NOTICE OF PROPOSED WATER POLLUTION CONTROL PERMIT
FOR KAHE GENERATING STATION
KAPOLEI, ISLAND OF OAHU
NPDES PERMIT NO. HI 0000019
DOCKET NO. HI 0000019
August 22, 2019
The State Department of Health (DOH) tentatively proposes to issue a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit to discharge once-through noncontact cooling water, treated low volume wastes, treated metal cleaning wastes, storm water associated with industrial activity, and non-storm water discharges specified in the proposed permit from the Kahe Generating Station, to receiving State waters, subject to special conditions to:
HAWAIIAN ELECTRIC COMPANY, INC.
The proposed NPDES permit for the existing discharge will expire five (5) years from the date of issuance.
The facility, located in Kapolei, Island of Oahu, Hawaii, is a steam electric power generating facility with a total generating capacity of 658 megawatts. The facility operates six (6) steam turbine generators. Once-through noncontact cooling water is pumped from the Pacific Ocean near Kahe Point to cool the steam turbine generators and is discharged back to the Pacific Ocean near Kahe Point through Outfall Serial No. 001. Additionally, the facility discharges treated low volume wastes and treated metal cleaning wastes through Outfall Serial No. 001. Low volume wastes include wastewater from the micro-filtration/reverse osmosis system, demineralizer system, water treatment evaporator blowdown, laboratory and sampling streams, boiler blowdown, floor drains, and recirculating house service water systems. Metal cleaning wastes include wastewater resulting from cleaning any metal process equipment, consisting mostly of boiler and air preheater wash water. The facility also intermittently discharges storm water runoff to the Pacific Ocean near Kahe Point through Outfall Serial Nos. 002 through 010.
The receiving water, Pacific Ocean near Kahe Point, is designated as “Class A Dry Open Coastal Waters” under Section 11-54-06(b)(2)(B), Hawaii Administrative Rules. It is the objective of Class A waters that their use for recreational purposes and aesthetic enjoyment be protected. Any other use shall be permitted as long as it is compatible with the protection and propagation of fish, shellfish, and wildlife, and with recreation in and on these waters.
Persons wishing to comment upon or object to the proposed NPDES permits or to request a public hearing, should submit their comments or requests in writing no later than 30 calendar days after the date of this notice, either through e-mail at: cleanwaterbranch@doh.hawaii.gov or by mail at 2827 Waimano Home Road, Room 225, Pearl City, Hawaii 96782.
Copies of the proposed public notice 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 (CWB) office located at the 2827 Waimano Home Road 225, Pearl City, HI 96782. Copies may be bought. The public notice permit and fact sheet are also available on the internet at: http://health.hawaii.gov/cwb/site-map/home/public-notices-and-updates. For more information or if you have special needs due to disability that will aid you in inspecting and/or commenting on the public notice permit and related information, please contact Mr. Darryl Lum, Supervisor of the Engineering Section, CWB, at the above address or (808) 586-4309 (Voice) at least seven (7) calendar days before the comment deadline. For those who use a TTY/TDD, please call through Sprint Relay Hawaii, at 1-711 or 1-877-447-5991.
All written comments and requests received on time will be considered. If DOH determines that there is significant public interest, a public hearing may be held after at least 30 calendar days of public notice.
If DOH’s position is substantially unchanged after considering all timely written comments and all oral comments at any public hearing that may be held, then the DOH will issue the NPDES permit and this action will be final.
Please notify anyone you know who would be interested in this matter.
BRUCE S. ANDERSON, Ph.D.
Director of Health
(SA1225208 8/22/19)
