NOTICE OF PROPOSED WATER POLLUTION CONTROL PERMIT
FOR THE STATE OF HAWAII
DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES
DIVISION OF BOATING AND OCEAN RECREATION
SMALL MUNICIPAL SEPARATE STORM SEWER SYSTEM
NPDES PERMIT NO. HI S00009

07-CW-PW-21

(Sept 3, 2007)

The State Department of Health (DOH) tentatively proposes to issue a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit to discharge storm water runoff and certain non-storm water discharges which are collected by the Small Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (Small MS4) and discharged into State Waters subject to special conditions to:

STATE OF HAWAII
DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES
DIVISION OF BOATING AND OCEAN RECREATION

The NPDES draft permit will expire on July 31, 2012.

The Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR), Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation (DBOR) owns and operates Small MS4s at seven (7) facilities on the Island of Oahu. The Small MS4s are a system of conveyances, including storm drains, catch basins, curbs, gutters, canals, and ditches, designed to collect and convey storm water runoff at each facility. The volume of discharge is dependent upon rainfall- induced runoff and is highly variable.

The goal of this NPDES draft permit, to reduce storm water runoff pollution to the maximum extent practicable, will be achieved through the implementation of the Permittee’s Storm Water Management Program, an enforceable component of the NPDES draft permit.

The DLNR, DBOR Small MS4s serve in the coastal areas of parts of the Island of Oahu. The receiving waters include Class AA and Class A, Marine State Waters. HAR, Chapter 11-54, Section 11-54-3(a) requires existing storm water runoff into marine waters to meet the basic water quality standards specified in HAR, Chapter 11-54, Section 11-54-4(a).

The receiving water uses stated in HAR, Chapter 11-54, Section 11-54-3(c)(1) are as follows: The objective of Class AA waters is “that these waters remain in their natural pristine state as nearly as possible with an absolute minimum of pollution or alteration of water quality from any human-caused source or actions. To the extent practicable, the wilderness character of these areas shall be protected. No zones of mixing shall be permitted in this class: . . .”

The receiving water uses stated in HAR, Chapter 11-54, Section 11-54-3(c)(2) are as follows: “It is the objective of class A waters that their use for recreational purposes and aesthetic enjoyment be protected. Any other use shall be permitted as long as it is compatible with the protection and propagation of fish, shellfish and wildlife, and with recreation in and on these waters. These waters shall not act as receiving waters for any discharge which has not received the best degree of treatment or control compatible with the criteria established for this class.”

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

Office Address: Mailing Address:

Clean Water Branch Clean Water Branch
Environmental Management Division Environmental Management Division
Department of Health Department of Health
919 Ala Moana Boulevard, Room 301 P.O. Box 3378
Honolulu, HI 96814-4920 Honolulu, HI 96801-3378

Copies of the 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 Engineering Section, Clean Water Branch, at the above address or (808) 586-4309 (Voice) at least seven (7) days before the comment deadline. For those who use a TTY/TDD, please call through Sprint Relay Hawaii, at 1-711 or (808) 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 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.

Please notify anyone you know who would be interested in this matter.

Chiyome Leinaala Fukino, M.D.
Director of Health
(SB05531613 9/3/07)