State Department of Health: Public Hearing for Thirty Meter Telescope International Observatory NPDES Permit

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING FOR THIRTY METER TELESCOPE INTERNATIONAL OBSERVATORY NPDES PERMIT NO. HI S000431

The State Department of Health (DOH) will hold a public hearing on Hawaii Island regarding an application for an individual construction storm water renewal permit for the Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT) International Observatory facility located at Mauna Kea Loop Road Area E, Mauna Kea, Island of Hawaii, TMK: (3) 4-4-015:009 (por.) and 012 (por.).

Date: Tuesday, June 25, 2019
Location: West Hawaii Civic Center Council Chambers
74-5044 Ane Keohokalole Highway Kailua-Kona, Hawaii 96740

Public Hearing

The DOH will receive verbal and written testimony at a public hearing starting at 5:00 p.m. on the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) application and draft permit to discharge storm water associated with construction activities from the TMT International Observatory facility, to receiving State waters, subject to special conditions.

The Applicant published a DOH Notice of Proposed Water Pollution Control Permit for TMT International Observatory; NPDES Permit No. HI S000431; Docket No. HI S000431; on March 7, 2019, 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 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, June 25, 2019, at cleanwaterbranch@doh.hawaii.gov 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 TMT International Observatory, Mauna Kea Loop Road Area E, Mauna Kea, Island of Hawaii, Hawaii, TMK: (3) 4-4-015:009 (por.) and 012 (por.). The proposed project is construction of the Thirty Meter Telescope Observatory and Access Way Road. The observatory will consist of the dome, which will be roughly 180 feet tall, and a support building, which will be roughly 18,000 square feet in size. The Access Way Road will be roughly 0.65 miles long and asphalt paved.

The receiving waters, Kemole Guch, Kuupahaa Gulch, Puupohakuloa Gulch Pohakuloa Gulch, and Wailuku River, are classified by the DOH as Class 2, Inland Waters. Under Hawaii Administrative Rules (HAR), Section 11-54-4, it is 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. 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, Hawaii 96782; the Hawaii District Health Office in Hilo located at 75 Aupuni Street #201, Hilo, Hawaii 96720; and the Hawaii District Health Office in Kona located at 79-1015 Haukapila Street, Kealakekua, Hawaii 96750. Copies may be bought. The public notice permit and rationale are also available on the internet at: http://health.hawaii.gov/cwb/clean-water-branch-home-page/publicnotices-and-updates/ and on the WPC Viewer located at: http://ehaweb.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: http://health.hawaii.gov/cwb/clean-water-branch-home-page/publicnotices-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.