Public Notices
Hawaii Phase II/V Rules and Arsenic Rule – Final Primacy Package (Click Here)
Hu Honua Bioenergy, LLC UIC Application No. UH-3051 Final Report and Modeling Report (Thermal Analysis of Future Cooling Water Discharge)
The following are links to the subject facility’s final report documents for review. These reports are the final required documents needed to complete the UIC permit application process. Before a permit to operate the injection wells is processed, we seek comments on the proposed injection well operation to guide permitting requirements and actions. We request all comments to be submitted to [email protected] by August 31, 2022.
State of Hawaii Public Water System Supervision System Program Revision: federal Radionuclides Rules published in the Federal Register August 12, 2021 (Click Here)
Hawaii Radionuclides Rule – Final EPA Determination (Click Here)
Hawaii Radionuclides Rule – Final Primacy Package (Click Here)
September 23, 2019
The Hawai‘i Department of Health (DOH) has received from Hu Honua Bioenergy, LLC, a new Underground Injection Control (UIC) revised application (second revision) that proposes to use cooler saline water for condenser cooling instead of the fresher upper aquifer water. The cooler saline water will be extracted from three (3) deepened onsite supply wells. This second revision is in addition to their first revision to deepen the three (3) injection wells, that DOH originally approved for 400 feet, to 800 feet. The proposed change to saline cooling water lessens the potential for fresh water aquifer contamination and is expected to lower the temperature of the condenser cooling water being discharged into the environment.
Because of this second revision, we have closed the comment period on the first revision. The DOH will open a new comment period for this second revision after the injection wells are constructed to 800 feet, the injection wells are tested, the groundwater effects are evaluated, and the refined groundwater model and ocean monitoring station results are validated and recalibrated. Thus, the DOH has determined that the approval-to-construct the three (3) injection wells to 800 feet shall be granted to complete these actions.
After injection testing, the injection wells will be capped or secured in a manner that will prevent their use until a permit to operate the injection wells is issued. A permit to operate the injection wells will not be issued until DOH is satisfied with the results of all related actions.
The three (3) injection wells are located at:
Applicant: Hu Honua Bioenergy, LLC
Address: 28-283 Sugar Mill Road Pepe‘ekeo, Hawai‘i 96783
Application No.: UH-3051
Facility: HU HONUA BIOENERGY, LLC
Location: 28-283 Sugar Mill Road Pepe‘ekeo, Hawai‘i 96783
TMK No. 3rd Division, 2-8-08:104
Central Latitude: 19° 50′ 36.03″ N
Central Longitude: 155° 05′ 11.15″ W
The second revision of the UIC application is available for download in PDF format (13 MB) from https://health.hawaii.gov/sdwb/files/2019/09/20190806-HonuaBioAppl-v9.pdf, or will be available for review Monday through Friday between 7:45 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., excluding holidays, at the Safe Drinking Water Branch (SDWB); UIC Program; Uluakupu Building 4; 2385 Waimano Home Road, Suite 110; Pearl City, Hawai‘i 96782-1400. You may also request a copy of the revised application, by sending an email to [email protected], fax to (808)586-4351, postal mail to the SDWB address above, or call (808) 586-4258. Updates and revisions to the application will be posted at https://health.hawaii.gov/sdwb/public-notices/.
An opportunity to comment on the UIC Well permit modification application will be opened after the injection wells have been constructed and tested and the final report containing the refined groundwater model and monitoring results are made available for public review. No decision will be made on whether or not to grant a permit to operate until the comment period ends. The opening of the comment period will be announced and posted at https://health.hawaii.gov/sdwb/public-notices/. All comments must be transmitted in writing to Ms. Joanna L. Seto, P.E., of the SDWB at the email address or street address above. The Hawai`i DOH will also consider whether to hold an additional public meeting.
BRUCE S. ANDERSON, Ph.D.
Director of Health
(HTH1232675 9/23/19)
Update to Opportunity to Comment (as of July 16, 2019)
The applicant has provided clarification of the proposed refined groundwater model and the monitoring plan to address some comments received during the first three (3) weeks of the comment period. This revision replaces the May 16, 2019 version on pages 30-35 of the application and may be found at 19-088.r7-WYamamoto-Request-to-Deepen-Hu-Honua-Bioenergy-19-29.pdf.
As of July 16, 2019, the Opportunity to Comment deadline has been extended from July 21, 2019, until 30 calendar days after the refined groundwater model and monitoring results are received from the applicant and made public. The Department will also consider whether to hold an additional public meeting.
2019-SDW-UIC-004
June 21, 2019
The Hawai‘i Department of Health (DOH) has received from Hu Honua Bioenergy, LLC, a revised Underground Injection Control (UIC) application proposing to deepen to 800 feet the three (3) injection wells that DOH originally approved on June 14, 2018, for construction up to 400 feet. The revision proposes the use of a louvered casing within the open annular space of a 24-inch borehole from 120 feet below ground surface (bgs) down to 600 feet bgs followed by 200 feet of 24-inch open borehole to 800 feet bgs.
The DOH is taking comments on whether it should grant a modification of the approval-to-construct the injection wells to 800 feet as requested. Even if DOH were to grant such a modified approval to construct, operation of the wells would not be authorized until DOH also issues a permit to operate. The three (3) injection wells are located at:
Applicant: Hu Honua Bioenergy, LLC
Address: 28-283 Sugar Mill Road Pepe‘ekeo, Hawai‘i 96783
Application No.: UH-3051
Facility: HU HONUA BIOENERGY, LLC
Location: 28-283 Sugar Mill Road Pepe‘ekeo, Hawai‘i 96783
TMK No. 3rd Division, 2-8-08:104
Central Latitude: 19° 50′ 36.03″ N
Central Longitude: 155° 05′ 11.15″ W
The UIC application is available for review, Monday through Friday between 7:45 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., excluding holidays, at: Safe Drinking Water Branch (SDWB); UIC Program; Uluakupu Bldg. 4; 2385 Waimano Home Road, Suite 110; Pearl City, Hawai‘i 96782-1400.
To request a copy of the revised application [also available via this link], please send an email to [email protected], fax to (808)586-4351, postal mail to the SDWB address above, or call (808)586-4258.
DOH requests public comments regarding the proposed well deepening before acting on the application to approve the construction/modification of the three (3) injection wells. All comments must be transmitted in writing, no later than July 21, 2019, to Ms. Joanna L. Seto, P.E., of the SDWB at the email address or street address above. [Postal mail postmarked by July 21, 2019 (and received after July 21, 2019) will be accepted.]
BRUCE S. ANDERSON, Ph.D.
Director of Health
(HTH1209100 6/21/19) – [Italicized text in brackets are added to this online post.]
Transcript of public hearing held on November 14, 2018 (CWB website)
The Hearings Officer has extended the deadline to submit written testimony to [email protected] by Wednesday, 11/21/2018 at 5:00 pm.
NOTICE OF PUBLIC INFORMATION MEETING AND PUBLIC HEARING FOR Hu Honua Bioenergy, LLC
October 15, 2018
The State Department of Health (DOH) will hold a public information meeting and public hearing on Hawaii island for the Hu Honua Bioenergy, LLC facility located at 28-283 Sugar Mill Road, Pepeekeo, Island of Hawaii, TMK: (3) 2-8-008:104 and 161.
Date: Wednesday, November 14, 2018
Location: ‘Imiloa Astronomy Center of Hawai‘i; Moanahoku Hall; 600 Imiloa Place; Hilo, Hawaii 96720
Public Information Meeting
At the public information meeting from 10:00 am to 12:00 noon, the Department of Health (DOH) will provide clarification on the pending:
- National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) application and draft permit to discharge storm water associated with industrial activities from the Hu Honua Bioenergy, LLC facility, to receiving State waters, subject to special conditions
- Application for an Underground Injection Control (UIC) Permit to operate
- Solid waste permit application for the recycling of ash
This public information meeting will be recorded on video. The video will be made available on the DOH, Clean Water Branch Public Notices and Updates website located at: https://health.hawaii.gov/cwb/clean-water-branch-home-page/public-notices-and-updates/.
Public Hearing
The DOH will receive verbal and written testimony at a public hearing starting at 1:00 pm on the NPDES application and draft permit to discharge storm water associated with industrial activities from the Hu Honua Bioenergy, LLC facility, to receiving State waters, subject to special conditions, and the pending UIC application for permit to operate.
The Applicant published a DOH Notice of Proposed Water Pollution Control Permit for Hu Honua Bioenergy, LLC; NPDES Permit No. HI S000557; Docket No. HI S000557; on August 30, 2018, in the Hawaii Tribune Herald. The Director received a significant number of requests for a public hearing claiming the lack of opportunity for the general public to voice their concerns over the proposed facility.
Persons desiring to speak are asked to submit two (2) copies of their statement before or at the hearing. Verbal testimony may be subject to a time limit if there are more than 50 testifiers. Written statements will be accepted until 5:30 pm on Wednesday, November 14, 2018, at [email protected] or at P.O. Box 3378, Honolulu, Hawaii 96801-3378.
The proposed NPDES permit for the new discharge will expire five (5) years from the date of issuance.
The project is located at 28-283 Sugar Mill Road, Pepeekeo, Island of Hawaii, TMK: (3) 2-8-008:104 and 161. The facility is a biomass electric power generation facility and is classified under Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) code 4911, Electric Services (other electric power generation). Activities performed at this facility include receiving and storing logs; chipping logs; storing and transporting wood chips; burning wood chips and biodiesel fuel to produce steam; electricity generation; distributing electricity; and receiving and staging parts. Administrative offices and parking are also located at the site.
The receiving water, the Pacific Ocean at 19.842801°N latitude, 155.084964°W longitude and 19.843665°N latitude, 155.084645°W longitude, is classified by the DOH as Class A, Marine Waters, Open Coastal. 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.
Copies of the proposed NPDES 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 Clean Water Branch office located at 2827 Waimano Home Road, #225, Pearl City, HI 96782; the Hawaii District Health Office in Hilo located at 75 Aupuni Street #201, Hilo, HI 96720; and the Hawaii District Health Office in Kona located at 79‑1015 Haukapila Street, Kealakekua, HI 96750. Copies may be bought. The public notice permit and rationale are also available on the internet at: https://health.hawaii.gov/cwb/clean-water-branch-home-page/public-notices-and-updates/ and on the WPC Viewer located at: https://eha-web.doh.hawaii.gov/wpc-viewer/.
This public hearing will be recorded on video. The video will be made available on the DOH, Clean Water Branch Public Notices and Updates website located 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, please contact Mr. Darryl Lum, Supervisor of the Engineering Section, Clean Water Branch, at the address above or at 808-586-4309 (voice), at least seven (7) days before the information meeting and public hearing. For those who use a TTY/TDD, please call through Verizon-Hawaii Telephone Relay Service, at 1-711 or 1-877-447-5991.
Please notify anyone you know who would be interested in this matter.
BRUCE S. ANDERSON, Ph.D.
Director of Health
(HTH1141277 10/15/18)
Drinking Water State Revolving Fund Notices are posted at https://health.hawaii.gov/sdwb/drinking-water-state-revolving-fund/
SDWB Uniform Information Practices Act (UIPA) Request Process
To make a Uniform Information Practices Act (UIPA) request for Safe Drinking Water, Groundwater Protection program, Underground Injection Control program, Drinking Water State Revolving Fund, and/or source water information, send an email with the completed Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Request to Access a Government Record Form from https://oip.hawaii.gov/forms/.
Phone: (808) 586-4258
Fax: (808) 586-4351
E-Mail: [email protected]
- Oahu
Safe Drinking Water Branch
Environmental Management Division
Hawaii State Department of Health
2385 Waimano Home Road, Suite 110
Uluakupu Building 4
Pearl City, Hawaii 96782-1400 - East Hawaii
Safe Drinking Water Branch – Hilo
Hawaii District Health Office – Hilo
1582 Kamehameha Avenue
Hilo, Hawaii 96720
Phone: (808) 933-0407
Fax: (808) 933-0400
Last Update: 30 July 2024