Hawaii WAHMs

The City has announced its intention to close Waimanalo Gulch Landfill - Leeward (WGGL) in 2008 and to open a new municipal waste landfill in, among other places, Ameron Kapaa Quarry-Kailua (AKQK). A controversial Mayor's Blue Ribbon Panel recommendation has been forwarded to the City Council; which has until June 1 to decide to continue the use of WGLL past 2008 or to select a new site. WGLL is owned by the City, is currently operating as a landfill, and has a life-span of over 20 years remaining, making it the least expensive solution for taxpayers of Oahu. Any of the other four sites, to include AKQK, would cost Oahu taxpayers tens of millions of dollars in extra costs over and above the continued operation of WGLL. Other solutions (shipping waste off-island/plasma melters/recycling, etc.), will not solve the problem of needing a landfill. As one City employee stated, ''landfills will be with us forever.'' The solution to the landfill problem is to force the City to run WGLL efficiently and thereby prevent negative impact on surrounding communities and businesses. The Final EIS on WGLL, along with the Blue Ribbon Panel Minutes can be found at opala.org in the technical reports section. This issue is important to every resident of Oahu. You can stay informed by following the proceedings of the City Council's Public Works Committee during February, March and April's meetings. The Committee has scheduled itself to present its final findings to the City Council in April, 2004, giving the City Council until June 1, 2004 to submit its site selection to the Hawaii State Land Use Commission. Public testimony can be given at any of the Public Works committee or City Council meetings. The City asks testifiers to sign up at least 24-hours in advance and to provide at least 15 copies of written testimony. However, in a pinch it is possible to sign up at the door to testify and to submit written testimony after the meeting. The public should involve itself in this very important issue.