HAWAII ISLAND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION
100 PAUAHI STREET, SUITE 204 • HILO, HAWAII 96720
February 2, 2016
North Kohala Community:
Subject: Status Update – Soil Cleanup Project of the former Kohala Sugar Company Pesticide Mixing Site
This is a status update for the Soil Cleanup Project of the former Kohala Sugar Company Pesticide Mixing Site. Pearl Contracting, Inc. of Kamuela, Hawaii has been awarded the contract to carry out the cleanup project. They are scheduled to start site preparation work on Friday February 5, 2016, when they will begin mobilizing equipment, land clearing, construction of a temporary access road and erection of a dust fence. The site preparation phase of the work is expected to last approximately two (2) weeks. Soil excavation and hauling of the contaminated soil is tentatively scheduled to begin on Monday, February 22, 2016, and is expected to be completed in approximately three (3) weeks. No hauling will occur during the public school Spring Break, which is scheduled from March 16-28, 2016. Once all of the contaminated soil is removed, site restoration and demobilization activities will take approximately two (2) additional weeks to complete.
We are asking for your patience and understanding during this construction time period and will make every effort to minimize impacts to the community. Dust control measures will be implemented along with measures to contain the contaminated soil while being transported from the site to the West Hawaii Landfill. The soil transported in dump trucks will be wetted down and the entire load covered with tarps to prevent exposure to dust. Trucks will travel from the bottom of Kumakua Street up to Akoni Pule Highway. Work will be performed Monday through Friday, except holidays, between 7 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.
There will be a full-time on-site environmental specialist (Erin Petrosian of Advanced Compliance Solutions Inc. – ACSI) who will oversee the cleanup project to ensure that the contractor is performing the work in compliance with the work plans and regulations. Erin will make a house-to-house visit with the residents of the Kumakua Subdivision prior to the start of construction to provide information regarding the soil cleanup project, as well as answer questions that the residents may have. The Hawaii Department of Health (HDOH) will also provide oversight of the cleanup project.
Background information regarding previous site investigations, the response options considered and the removal action selected (including dust control measures being utilized) are available for review at the North Kohala Public Library (during library hours, ask at the Reference desk). Questions regarding the cleanup project may be directed to Brian Nishimura, representing Hawaii Island Community Development Corporation (HICDC) at (808) 896-0593 or nishimura.brian@gmail.com; or John Peard, HDOH Hazard Evaluation and Emergency Response (HEER) Office, at (808) 933-9921 or randall.peard@doh.hawaii.gov. You may also access the cleanup project site documents on the HDOH HEER Office website at http://hawaii.gov/doh/heer in the “What’s New” section of the homepage (see entry for November, 2015).
Keith Kato
Executive Director, HICDC