) had their rezoning needs satisfied: 65 acres zoned conservation, open and ag re-zoned to 14.6 acres to urban zoning, 19.1 acres Open to Resort, 21.6 acres Open to R-2, and an extension of the Visitor Destination Area boundary for 9.2 acres.
What did our community get? 138 acres presently zoned conservation, open and ag located parallel to the Lihu‘e Airport landing runway; a sliver of land from runway’s edge to state shoreline. Not too good for housing, park, bike path, or hospital.
Any suggestions from the council? How about a recycling center and landfill? Then “we the people” wouldn’t have to buy 327 acres from a mature coffee farm in Kalaheo. We the people would save millions of dollars for a centrally located landfill site.
Landfill sites are allowable according to Federal Aviation Administration’s off-airport proposed construction or alteration. See Part 258 — criteria for municipal solid waste landfills, 40 CFR 258 which governs the development. Food for thought.
John Hoff, Lawa‘i
This $599,600 land gift was “given” to the county in exchange for an extraordinarily massive surrender of precious “rezoning assests” amounting to “added values” somewhere from $250 million to $500 million for the Lagoons facility, depending on how the re-zoning sites are developed.
That’s a quarter to one-half billion dollars. Now it only takes the mayor’s signature to make this dream come true.
The International Billionaire Investment Group (I-BIG’s I call them) had their rezoning needs satisfied: 65 acres zoned conservation, open and ag re-zoned to 14.6 acres to urban zoning, 19.1 acres Open to Resort, 21.6 acres Open to R-2, and an extension of the Visitor Destination Area boundary for 9.2 acres.
What did our community get? 138 acres presently zoned conservation, open and ag located parallel to the Lihu‘e Airport landing runway; a sliver of land from runway’s edge to state shoreline. Not too good for housing, park, bike path, or hospital.
Any suggestions from the council? How about a recycling center and landfill? Then “we the people” wouldn’t have to buy 327 acres from a mature coffee farm in Kalaheo. We the people would save millions of dollars for a centrally located landfill site.
Landfill sites are allowable according to Federal Aviation Administration’s off-airport proposed construction or alteration. See Part 258 — criteria for municipal solid waste landfills, 40 CFR 258 which governs the development. Food for thought.
John Hoff, Lawa‘i
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Kauai Landfill Coffee by Eric Shamblen
Kaua‘i landfill coffee?
While the environmental impact of putting a landfill in the middle of active coffee fields is surely significant (“Kaua‘i Coffee objects to landfill site,” The Garden Island, Nov. 19), shouldn’t we consider the economic impact as well?
Some questions for the mayor:
1. Who will want to buy Kaua‘i Coffee, our sole remaining agricultural export, if that coffee is grown right next to 127 acres of garbage?
2. Who will want to come to the Kaua‘i Coffee Visitor Center, currently a popular tourist attraction, if that center is located right next to 127 acres of garbage?
3. If the loss of commercial and tourism revenue eventually harms Kaua‘i Coffee so badly that they can no longer stay in business, how will the county make up for the loss of tax dollars Kaua‘i Coffee generates every year? And what will happen to the 70 or more people currently employed by Kaua‘i Coffee?
4. Given the site selection committee’s inexplicable and blatantly false finding that 127 acres of garbage would have “little to no impact” on Kaua‘i Coffee, shouldn’t we reconsider their conclusions and find another, more suitable site?
Eric Shamblen, Kalaheo
While the environmental impact of putting a landfill in the middle of active coffee fields is surely significant (“Kaua‘i Coffee objects to landfill site,” The Garden Island, Nov. 19), shouldn’t we consider the economic impact as well?
Some questions for the mayor:
1. Who will want to buy Kaua‘i Coffee, our sole remaining agricultural export, if that coffee is grown right next to 127 acres of garbage?
2. Who will want to come to the Kaua‘i Coffee Visitor Center, currently a popular tourist attraction, if that center is located right next to 127 acres of garbage?
3. If the loss of commercial and tourism revenue eventually harms Kaua‘i Coffee so badly that they can no longer stay in business, how will the county make up for the loss of tax dollars Kaua‘i Coffee generates every year? And what will happen to the 70 or more people currently employed by Kaua‘i Coffee?
4. Given the site selection committee’s inexplicable and blatantly false finding that 127 acres of garbage would have “little to no impact” on Kaua‘i Coffee, shouldn’t we reconsider their conclusions and find another, more suitable site?
Eric Shamblen, Kalaheo
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
The County Plan for Landfill
From the County of Kauai INTEGRATED SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT PLAN
14.5.2.1 New Subtitle D Landfill
Even if the County significantly reduces reliance on landfill disposal through upstream diversion activities such as green waste composting and a WTE facility, a new,Subtitle D landfill will still be required.
The role of this landfill will be to manage the ash and by-pass waste from the WTE facility. By-pass waste includes the noncombustible County-collected solid waste, construction and demolition debris and commercially-collected solid waste that can not be processed at the WTE facility(unprocessable Waste). Unprocessable waste is typically bulky items, such as large durables and white goods, and waste that can not be combusted, such as concrete.
In addition, if Kaua’i were to experience a significant man-made or natural disaster, the WTE facility (Section 1.5.3) may not be able to handle the significant increase in waste material or may not be able to operate because of energy limitations.
Therefore,to assure that adequate disposal capacity is available, the County will begin siting a new, Subtitle D landfill in YR 1 of the ISWMP to facilitate it being able to receive waste before the Kekaha Landfill is closed. Since a significant portion of disaster debris could be comprised of organic materials, the County will attempt to site the facility in close proximity of a composting facility.
Initially, a 5-acre lined landfill will be constructed. The initial cell will consist of one, 2-acre cell for separate disposal of ash and one, 3-acre cell for by-pass waste. Landfill expansions occur approximately every 5 years thereafter. The lined landfill area will expand to a total of 8 cells over 20 acres during the 20-year life of the facility. The total facility size, including a 500 foot buffer, is 86 acres
During the first year of operation, 2013, it is estimated that the new landfill will
receive approximately 9,000 tons of by-pass waste and 10,000 tons of ash. By 2018,
the end of the life for the first cells, it is estimated that the facility will receive 11,000 tons of by-pass waste and non-combustible construction and demolition waste, and 15,000 tons of ash.
14.5.2.1 New Subtitle D Landfill
Even if the County significantly reduces reliance on landfill disposal through upstream diversion activities such as green waste composting and a WTE facility, a new,Subtitle D landfill will still be required.
The role of this landfill will be to manage the ash and by-pass waste from the WTE facility. By-pass waste includes the noncombustible County-collected solid waste, construction and demolition debris and commercially-collected solid waste that can not be processed at the WTE facility(unprocessable Waste). Unprocessable waste is typically bulky items, such as large durables and white goods, and waste that can not be combusted, such as concrete.
In addition, if Kaua’i were to experience a significant man-made or natural disaster, the WTE facility (Section 1.5.3) may not be able to handle the significant increase in waste material or may not be able to operate because of energy limitations.
Therefore,to assure that adequate disposal capacity is available, the County will begin siting a new, Subtitle D landfill in YR 1 of the ISWMP to facilitate it being able to receive waste before the Kekaha Landfill is closed. Since a significant portion of disaster debris could be comprised of organic materials, the County will attempt to site the facility in close proximity of a composting facility.
Initially, a 5-acre lined landfill will be constructed. The initial cell will consist of one, 2-acre cell for separate disposal of ash and one, 3-acre cell for by-pass waste. Landfill expansions occur approximately every 5 years thereafter. The lined landfill area will expand to a total of 8 cells over 20 acres during the 20-year life of the facility. The total facility size, including a 500 foot buffer, is 86 acres
During the first year of operation, 2013, it is estimated that the new landfill will
receive approximately 9,000 tons of by-pass waste and 10,000 tons of ash. By 2018,
the end of the life for the first cells, it is estimated that the facility will receive 11,000 tons of by-pass waste and non-combustible construction and demolition waste, and 15,000 tons of ash.
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Public information meeting on landfill siting process
C O U N T Y O F K A U A ‘ I
BERNARD P. CARVALHO, JR.
Mayor
GARY K. HEU
Administrative Assistant
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS
News Release
For Immediate Release: November 13, 2009
DONALD FUJIMOTO, COUNTY ENGINEER
Tel (808) 241-4996
Fax (808) 241-6604
Public information meeting on landfill siting process
KALĀHEO – A public information meeting regarding the landfill siting process is
scheduled on Thursday, Nov. 19.
The meeting will be held at the Kalāheo Elementary School cafeteria from 6 to 9 pm.
A comprehensive look at the landfill siting process will be covered at the meeting
including: the results of the Mayor’s Advisory Committee on Landfill Site Selection (MACLS)
ranking process and the next steps in siting the new landfill.
The presentation will be made by R.M. Towill, Inc., the consultant that conducted the
MACLS process.
There will be a question and answer period following the presentation to identify
pertinent environmental issues that should be considered in preparation of the environmental
impact statement for the project.
Prior to Thursday’s meeting, Kalāheo residents will receive an informational brochure via
regular mail.
To access the landfill siting study, please log on to the county’s website,
http://www.kauai.gov/Government/Departments/PublicWorks/SolidWaste/NewLandfillSite/tabid/
71/Default.aspx.
Public information meeting on landfill siting process
Pg 2 11/13/2009
Based on the results of the study, Mayor Bernard Carvalho, Jr. sent a recommendation
in August to the County Council asking that the new landfill be sited at “Umi”, the highest ranked
site, which is located along Halewili Road between Kalāheo and Niumila Camp. The land is
owned by Alexander & Baldwin, Inc.
For more information or to request an American Sign Language interpreter, alternative
format, or an auxiliary aid, please contact Allison Fraley with the Solid Waste Division at
afraley@kauai.gov or 241-483 at least five days before the meeting.
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