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EPA CITES HAWAII DOT FOR VIOLATIONS AT HONOLULU AIRPORT

Release Date: 10/26/1999
Contact Information: Lois Grunwald, U.S. EPA, 415-744-1588

     HDOT discharging polluted urban runoff into Hawaii's waters

     SAN FRANCISCO -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today announced it has ordered the Hawaii Department of Transportation to comply with federal storm water discharge requirements at Honolulu International Airport.

     The EPA and the Hawaii Department of Health found that the Department of Transportation has not sufficiently reduced pollutants in storm water runoff from Honolulu Airport, and also  discharges unpermitted waste water, violations of the Clean Water Act. Pollution from storm water runoff is a major source of pollution in Hawaii's coastal waters, streams and lagoons. Storm water runoff from airports can include litter, tire rubber, jet fuel, hydraulic fluids, solvents, lavatory wastes, and paints.  

     "Runoff from urban areas sends plumes of pollution daily into oceans and waterways," said Alexis Strauss, the EPA's Water Division director. "We will continue to be vigilant to ensure compliance by all with water pollution requirements so we can make progress in protecting Hawaii's waters for all to enjoy."

      Under the Clean Water Act, airports are required to develop and implement a storm water pollution control plan to reduce pollutants in storm water runoff from their facilities. The Hawaii Department of Health issued a federal National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System  permit establishing these requirements to the Department of Transportation for Honolulu Airport in July 1996.

      The EPA order requires the Department of Transportation to take steps to prevent the discharge of polluted stormwater, and comply with all other stormwater discharge requirements.  This is the second enforcement action that the EPA has issued recently to the Hawaii DOT. On September 7, the EPA cited the DOT for stormwater discharge violations related to the Oahu highway system.