Harbors

Harbors Division’s Stormwater Program Helps Keep Hawai‘i’s Waters Clean

Hawai‘i’s coastal environment is one of the most unique, sensitive and beautiful in the world. It’s no wonder why people come to visit and enjoy what residents take for granted each and every day.

Even during this coronavirus pandemic, Harbors Division’s Environmental Team are working hard to achieve stormwater runoff compliance but also to educate employees, industry and the general public about what we can all do to help keep our coastal waters clean and free of pollutants. Here are some ongoing efforts on compliance with our stormwater management program (SWMP) and pollution prevention (P2). We strive for environmental excellence.

• Educate Honolulu and Kalaeloa Harbors tenants via online training at hidot.hawaii.gov/ harbors/2020-annual-storm-water-awarenesstraining-for-dot-harbors-tenants/. This online training video educates harbors tenants on reducing rainwater runoff into streets, lawns, construction sites, and other locations into stormwater systems. Anything that enters a storm drain system at our harbors would usually end up in the ocean without treatment. illicit discharges (non-stormwater discharge that poses a risk to the environment, such as uncontained wash water, uncontained aggregate spillage at pier side, fuel spill, leaking vehicles/equipment, uncontained sediment laden water from construction sites, etc.).

• Inspect, clean, and stencil storm drains; install/repair P2 signs; patrol the piers and continue to observe and report any suspected illicit discharge to further defer such incident from occurring again

• Detaining stormwater and removing pollutants are the primary purpose of stormwater management.

• Oversight of all harbor tenants and ensure that they remain in compliance with each respective revocable permit and lease agreement.

This year, we refocus our stormwater awareness training with the theme of 3R’s – “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.” A brochure has been developed to aid in this effort. Please click here to view the digital copy. It highlights how small actions can collectively make a major contribution towards reducing waste, minimizing use of landfills, and reducing our carbon footprint.

Harbors

STORMWATER continued from page 11 • Reduce – Less waste means there is less to recycle so it pays to be a wise consumer. Some examples would be to avoid using or purchasing one-time use goods or turn off the lights when not in use.

• Reuse – Buy, sell or donate used items. Around your home, there are so many ways we could reuse/repurpose items, such as reusing food-grade glass jars to store food and beverages, reuse an old jar to store loose items, reuse newspaper to pack items, just to name a few.

• Recycle – Carefully purchasing recyclable products can be a first step towards efficient recycling. Some small steps include purchasing products that can be recycled such as glass jars, buying non-toxic products whenever possible, etc. Participating in the HI-5 Program.

Our Stormwater Awareness Message is “Mālama i ke awa kai” or Protect Our Harbor Waters. If you’d like to learn more about the Harbors SWMP, please visit us online at hidot.hawaii.gov/ harbors/malamaikeawakai/. Following your visit, if you’d like to gauge yourself about the basics on stormwater pollution prevention and environmental sustainability, you are invited to complete this online survey (originally tailored for Harbors Employees) at forms.gle/n9npE6UWFzhSCFP28.

This survey consists of 10 multiple-choice questions and other types. Most of the survey answers can be found in the information shared above. If you have any comment/feedback, please do not hesitate to share with us through this online survey. Your participation helps us spread the stormwater awareness message and continually improves our program goal of positive change. Thank you to our sister divisions and Office of Environmental Compliance for all their support.

Like anything else, this COVID-19 pandemic has its own two sides. It deems as a global pandemic and serious threat to human health and has slowed down economic activities. However, based on some scientific study, the slow down in the economy has reduced the overall carbon footprint and pollution has been greatly reduced. There are reports in Hawaii of how our oceans are recovering from the impacts of polluted runoff and tourism. We should consider what we have observed and learned from our oceans rebounding and think of ways to continue this cycle of restoration. After all, we only have ONE HAWAI‘I, ONE OCEAN, and ONE EARTH. Let’s not forget about our environmental stewardship and responsibilities.

To report a suspected illicit discharge that occurred at Honolulu Harbor or Kalaeloa Barbers Point Harbor, call Harbor Traffic Control Unit at 587-2076 anytime day or night; for neighbor islands, please report suspected illicit discharge observed at your harbor area to the Harbors District Manager. For more information, feel free to reach out to the Harbors Environmental Hotline at 587-1962.

“Mālama i ke awa kai”