4/13/07 Weekly Report: Opala to Electricity: Is It a Good Idea for Hawai`i County?

The following article provided by the Department of Environmental Management is an introduction to the Waste-to-Energy concept under consideration by Hawai`i County.

Hawai‘i County is poised for important decisions on the future of its waste management and recycling systems.

Population growth and building affect all aspects of the County’s infrastructure. On any given day, Hawai‘i County’s population is estimated at 162,971 residents and 23,376 visitors, according to a 2005 estimate by the Department of Environmental Management.

Hawai`i Island generates a lot of trash

Waste generation for Hawai‘i Island residents is above the national average – 9.4 lbs per person per day, compared to about 7.2 lbs per day nationally. We are affected by other factors as well.

The County’s South Hilo landfill has a short life: in the next 2-4 years this landfill, one of two facilities on the island, will likely reach capacity at the current rate of disposal. East Hawai‘i’s waste may need to be handled in some other manner.

Recycling efforts – striving to improve

Hawai‘i County has a good reputation statewide for its recycling efforts, particularly with handling the bottle redemption law. The recycling rate has grown from around 12% in 2002 to just under 26 percent during 2006. However, traditional recycling needs to improve. Hawai‘i County’s goal for recycling (to help reduce the waste stream) is 50 percent. .

Exploring options beyond landfills -- Waste to Energy

The County is looking at ways to further reduce solid waste and for alternatives to landfills. After considering options, including composting, anaerobic digestion, landfill bioreactor technology and various waste-to-energy options including thermal gasification, the “mass burn”, “refuse-derived-fuel” and thermal gasification Waste-to-Energy technologies were identified as the most viable technologies for Hawai‘i Island.

These waste-to-energy options were chosen because they are environmentally friendly, sustainable, provide a renewable source of clean energy and have proven to be economically viable. Final proposals, from three short-listed vendors, for a Waste-to-Energy facility are due in mid-April. All three vendors who have been pre-qualified as having the experience and financial capability to guarantee a fully-functional project are offering “mass burn” technology.

The proposals are to be based on a facility to handle about 200 tons of waste a day and would be located in South Hilo; the County estimates it will cost between $30-40 million. Waste-to-energy plants are proven, efficient and clean, and produce electricity that can be sold to the utility. These facilities are used around the world and in 28 of the United States. The closest example to us, HPower on O‘ahu, has been operating for 17 years.

Waste-to-Energy proposals under review

Hawai‘i County officials will begin reviewing the waste-to-energy proposals in mid-April. The evaluation committee will determine the best proposal and make a recommendation to County Council. County Council will need to provide funding for the project. Any project will also require an environmental impact statement, which requires public meetings. The environmental impact statement preparation notice is on the department website, link below.

A Waste-to-Energy facility would fit into Hawai‘i County’s continued expansion of reuse and recycling programs such as paper, metal, glass, plastic recycling and green waste composting.

Some Frequently Asked Questions

How much waste does Hawai`i County produce?

Hawai‘i County produces more than 9.4 pounds of waste per resident every day. That’s higher than the national average of 7.2 pounds, but it also does include the waste generated by our visitors. Each day, more than 600 tons of waste is landfilled on our island.

What are the main issues facing solid waste disposal?

Hilo’s landfill is nearing capacity and will need to be replaced by an alternative. Trucking across island to the larger West Hawai‘i landfill has strong opposition and the County Administration is not pursuing that. Recycling efforts are valiant but cannot (in at least the foreseeable future) deal with the volume of waste our County produces.

Why waste-to-energy (WTE)?

No decision has been made. A WTE plant could service East Hawai‘i’s solid waste disposal needs, avoid trucking cross-island, while complementing the County’s reuse and recycling program. This waste reduction process is capable of meeting both the immediate and growing needs of the community.

The immediate goal is to reduce the volume of waste going to the landfill. The long-term goal is an integrated, economically and ecologically sustainable waste management system to accommodate our modern waste stream.

How is waste turned into energy?

A waste-to-energy facility typically processes a range of household and commercial waste. (The plant will not process hazardous materials, medical waste, sewage sludge or large, bulky items, such as mattresses, large appliances and furniture.) The trash is often shredded; metals are removed for recycling. The waste is then burned at extremely high temperatures, reducing it as much as 90 percent. The heat is used to produce steam, which runs turbines that generate electricity.

And the remaining 10 percent?

The remaining 10 percent is an environmentally safe ash that can be sent to a lined landfill.

Is the WTE process safe?

The process is clean, safe and effective. County, state and federal controls and regulations are stringent. For example, the HPower plant on O‘ahu uses sophisticated pollution control equipment around the clock. Emissions data is collected by the plant’s continuous emissions monitoring system in real time and reported regularly to the appropriate agencies. The remaining ash is tested as safe and poses no threat to the environment.

What’s the impact on greenhouse gas emissions?

WTE facilities help reduce greenhouse gases put into the atmosphere. In landfills these gases are released as waste decomposes. In a WTE plant, sophisticated filtering and cleaning systems prevent gases from being released into the atmosphere. According to a 2002 Columbia University report assessing waste-to-energy and landfilling in the United States, typical landfills produce four times the amount of greenhouse gases than WTE plants.

What about dioxins?

The Integrated Waste Services Association reports that test results from waste-to-energy facilities nationwide demonstrate that emissions of dioxins are well below EPA’s regulations. Dioxins are now found at levels barely detectable by the most sophisticated instrumentation. In 2002, EPA estimated that the total annual dioxin emissions rate from all waste-to-energy facilities in the U.S. were less than 12 grams of dioxin as Toxic Equivalent, in comparison to 550 grams Toxic Equivalent emitted by backyard barrel burning.

Does the Big Island have enough people and industry to sustain a WTE plant?

The County will evaluate a 200-ton-per-day facility—compared to the much larger 2,160 ton-per-day HPower plant on O‘ahu. More than 600 tons of waste are landfilled everyday on our island. The County Council authorized approximately $1 million to research waste reduction technologies and help the County solicit and analyze proposals. Evaluation of specific proposals will begin in mid-April 2007.

Why not just recycle?

The County is determined to become self-sufficient in solid waste disposal. Recycling activities are important but cannot (in at least the foreseeable future) solve our waste issues in full. A clean, efficient WTE facility that is the right size for our population base could prove to be a good investment in the growing problem of both immediate and long-term waste disposal.

How does WTE complement recycling?

If a WTE facility is built in Hawai‘i County, it would extract marketable recyclables such as metal and aluminum cans for processing by private recycling companies. Recycling is significantly less expensive than the expected average cost for waste-to-energy processing. Experience in other cities shows that those with WTE facilities tend to have higher than average recycling rates.

What impact would WTE have on our use of fossil fuels?

WTE could help Hawai‘i Island reduce its dependence on fossil fuels. A 200-ton-per-day plant could generate up to 5 MW – enough electricity to supply 5,000 Big Island residents and visitors or save approximately 67,000 barrels of oil per year. (One ton of waste equals about a barrel of oil, according to the Waste to Energy Research & Technology Council at Columbia University.) Since beginning operation in 1990, the HPower plant on O‘ahu has saved the equivalent of ten million barrels of oil by providing power for 45,000 homes—supplying seven percent of O‘ahu’s electricity needs. About 20,000 tons of metals are recycled each year at that facility.

What will this cost?

The County has estimated it will cost $30-40 million dollars to design and construct a 200-ton-per-day facility. The County Department of Environmental Management looked at the latest and best technologies possible. Considering the potential outlay for a WTE plant, the County Council authorized $1 million for consultants to research waste reduction options and make recommendations. WTE technology is cost-effective and environmentally friendly.

What are the benefits of WTE?

• Reduces waste stream going to landfill

• Reduces carbon emissions and greenhouse gases

• Produces a clean, reliable alternative energy

• Creates jobs

• Complements and possibly increases recycling.

The County is also building a reload facility. What is the reload facility?

The East Hawai‘i Regional Sort Station/Reload Facility is close to breaking ground. Construction should take 9-12 months. The heart of this facility is a 20,000 sq. ft. building which allows for processing and consolidating residential and commercial opala. The flexible design can accommodate various waste management technologies. It also allows for removal of recyclables and potentially hazardous items such as tires and car batteries.

What other options did the Dept. of Environmental Management consider?

Some of the processes that were evaluated for County use included: mass burn incineration, refuse derived fuel incineration, thermal gasification, anaerobic digestion, aerobic mixed waste composting and bio-refining (a process that converts organic waste to liquid fuel). Each was carefully considered. Bio-refining is not yet a proven technology. Aerobic composting is costly and could potentially have a high-risk contaminated residue. Anaerobic digestion would process a limited amount of the waste stream and lacks a proven track record for this type of waste. As a result of these analyses, three waste-to-energy technologies were considered suitable for Hawai‘i County. Proposals were requested for mass burn incineration, refuse derived fuel incineration and thermal gasification.

What other places use WTE successfully?

WTE plants are used around the globe in Austria, Bermuda, Sweden, Denmark, Switzerland, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Hungary, The Netherlands, France, Germany, Norway, Japan, Singapore, China and Canada. There are WTE plants in 37 nations including the United States. The energy created from burning waste can be sold. The operations in Sweden, which has 30 plants, turned a profit. In 2004 the city of Amsterdam in The Netherlands, incinerated more than 850,000 tons of waste, converting it into usable energy. About 3.5 percent of Denmark’s electricity production came from waste incineration, while recycling 64 percent of its waste.

In Europe and Asia, approximately 250 new WTE plants have been developed since 1995. Currently there are about 100 WTE facilities in the U.S., although no new operations have been built since 1995. These facilities manage from eight to 15 percent of America’s municipal waste, according to the EPA.

Why haven’t any plants been built in more than 10 years in the U.S.?

Energy prices and landfill disposal costs dropped in the mid-1990s making WTE plants more difficult to develop, according to the Waste to Energy Research & Technology Council. Today, new WTE units are under development in Florida, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and Minnesota. Crowded urban areas and locations where groundwater is close to the surface benefit most from WTE facilities. Abroad, nearly 50 WTE plants have been built in the past five years and more are under construction.

For further information, please see http://www.hawaii-county.com/env_mng/wrt-eispn/wrteispn051706.pdf or call the Department of Environmental Management at 961-8083.

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COUNTY BULLETIN BOARD

County Begins Parking Lot Improvements at Aupuni Center

From the week of April 9th, 2007 the County will begin a parking lot improvement project at Aupuni Center that will ultimately increase public parking, enhance the sidewalks and landscaping and accommodate space for the new Office of the Prosecuting Attorney scheduled for completion this summer.

The work is projected to last six months, April through September, and residents can expect a temporary reduction in public parking stalls at the County office center during this time period. “Normally, there are 48 public parking stalls at Aupuni Center, " said Public Works Director Bruce McClure. "While work is taking place, residents should expect at least 24 stalls at any given time.”

County employees who park at Aupuni Center will be temporarily located across the street at the Hawaii County building which was recently closed for asbestos removal, roof repair and renovation work.

In addition to improving the parking lot on all sides of Aupuni Center, the County will repair sidewalks and re-landscape the area with 5,773 Native Hawaiian trees and shrubs: Ohia trees, Kokio Ula hibiscus, Nanu gardenia, Hawaiian Flag ti, Naio Papa, and Kupukupu ferns.

Aupuni Center currently houses the County’s Public Works, Real Property Tax, Civil Service, Planning, Parks & Recreation, Immigration and Motor Vehicle Registration offices. The new Office of the Prosecuting Attorney will be adjacent to the State Judiciary Building facing Kilauea Street.

For more information about the parking lot project, contact: Public Works at 961-8321 between the hours of 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday to Friday.

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Seeking Applicants to Vacancies on County’s Boards and Commissions

The County of Hawai`i is seeking applicants from our community to the following Boards and Commissions which currently have vacancies:

1. Committee on Aging: Two vacancies; one in Kohala and one in Ka`u.

2. Arborist Advisory Committee: One vacancy (at-large).

3. Family Violence Advisory Committee: Presently not empanelled; we intend on doing so, so there are many vacancies (all at large).

4. Fire Board of Appeals: Five vacancies (all at-large).

5. Highway Safety Council: Four vacancies (all at-large).

6. Kailua Village Design Committee: Three vacancies.

7. Pension Board: One vacancy (at-large).

8. Salary Commission: Three vacancies; Council Districts 1, 4 and 6.

9. Transportation Commission: Two vacancies; Council Districts 1 and 4.

10. Veterans Advisory Committee: Four vacancies.

11. Water Board: One vacancy (Council District 8).

To apply, you may pick up an application at the Mayor’s Office at 891 Ululani Street, Hilo 96720 or the Kona mayor’s office at Hanama Place, 75-5706 Kuakini Hwy, Suite 103, Kailua-Kona 96750. Upon completing the application, you may drop off or mail the application to either of the above addresses or to Lincoln Ashida, Corporation Counsel at Hilo Lagoon Centre, 101 Aupuni Street, Suite 325, Hilo 96720.

If you have any questions, please call Lincoln Ashida at 961-8251.

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Bridges of the Island of Hawai‘i Featured in Brochure Series

Made of steel, concrete or wood, there are 127 bridges on the Island of Hawai‘i spanning streams or gulches in every community. Maintained by the County of Hawai‘i, each bridge must be 20 feet or longer to be registered on the National Bridge Inventory.

These bridges are now being featured in a series of brochures now being prepared by the County of Hawai‘i. The first brochure showcases the bridges that serve the communities of Kalopa and Pa‘auilo. It includes photographs of each of the 19 bridges, their locations on a map and the weight restrictions for each of these bridges.

Typically, each of the bridges is named after the gulch or stream it crosses. Ten of the bridges in Kalopa and Pa‘auilo are made of wood. Some of them date back to the 1920’s.

To access the brochure on-line, go to the County’s website at www.co.hawaii.hi.us . Click on Projects Update, and then click on “Bridges of Kalopa & Pa'auilo.” The brochure can be printed and is best viewed on 8.5 x 14” (legal) size paper. Copies are also available at the Department of Public Works at 101 Pauahi Street, Hilo.

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Water Conservation Notice – Puakea Bay to Halawa in North Kohala

Due to a breakdown of the Hawi No. 2 Deepwell, the Department of Water Supply urges consumers in the affected area to conserve water while the repairs are being made. A water conservation notice is a voluntary action to reduce water usage by 10%.

Affected Area: Puakea Bay to Halawa, North Kohala water system.

For customers in the affected area of this Water Conservation Notice, a list of ways to reach the 10% reduction goal is provided:

Wash full loads of laundry only.
Wash full loads of dishes only.
Serve drinking water only when requested.
Do not let the faucet run unnecessarily.
When bathing, use water only to wet and rinse off.
Do not fill up the bathtub.
Use a glass to rinse when brushing your teeth.
Do not flush toilets unnecessarily.
Stop lawn sprinkling.
Stop car and boat washing.
Stop dust control watering.
Use drinking water wisely.

Agricultural users should irrigate only at night from 8:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. This measure will reduce water loss due to evaporation and minimize water system drain during peak demand.

If you have questions or concerns, please contact Daryl Ikeda of the Department of Water Supply at 961-8790.

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Hisaoka Gym Repairs Update

Hisaoka Gym, a County Parks and Recreation facility in Kamehameha Park in Kapa`au, North Kohala, sustained major structural damage during the October 15, 2006 earthquake.

Extent of the damage

The connections where several of the building’s concrete columns join the steel roof framing were compromised by a loss of concrete around the anchor bolts connecting the two components.

The earthquake also damaged much of the suspended ceiling and many of the facility’s light fixtures. Other damage included broken plumbing fixtures, cracking of walls and broken tiles.

Where are we now?

The County is currently negotiating with FEMA and AIG Insurance Company for repair funding. The Department of Parks and Recreation has recently signed off on FEMA’s project worksheet describing the extent of the damage.

In the meantime, Parks and Recreation has selected a consultant to do the plans and specs to repair, with the emphasis on getting the building structurally sound first, so that the building may be entered safely.

Lots of people want to help

We would like to take this opportunity to thank the many people who have offered to help with the cleanup and repairs at Hisaoka Gym. The main objective now is to get the building structurally sound so that any workers or volunteers who want to help can enter the building safely.

Please know that as soon as we can, we will open up the building so that the volunteers can safely enter to offer their help.

For further information, please contact the Department of Parks and Recreation at 961-8311.

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Housing Dept to Hold Info Meetings on Home Ownership Option Program

The County of Hawai`i’s Office of Housing and Community Development will be holding informational meetings for Housing Choice Voucher Section 8 program participants about the Homeownership Option Program (HOP).

The HOP is a voluntary program which provides participating families the option of purchasing a home with their assistance, rather than renting.

You must call 959-7476 to reserve a space.

If there is insufficient participation, times may be cancelled or combined.

The presentations are scheduled for:

· Monday, April 16, 2007, at 9 am and at 11 am at Kona Mayor’s office, Hanama Place.

· Wednesday, April 18, 2007, at 9 am, 1:30 pm and 4 pm. at Pahoa Community Center.

· Thursday, April 19, 2007, at 11 am and 1:30 pm at 1990 Kinoole Street, Suite 104, Hilo.

· Friday, April 20, 2007 at 11 am and 1:30 pm 1990 Kinoole Street, Suite 104, Hilo.

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Seminars on Fair Housing in April for the Public

To commemorate April as National Fair Housing Education Month, the County of Hawai`i Office of Housing and Community Development, along with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Hawai`i Civil Rights Commission, the Hawai`i Public Housing Authority and the Legal Aid Society of Hawai`i will be sponsoring Fair Housing Seminars in East and West Hawai`i.

The seminars will be designed to increase knowledge of:

· General Federal & State Fair Housing Law

· Reasonable Accommodation

· Service Animals

· Local Case Studies

Hilo Fair Housing Seminar

WHERE: Hilo Hawaiian Hotel, Mokuola Room 2

WHEN: Wednesday, April 25, 2007, Registration from 8 am, Training: 8:30 am –4:00 pm.

Kona Fair Housing Seminar

WHERE: King Kamehameha Kona Beach Hotel, Ballroom 1

WHEN: Thursday, April 26, 2007, Registration from 8 am, Training: 8:30 am –4:00 pm.

Parking: $2 for validated parking

Reservations are required, as seating is limited. To register, please contact Alan Rudo at the Office of Housing and Community Development at 961-8379 by April 18, 2007.

This workshop is accessible for persons with disabilities. To request an auxiliary aid or service (e.g. sign language interpreter), contact Alan Rudo at 961-8379 (V/TT) by April 11, 2007.

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Ocean View Transfer Station EIS Process Begins, Meeting Monday, Apr 16

On April 8, 2007 the Office of Environmental Quality Control published a notice that an EIS will be prepared for a proposed solid waste transfer station and recycling center in Ocean View, initiating a 30-day public comment period. The transfer station is now estimated to cost $3.1 million.

The environmental review process has two stages. This EIS Preparation Notice (EISPN) offers interested individuals, neighborhood groups, businesses, trade organizations, environmental and cultural groups an early opportunity to suggest topics and areas of concern to be addressed in the Draft EIS.

The second stage will commence with the publication of the Ocean View Transfer Station Draft EIS, which will contain a detailed assessment of the environment and impacts associated with the proposal. The public will have a 45- day period to review and comment on the Draft EIS.

The preparation notice can be found on the County of Hawai`i Department of Environmental Management SOLID WASTE DIVISION website and the libraries in Hilo, Kailua-Kona and Na`alehu. The last day to comment on this preparation notice is May 8, 2007. Responders should send their comments to Nelson Ho, Deputy Director of the Department of Environmental Management, 25 Aupuni Street, Hilo HI 96720.

The County conducted a wide-ranging search for candidate sites with extensive community input. One preferred site has been identified. The EIS process will continue to consider all reasonable alternative properties, as well as the No Action alternative and various strategies for residential solid waste disposal and recycling. There will be a public meeting on the EISPN on Monday, April 16, 2007 at 7 p.m. Hawaiian Ocean View Estates Community Assn. Center.

Residents of Ocean View, a rapidly growing community with a population of 2,178 in 2000, are obliged to travel more than 12 miles to dispose of rubbish and greenwaste and to recycle. Ocean View is one of only two communities on the island with more than 2,000 residents that lacks a transfer station within 10 miles. Aside from inconvenience to residents, the lack of a nearby transfer station often results in illegal dumping, which poses a hazard to human health and environmental quality.

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EPA Invites Entries in Green Building Design Contest

The following article was contributed by Linda Peters, Recycling Coordinator with the County’s Department of Environmental Management, to encourage Hawai`i Island residents to enter their designs in this green building design competition.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, along with GreenBuildingBlocks.com, the Building Materials Reuse Association, the American Institute of Architects and West Coast Green, announce the first Lifecycle Building Challenge, a national competition to develop green building strategies and designs.

Such green building designs would aim at reducing waste and promoting conservation of resources, by facilitating adaptation, disassembly and reuse of materials.

One Big Island resident who recently built his own home incorporating green building ideas defined “lifecycle costs”.

“Most often industry ‘experts’ and owners look solely at the initial construction costs and fail to consider repair/maintenance costs, human resources costs, and demolition costs,” the resident said. “For me the exciting part of this (Lifecycle Building) Challenge is the holistic approach at design and the recognition that the initial construction captures only one aspect of the costs and possibly not the most significant portion.”

What’s the goal of the challenge?

The goal of the challenge is to:

Inspire the green building movement;
To look at buildings as future stocks of resources by developing innovative practices and products;
To maximize material recovery and reduce both environmental and economic costs.

"Lifecycle building innovations are about improving the efficiency of our resource utilization and heading towards a more sustainable environment,” said Wayne Nastri, administrator of the U.S. EPA’s Pacific Southwest Office in San Francisco. “This challenge raises the standard for both green building and environmental protection."

How does someone enter the contest? Who can submit entries?

The Lifecycle Building Challenge is currently accepting submissions and is hoping that students as well as architects, designers, engineers, reuse experts and other building professionals will participate. Ideas that facilitate reuse, minimize waste, support disassembly and anticipate the future use of building materials are encouraged.

What is the deadline to register?

The registration deadline is April 15, 2007. For more information or to enter the competition, visit http://www.lifecyclebuilding.org .

What categories of entries are being sought?

The challenge, open to built and un-built work, has three main categories:

Building — an entire building from foundation to roof
Component — a single building assembly, system or connector
Service — idea, policy, tool or practice

What is the award?

GreenBuildingBlocks.com, the only private sector sponsor of the Lifecycle Building Challenge, is donating $7,500 in award money to be divided among the three winners in the student category.

All winners will be honored at an awards ceremony at the West Coast Green Conference in San Francisco in September 2007.

Why green building practices make a difference

In the United States, buildings consume 60 percent of total materials flow (excluding food and fuel) and account for 33 percent of the solid waste stream.

Building renovation and demolition accounts for 91 percent of the construction and demolition debris generated each year, while new construction accounts for only 9 percent.

Between the years 2000-2030, 27 percent of existing buildings will be replaced and 50 percent of the total building stock will be used for construction.

Reuse of materials is key

These issues can be addressed by planning for a building or building component's eventual deconstruction or adaptation. By creating building components that can be easily recovered and reused, materials are kept at their highest value, resulting in reduced consumption of energy and resources.

About GreenBuildingBlocks.com

Green Building Blocks is the leading online resource for building professionals committed to sustainable home construction and green remodeling. It’s a place where builders, contractors, designers, architects, and others can promote their businesses, find green partners and products, and learn to build a better world.

About the Lifecycle Building Challenge

The Lifecycle Building Challenge is a partnership between the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, American Institute of Architects, Building Materials Reuse Association and West Coast Green to change the way people think about, design, construct and deconstruct buildings by developing an inventory of strategies to maximize material recovery and reduce environmental and economic costs.

For further information please contact: Andrea Nieto of Access Communications at 1-(415) 844-6218 or anieto@accesspr.com .

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County Starts Positive Coaching Alliance Leadership Training Friday, April 20

The County of Hawaii invites leaders in charge of youth activities and sports to participate in a Positive Coaching Alliance (PCA) Leadership Workshop to be held in six Big Island districts. There is no charge to attend any of these workshops.

The first workshop will be on Friday, April 20, from 6:00-8:00 p.m. at Aunty Sally Kaleohano’s Luau House in Hilo. Registration for this workshop will be from 5:30-6:00 p.m.

Five additional leadership workshops are being scheduled as follows:

Registration for these workshops will be from 5:30-6:00 p.m. so please come early.

Hamakua District Friday, May 9 at 6:00-8:00 p.m. Honokaa Gym
North/South Kohala District Wednesday, May 23 at 6:00-8:00 p.m. Waimea Community Center
Puna District Wednesday, June 6 at 6:00-8:00 p.m. Venue to be announced
Ka’u District Wednesday, June 13 at 6:00-8:00 p.m. Pahala Community Center
North/South Kona District Wednesday, June 20 at 6:00-8:00 p.m. Venue to be announced

The PCA leadership workshops are being organized by the Recreation Division of the County’s Department of Parks and Recreation and HIPAL officers in Hilo and Kona.

Participants at the leadership workshops will guide development of the county’s brand new positive coaching program which is expected to include future year-round workshops for coaches, parents, athletes, and game officials.

Youth activities and sports leaders should contact the respective Recreation District Supervisors for information about attending these workshops:

Hilo District, George Ikeda at 961-8739
Puna District, Glenn Kokubun T/A at 965-2710
Hamakua District, Edward Yokoyama at 964-3301
N/S Kohala District, Dennis Matsuda at 887-3014
N/S Kona District, Adam Borkowski at 327-3566.

PCA believes winning is a goal in youth sports, but there is a second, more important goal of using sports to teach life lessons through positive coaching. Get PCA information on the web at http://www.positivecoach.org

The Department of Parks and Recreation provides recreational opportunities without discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, sex, religion or disability. Please call Alisa Mitchener, Recreation Specialist at 961-8740 ext. 24, VTTY 961-8736 to discuss your need for reasonable accommodation or for more information on site accessibility.

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Updated West Hawai‘i Roadway Brochure Available to Public

A newly-updated guide to on-going roadwork in West Hawai‘i is now available to the public. The brochure is available at County offices in east and west Hawai‘i and online at the County’s website at www.co.hawaii.hi.us .

The brochure will be updated regularly, and the latest update (now on yellow paper to distinguish it from its predecessor) is available as of March 1, 2007. The next update to the brochure is planned for March 31, 2007.

The brochure “West Hawaii Roadwork Ahead” provides maps and details of 42 projects being planned, under construction or completed in West Hawai‘i. These projects are those taking place between June 1, 2006 and June 30, 2007.

Also included in the brochure is information about the County’s action plan to improve the capacity of north/south roadways.

The maps and projects are numbered and a legend provides information on the project status:

· A - for future;

· B - construction started;

· C - completed and

· D - no date set for construction.

Dotted lines indicate proposed roads and solid lines indicate existing roads.

To access the brochure on-line, go to the County’s homepage, click on Projects Update, and then click on DPW Road Brochure. The brochure can be printed out and is best reproduced on 11” x 17” size paper.

Copies of the brochure are also available at:

Mayor’s office in Kona at 75-5706 Hanama Place, Ste. 103.
Public Works offices in Hilo at Aupuni Center, 101 Pauahi Street, Ste. 7 and in Kona at 75-5706 Hanama Place, Ste.109.
On the Intra Kona Hele-On Buses.
KTA Super Stores in Waimea, Waikoloa Village, Kailua-Kona and Keauhou at the customer service desk.

For round-the-clock information on road work, please call 334-9559. For specifics about a roadway project, contact Bruce McClure, Director of Public Works at 961-8321.

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Real Property Tax Division Taking Applications for Post-Quake Tax Relief

The Hawai`i County Real Property Division encourages property owners with earthquake damages to apply for real property tax relief.

To start the process, please download the application form at www.hawaiipropertytax.com . Real Property Tax assessors will visit the affected properties whose owners apply for such tax relief. Besides damage to buildings, land lost in the earthquake, such as landslides into the ocean, will also be eligible for reassessment.

Substantiating documents of damage such as photographs, contractor’s quotations or appraisals may be submitted at the time of application. The deadline to file applications is June 30, 2007.

Steps to complete the application:

Fill in the Tax Map Key Number of the parcel. This can be obtained from your last tax bill or assessment notice.
Fill in the name and address of the Claimant along with their telephone numbers. Telephone numbers are very important so that the tax office or appraiser can contact you if information is missing, or if an inspection is necessary.
Fill in the type of disaster (Earthquake) and date the quake occurred, October 15, 2006.
Describe exactly what was damaged. Then in the section listing the major building components, fill in the approximate percentage of each category that was damaged. If a particular component was not damaged, leave it blank. (For example, if half of the windows in the house were broken you would put 50% in that box.)
Sign, date and mail in the application by June 30, 2007.

Note: This application is only for real property taxes paid, or due. In all cases, the amount of relief will not reduce the total annual taxes to less than the minimum tax for the parcel. If you are currently paying the minimum tax, please do not complete this form, as no relief will be calculated. The tax relief calculation will be based on the balance of the tax year, October 15, 2006 to June 30, 2007.

Please be advised that the Real Property Tax Office does not assess, or tax, improvements such as retaining walls, fences, landscaping, and driveways. Therefore, damage of this type would not result in any tax relief.

For further information, please call Real Property Tax Division at 961-8201.

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Earthquake Repairs -- How to Apply for Building Permit Waiver

Here is some information regarding who qualifies under the emergency ordinance for waiver of certain requirements and fees for emergency repair work.

A homeowner, partnership or corporation can participate under this ordinance if the structures or buildings were directly affected on October 15, 2006 by the earthquakes.
Emergency repairs and waivers apply to electrical, plumbing, signs, driveway approaches, sidewalks, businesses and homes.
Structures must be restored to their original condition prior to the earthquakes of October 15, 2006.
Electrical and plumbing work must be performed by a licensed electrician and a plumber.
Renovations are not permitted under this ordinance.
Please be aware that a building permit is required and applicants should apply sixty (60) days from the approval of the ordinance.

To qualify for the waiver of certain requirements, the applicant must complete the “Waiver of Certain Requirements Form.” It is available either at Public Works, by fax or online. The form must be completed and brought in at the time they apply for a permit to the Hilo or Kona Public Works offices within sixty (60) days from the approval of the ordinance.

Proof of Earthquake Damage

To qualify for the emergency repair work and take advantage of the waiver, the applicant must show proof that damages were caused by the earthquakes. This can be done by filing an incident report with Civil Defense by calling 935-0031 or online at www.co.hawaii.hi.us . Click on EarthQuake Emergency Information.

Homes that received a green tag following the earthquake may make repairs without a permit. No inspections are required.

How do you get a “yellow tag” (restricted use) declaration removed?

This is a yellow tag that only an inspector with the Building Division of Public Works can remove.

Visit either the Hilo or Kona Building Division of Public Works or call Civil Defense at 961-8604 and give them your name and the district you reside in.

Electrical and plumbing work must be performed by a licensed electrician or plumber.

Structures must be restored to their original condition prior to the earthquakes of October 15, 2006. An inspection by the Building Division of Public Works may be required depending on the extent of damage.

The Building Division of Public Works in Kona or Hilo can answer your questions.

The Kailua-Kona office of the County Department of Public Works is located in Hanama Place at 75-5706 Kuakini Highway; phone 327-3520 for Building Division or 327-3530 for Engineering Division. In Hilo, the office is located at Aupuni Center, 101 Pauahi Street, Suite 7; phone 961-8331 for Building Division and 961-8327 for Engineering Division.

Both offices are open from 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, closed on State holidays.

Helpful tip to make sure you’re hiring a licensed contractor

To verify if a contractor is licensed, and has workers compensation insurance, go to the website for the State of Hawai`i, Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs at http://plv.ehawaii.gov/pvlsearch/app .

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Amnesty Bill for Illegal Residential, Ag Structures - Requirements

The County Council has recently passed an Amnesty Bill which will allow the homeowner to apply for permits for illegal structures (residential dwellings R-3 occupancies and agricultural buildings M-1 occupancies) that were constructed and finished before January 1, 2006.

Should you choose to take advantage of the Amnesty Bill, please be aware of the following minimum requirements:

BUILDING

Submit complete architectural drawings which will include but not limited to a site plan, existing floor plan, demolition floor plan, revised floor plan, foundation plan, floor framing plan, section, exterior elevations, details, etc.
All drawings submitted for building permit must be stamped with a seal of a registered architect/structural engineer licensed in the State of Hawaii along with statements “This work was prepared by me our under my supervision” and “Construction of this project will be under my observation.” The architect/structural engineer must also submit a letter certifying that he/she had conducted all inspections during construction and that the construction was done in accordance to the code that the construction was done.

Additions, Alterations and Repairs:

Alterations or repairs, not exceeding 25% of the value of an existing building or structure, which are nonstructural and do not affect any member or part of the building or structure having required fire resistance, may be made with the same material of which the building or structure is constructed.
Additions, alterations and repairs not exceeding 50% of replacement value of an existing building or structure, the new construction shall conform to the requirements of present code enforced.
Additions, alterations and repairs exceeding 50% of replacement value of an existing building or structure, the entire structure shall be made to conform to requirements of present code enforced.
Architect/Structural Engineer is responsible for inspections up to final inspection. The County Building Inspector is responsible to do the final inspection.

Electrical & Plumbing

· A licensed Electrical and Plumbing contractor licensed in the State of Hawaii must perform all work.

· Both permits must be applied for along with the Building Permit application.

· All Electrical and Plumbing Work must conform to the code that is presently being enforced by the County of Hawaii.

· County Electrical and Plumbing Inspectors shall perform all inspections.

Altogether, Three Permits – Building, electrical and plumbing

Two sets of complete drawings stamped by architect/structural engineer along with letter and electrical and plumbing permit applications shall be submitted for permit processing.
All plans must be routed to the other agencies for their approval prior plan review by Building Division.
Building Division shall do plan reviews of all three applications: building, electrical and plumbing.
All three permits will be issued after review is approved and completed.

For further information, please contact Brian Kajikawa, Building Division of the Department of Public Works at 961-8331. The division’s Kona office number is 327-3520.

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Recycling Drop-offs - Update

The following items will now be accepted in the Mixed Recycling drop-off bins at the following County Transfer Stations: Hawi, Honokaa, Keauhou, Laupahoehoe, Pahoa, Pahala, Puako and Waimea.

Okay to Recycle:

· Paperboard or boxboard (cereal, tea, snack food boxes, etc.)

· Plastics #1&#2 (milk jugs, detergent and bleach bottles, etc.)

· Metal cans (Rinsed tuna and cat food cans, soup cans, etc.)

· Newspapers and magazines

· Cardboard and brown paper bags (flattened)

· Mixed office paper and junk mail (No Brites)

· Phonebooks and paperbacks – torn into 3-4 sections

Please note: Materials taken to the Kealakehe, Hilo or the Kea‘au Transfer Stations are still commodity-separated. Please look for signage on where to place recycled materials at these sites.

Thank you for your kokua, as always. For more information, please call 961-8554 or 961-8942.

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Redemption Centers – Hours of Operation

The following is a primer on the State of Hawai`i's beverage container redemption program works, and the location of the County of Hawai’i’s beverage container redemption sites:

Qualifying Beverage Containers:

What’s IN: Eligible (redeemable) beverage containers include: soft drinks, soda, water, juice, tea and coffee drinks, and low alcohol content drinks (beer, malt beverages, wine coolers, mixed spirits) in metal, glass or #1&#2 plastic, 64 oz. or less.

What’s OUT: Ineligible (unredeemable) containers include: milk, wine and liquor containers.

Reminder: ONLY eligible HI5¢ labeled containers can be redeemed.

Qualified beverage containers may be redeemed for cash at the following locations:

**Transfer Station centers closed daily from 1:00-1:30pm for lunch.**

CURRENTLY OPEN	DAYS/HOURS OF OPERATION	OPERATOR

Hawi Transfer Station**	Saturday only: 8 am-4:30 pm.	ARC of Hilo
(Open Saturday only)	(closed for lunch 1:00-1:30)
Hilo, 1260 Kilauea Ave. (Closed 12 noon-1:00 pm)	Tues-Sat 9am-5pm	Reynolds Recycling
Hilo, 30 Maka’ala Street	Mon thru Fri: 8:00am-5:00pm	Atlas Recycling
(Old industrial area)	Sat & Sun: 8:00am-3:00pm

Hilo Transfer Station**	Daily 8:00am-4:30pm	ARC of Hilo

Honoka`a Transfer Station (Weekends only)	Sat & Sun 8:00am-4:30	ARC of Hilo
Kailua-Kona, Pawai Place	Mon thru Fri: 7:00am-4:00pm