Clean Water Branch

NOTICE OF PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR THE
STATE OF HAWAII,
MARINE CORPS BASE HAWAII
STORMWATER MANAGEMENT PLAN
KANEOHE BAY, ISLAND OF OAHU, HAWAII
NPDES FILE NO. HI26KI079

DOCKET NO. HI26KI079

PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD
June 24, 2026 – July 24, 2026

The Hawaii Department of Health (DOH), Clean Water Branch (CWB) is soliciting comments on the Marine Corps Base Hawaii (MCBH), Stormwater Management Plan (SWMP).

The Director of Health has selected the Two-Step General Permit approach to regulate Small Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems (Small MS4s) under the State’s National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) program. The first step of the Two-Step process was the adoption of Hawaii Administrative Rules (HAR) Title 11, Chapter 55, Appendix K. The public notice of the MCBH SWMP is the second step. Both HAR 11-55, Appendix K and the MCBH SWMP will be NPDES permit conditions for the MCBH Small MS4 to regulate and impose water pollution control requirements on the discharge of stormwater and certain non-stormwater discharges to receiving State waters, to meet the MS4 permit standard, and to protect water quality.

MCBH is located on the Mokapu Peninsula along the eastern shore of the island of Oahu, Hawaii.  The Base encompasses a total land area of approximately 2,951 acres.  It is bordered on the north by the Pacific Ocean, on the east by Kailua Bay, and on the west and southwest by Kaneohe Bay.

MCBH owns and operates the MS4, which is a system of conveyances, including storm drains, catch basins, curbs and gutters, protected or earthen ditches open drains, pipes, and culverts designed to collect and convey storm water runoff.

The SWMP was developed to address the requirements of the Small MS4 NPDES Permit and reduce, to the maximum extent practicable, the discharge of pollutants to and from the MS4 to protect the receiving waters.

The receiving waters are designated as Class 1 Inland Waters in HAR 11-54-5 (Nuupia, Halekou, and Kaluapuhi Ponds), Class 2 Inland Waters in HAR 11-54-5 (portions of Mokapu Central Drainage Channel), Class AA Marine Embayment in Appendix B and HAR 11-54-6(a) (Kaneohe Bay and portions of Mokapu Central Drainage Canal), and Class A Open Coastal Marine Waters in HAR 11-54-6(b) (Kailua Bay).  It is the objective of Class 1 and Class AA waters that these waters remain in their natural 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.  Protected beneficial uses of Class AA waters include oceanographic research, the support and propagation of shellfish, and other marine life, conservation of coral reefs and wilderness areas, compatible recreation, and aesthetic enjoyment.  It is the objective of Class A waters that their use for recreational purposes and aesthetic enjoyment 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.  Protected beneficial uses include uses 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 proposed SWMP 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 through E-mail at [email protected] or by mail at P.O. BOX 3378, Honolulu, Hawaii 96801‑3378.

Copies of the Notice of Intent (NOI), SWMP, 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-CWB office located at 2827 Waimano Home Road, Room 225, Pearl City, Hawaii 96782.  Copies may be bought. The NOI and SWMP are also available on the internet at:

https://health.hawaii.gov/cwb/clean-water-branch-home-page/public-notices-and-updates/.

For more information or if you have special needs due to disability that will aid you in inspecting and/or commenting on the public notice permit and related information, please contact Mr. Reef Migita, Supervisor of the Engineering Section, CWB, at the above address or (808) 586-4309 (Voice) as soon as possible before the end of the comment period.  For those who use a TTY/TDD, please call through Sprint Relay Hawaii, at 1‑711 or 1-877-447-5991.  If a request for assistance is made after the end of the comment period, the CWB will try to fulfill the request. However, fulfillment prior to a final determination cannot be guaranteed. Requests submitted as early as possible are more likely to be fulfilled.

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

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

Darryl Lum, P.E.,
Clean Water Branch Chief