NOTICE OF PROPOSED WATER POLLUTION CONTROL PERMIT
FOR THE PALI HIGHWAY SLOPE STABILIZATION,
VICINITY OF THE FIRST PALI TUNNEL
ISLAND OF OAHU, HAWAII

NPDES PERMIT NO. HI S000010

07-CW-PW-29

November 30, 2007

The State Department of Health (DOH), tentatively proposes to issue a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit to discharge storm water runoff from the Pali Highway Slope Stabilization, Vicinity of First Pali Tunnel (Project) to receiving State waters, subject to special conditions to:

STATE OF HAWAII
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, HIGHWAYS DIVISION

The proposed draft permit will expire on December 31, 2011.

The State of Hawaii, Department of Transportation, Highways Division is planning a project to stabilize the slope at the vicinity of the First Pali Tunnel on Pali Highway, damaged by the rainfall event of November 2006.  The project includes removing a large tree whose roots have been exposed due to soil slippage; hydro-mulching; covering the slope with AnchorMat to stabilize the soil and prevent future erosion of the slope; securing the AnchorMat with anchors; clean the median area, and remove debris covering the electric lines near the tunnel entrance; repair damaged median section; and providing water pollution control.

Storm water run-off associated with construction activities from the Project is permitted to discharge between the following discharge points after implementation of Best Management Practices: Nuaanu Stream, Class 1, Inland Waters, Latitude 21º21\u201949”N and Longitude 157º47\u201954.2\u201DW; and Kaneohe Stream, Class 2, Inland Waters, Latitude 21º22\u201906.1\u201DN and Longitude 157º47\u201930.8\u201DW.

The receiving waters are classified by the DOH as Class 1 and Class 2, Inland Waters.  The objective of Class 1 Waters is for these waters to remain in their natural 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 possible, the wilderness character of these areas shall be protected.  The objective of Class 2 Waters is to protect their use for recreational purposes, the support and propagation of aquatic life, agricultural and industrial water supplies, shipping, and navigation.  The uses to be protected in this class of waters are all uses compatible with the protection and propagation of fish, shellfish, and wildlife and with recreation in and on these waters.

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:

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  P.O. Box 3378
Room 301  Honolulu, HI  96801-3378
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 fact sheet are also available on the internet at http://www.hawaii.gov/health/ environmental/water/pubntcs/cleanwater/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) 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\u2019s 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
(SB05532697 11/30/07)