The Hawaiʻi Department of Health (DOH) Clean Water Branch has issued a Notice of Violation and Order to Hawaiian Dredging Construction Company, Inc. for discharging soil and vegetation into two gulches and conducting earth-disturbing activities without the required National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit in Hanapēpē, Kauaʻi.
According to the DOH, Hawaiian Dredging must pay a $390,000 penalty and take corrective actions. These include putting erosion and sediment controls in place to prevent storm water from carrying sediment off disturbed areas, as well as obtaining NPDES permit coverage for storm water discharge related to construction activities. The company has 20 days to contest the notice or request a hearing.
Construction sites that disturb one acre or more are regulated under the NPDES program and must have permits before starting work that disturbs land. Not following these requirements can result in polluted runoff entering Hawaiʻi’s waters. The DOH notes that not complying with permitting rules can also give violators an unfair advantage over other companies that follow environmental protection measures. Violations may lead to fines of up to $60,000 per day for each violation.
The state’s water pollution control laws aim to protect public health and the environment by preventing harmful discharges into local waters. The DOH Clean Water Branch enforces these laws, which are designed to safeguard both people and Hawaiʻi’s ecosystem. Noncompliance may result in legal action by state authorities, federal agencies, or private citizens.
A copy of the Notice of Violation and Order is available at https://health.hawaii.gov/cwb/announcements/novo-issued-to-hawaiian-dredging-construction-company-inc/.
