HONOLULU — The state Board of Land and Natural Resources has approved a settlement agreement between the Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation and the state Department of Health’s Wastewater Branch related to wastewater violations at Heeia Kea Small Boat Harbor.

DOH issued the boating division a notice of violation and order with a $600,000 fine in June 2021 for exceeding state limits on effluent discharge from the harbor’s wastewater treatment center.

Before the violation notice, DOBOR worked closely with DOH and had completed the design and permitting for the construction of a wastewater treatment plant to replace an original one built in 1991.

DOBOR received $1,000,000 in capital improvement funds to build a new plant and began constructing an absorption bed disposal system. It then submitted multiple requests to the legislature for additional CIP funding. In November 2022, it received $3,000,000 to complete the project. Construction of the new plant is expected to begin in August, with completion by February 2024.

Under the draft settlement agreement, DOH agreed to allow DOBOR to propose one or more “environmentally beneficial” projects to undertake in lieu of the fine.

DOBOR successfully proposed replacing the existing wastewater treatment system, which serves the makai comfort station and harbor office at Heeia Kea Small Boat Harbor. Once approved and permitted, that project is expected to begin in August 2024, with completion in December 2024. As the estimated cost of the project is $800,000, DLNR will not have to pay the $600,000 penalty.

Michael Tsai covers local and state politics for Spectrum News Hawaii.