REPORT FROM THE HAWAII DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH — The Hawai‘i State Department of Health (DOH) Clean Air Branch has issued Notices of Violations and Orders against eight companies located on Hawai‘i, Kaua‘i, Maui, Moloka‘i, and O‘ahu for air permit violations. The violations were either self-reported or discovered during routine inspections or records reviews.
The following companies were cited:
Pacific Concrete Cutting & Coring, Inc. for various permit violations at its mobile crushing plant located in Lihue, Kaua‘i. A penalty of $11,600 was issued to the facility and a consent order is currently being negotiated.
Maui Paving, LLC for failing to maintain after pressure and pressure drop in its scrubber during the production of hot mix asphalt at its Kalama‘ula Industrial Park plant on Moloka‘i. The violations were discovered during a records review and a penalty of $3,500 has been paid.
Jas. W. Glover, Ltd. for failing to conduct the 2010 annual performance tests for particulate matter and opacity on its 300 tons per hour (TPH) portable drum mix asphalt plant located at the Pu‘unene Quarry on Maui. The violations were discovered during a records review and a penalty of $5,600 has been paid.
Grace Pacific Corporation for failing to conduct monthly opacity observations for various months in 2010 and 2011 on its 725 kilowatt (kW) diesel engine generator. The violations were discovered during an inspection at its 334 TPH asphalt plant located in Barbers Point Harbor, O‘ahu, and a penalty of $4,700 has been paid. The corporation was also cited for failing to conduct monthly opacity observations on diesel engine, rip-rap, and recycled aggregate plant plants for various months in 2010 and 2011 at its crushing, screening, and aggregate recycling plants located in Makakilo Quarry on O‘ahu. The violations were discovered during an inspection and a penalty of $4,100 has been paid.
Unitek Solvent Services, Inc. for late submittals of annual emission and semi-annual monitoring reports. Unitek operates a 70 horsepower (HP) superior boiler and waste oil reprocessing facility at Campbell Industrial Park, O‘ahu, and a penalty of $2,100 has been paid for the violations.
Phillip Services Hawai‘i (PSH) for failing to install, operate and maintain a high temperature audible alarm and automatic shutdown system within 180 days after permit issuance on its oil dehydrator. PSH was also fined for not conducting a source performance test on the oil dehydrator. The violations were discovered during an inspection of the used oil processing facility located at Campbell Industrial Park, O‘ahu. A penalty of $14,400 has been paid.
E.M. Rivera and Sons, Inc. for late submittal of compliance certification, annual fees, annual emission and semi-annual monitoring reports. The 730 and 505 TPH portable crushing plants are located on the island of Hawai‘i, and the violations were discovered during a records review. A penalty of $1,500 has been assessed.
Chevron Products Company, Hawai‘i Refinery for failing to report a tank leak within five days and repairing the tank leak within 45 days of a leak. Chevron operates an oil refinery in the Campbell Industrial Park, O‘ahu. The violation was discovered during a records review, and a penalty of $4,300 was paid.
In general, penalties are assessed on violators to remove any economic benefit they may have gained from their noncompliance and put them in a worse situation than those who comply with the law. All fines are paid into a revolving special fund used to prevent or minimize damage to the environment. Parties have the right to request a hearing to contest DOH orders.
The DOH Clean Air Branch (CAB) protects the people and environment of Hawai‘i by monitoring air quality and regulating businesses that release pollutants into the air. The CAB reviews and approves air permits, evaluates and enforces state and federal air standards, conducts inspections, and investigates reported incidents related to outdoor air quality. Through the air permit process, the DOH ensures companies comply with state and federal emission standards to minimize air pollution impacts on the public.