The Department of Health (DOH) tentatively proposes to issue a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit to discharge hydrotesting water to receiving State waters, subject to special conditions to:

The proposed permit for the new discharge will expire five (5) years from the date of issuance.

The Permittee proposes to discharge treated hydrotesting water associated with the repair of the digester tank covers at the Kailua Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant located in Kailua, Oahu, Hawaii. The source water used for hydrotesting activities consists of potable water. The hydrotesting process may introduce silt and chlorine to the potable water. As a result, the hydrotesting water shall be filtered and dechlorinated prior to discharge into the receiving waters.

The hydrotesting water will be discharged into Nuupia Ponds through Outfall Serial No. 001, located at: Latitude 21 26’09″ N and Longitude 157 45’17″ W.

Nuupia Ponds is classified as Class 1, Inland Waters under Hawaii Administrative Rules (HAR), Section 11 54 3(b)(1), state as nearly as possible with an absolute minimum of pollution from any human-caused source. To the extent possible, the wilderness character of these areas shall be protected. The uses to be protected include scientific and education purposes, protection of native breeding stock, baseline references from which human-caused changes can be measured, compatible recreation, aesthetic enjoyment, and other nondegrading uses which are compatible with the protection of the ecosystems associated with waters of this class.

Persons wishing to comment upon or object to the proposed NPDES permit or to request a public hearing, should submit their comments or requests in writing no later than 30 calendar days after the date of this notice, either in person or by mail, to:

Clean Water Branch
Environmental Management Division
Department of Health
919 Ala Moana Boulevard, Room 301
Honolulu, HI 96814-4920

Copies of the proposed draft permit and other information are available for public inspection, Monday through Friday (excluding holidays) from 7:45 a.m. until 4:15 p.m., at the DOH office address shown above. Copies may be bought. The draft permit and rationale are also available on the internet at
http://www.hawaii.gov/health/environmental/water/cleanwater/pubntcs/index.html. For more information or if you have special needs due to disability that will aid you in inspecting and/or commenting on the draft permit and related information, please contact Ms. Joanna L. Seto, Supervisor of the Engineer Section, Clean Water Branch, at the above address or (808) 586-4309 (Voice) at least seven (7) calendar days before the comment deadline. For those who use a TTY/TDD, please call through Sprint Relay Hawaii, at 1 711 or 1-877-447-5991.

All comments and requests received on time will be considered. If DOH determines that there is significant public interest, a public hearing may be held after at least 30 calendar days of public notice.

If DOH’s position is substantially unchanged after considering all timely written comments and all oral comments at any public hearing that may be held, then the DOH will issue the NPDES permit and this action will be final.