Clean Water Branch

STATE OF HAWAII

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH

NOTICE OF PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD AND PUBLIC HEARING ON

PROPOSED RENEWAL WATER POLLUTION CONTROL PERMIT FOR

SUNRISE CAPITAL, INC.

NPDES PERMIT NO. HI 0021654

DOCKET NO. HI 0021654

OCTOBER 11, 2024

 The State of Hawaii, Department of Health, Clean Water Branch (CWB) is scheduling a public comment period from the date of this notice until November 13, 2024, to solicit input from the public and other stakeholders about the proposed National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit renewal for Sunrise Capital, Inc.

The NPDES permit is a regulatory mechanism to control water pollution through the issuance of permits.  The purpose of issuing an NPDES permit is to implement Federal NPDES regulations and State NPDES rules to help protect human health and the environment.  An NPDES permit imposes restrictions and requirements on discharges of pollutants from sites/facilities.  Permittees (entities that have NPDES permit coverage) are legally obligated to comply with the requirements specified in the issued permit.

NPDES permits are solely for the management, regulation, and authorization of point source discharges to surface waters only as allowable under Federal and State water pollution control laws and the Clean Water Act.  All other activities and actions, including, but not limited to, land use decisions, whether or not construction or industrial activities should be allowed, business operations, zoning, and non-point source pollution are not under the jurisdiction of NPDES permits.  The CWB will not determine the validity or merits of a facility.  Issuance of an NPDES permit does not convey any other rights, authorizations, approvals, or any other ability not specified in the permit.

The Sunrise Capital, Inc. facility, located at 6526 Kaumualii Highway, Kekaha, Island of Kauai, Hawaii, first obtained NPDES permit coverage on November 18, 1999.  The facility discharges aquaculture-related wastewater to the “Suez Canal” at coordinates Latitude 22°01’05.2″ N, Longitude 159°45’40” W.  The facility consists of 40 production ponds, eight (8) nursery ponds, and 24 raceways supplied by four (4) land-based brackish water wells.  The daily maximum discharge rate is 7.0 million gallons per day.  The facility produces approximately 730,000 pounds of shrimp annually.

Written comments can be submitted during the public comment period by sending an e-mail to [email protected]; by sending postal mail to 2827 Waimano Home Road, Room #225, Pearl City, HI 96782; or by dropping-off at the listed street address.  Written comments, that are e-mailed or dropped-off, must be received no later than 4:30 PM on November 13, 2024. Written comments that are mailed must be postmarked by November 13, 2024.

The CWB is holding a public hearing in Kekaha on Kauai.

Date:             Wednesday, November 13, 2024

Time:            10:00 AM (Hawaii Standard Time)

Location:       Kekaha Agriculture Association Building

                         7189-D Kaumualii Highway

                         Kekaha, Hawaii 96752

Oral comments can be given in person or online at the public hearing.  Oral testimonies may be subject to a time limit.  The CWB requires all persons commenting orally in person or online to provide a written copy of their comments at the public hearing or as instructed above.  Please visit this link for guidelines on how to submit written comments.

Registration is required to join the public hearing online.  Please use this link to register.  Registrants receive by e-mail an invite with information on how to join the public hearing.  Please visit this link for instructions on how to join the public hearing online.

The draft permit, fact sheet and other documents are available here.  Copies of the draft permit and fact sheet are also available for public inspection, Monday through Friday (excluding holidays), from 7:45 AM until 4:15 PM, at the following locations.  Copies may be bought.

• CWB Office located at 2827 Waimano Home Road, Room #225, Pearl City, HI 96782; and
• Kauai District Health Office located at 3040 Umi Street, Lihue, HI 96766.

For more information or if you have special needs due to disability, please contact Mr. Reef Migita of the CWB Engineering Section at the Waimano Home Road address, by phone at 808-586‑4309, or by e-mail at [email protected] at least seven (7) calendar days before the public hearing.  When using a TTY/TDD device, please call through Verizon‑Hawaii Telephone Relay Service, at 1‑711 or 1‑877‑447‑5991.  The CWB will try to provide the requested arrangements but cannot guarantee that all arrangements can be accommodated by the hearing deadline.

DARRYL LUM, P.E.

Clean Water Branch Chief