Trucker dumping sludge in Waianae was cited before

The notice of violation issued to a trucking company owner under fire for apparently hauling dredged material from a Hawaii Kai marina to a private Wai­anae property last week was the second citation received in recent years.

Sandra Silva, owner of SER Silva Equipment, was ordered by the city Department of Planning and Permitting on Friday to halt disposing of dredging material from the Hawaii Kai Marina on her property in Wai­anae until she can obtain a permit to do so. The order calls for daily fines of $150 to kick in if a grading permit is not secured by Oct. 7.

A major traffic jam was caused Aug. 31 when a SER truck spilled sludge on the H-1 freeway westbound in Aiea.

City Planning Director George Atta told the Star-Advertiser in a statement that his agency had issued a notice of violation against Silva for operating a trucking business on the Wai­anae property in March 2009. Silva complied with the order by removing trucks, trailers, containers, heavy equipment and other materials and supplies from the property, and no fines were issued, Atta said.

Waianae area Councilwoman Kymberly Pine fired off a letter to Atta urging him to deny future permit applications to dump sludge from the marina anywhere along the Leeward Coast.

Atta said DPP had not received a request from the company for a permit as of Tuesday afternoon. All grading permits, he said, "are ministerial in nature, meaning they must be approved if the applicant follows best management practices, including stabilizing the site and protecting abutting properties, for the material being used. DPP will take additional steps to ensure that public health and safety are met."

Atta said his agency will also look into complaints by Pine that industrial work is being done on land zoned for agricultural use.

Silva could not be reached for comment.

Meanwhile, the board of directors of the Hawaii Kai Marina Community Association abruptly canceled a meeting that was to have taken place Tuesday night. Members of the Wai­anae community and news media had planned to attend the meeting. Marina manager Beverly Little said too many of the board’s 15 directors were out of town and unable to attend.

Association President Robert Clark told The Associated Press last week that the $5 million dredging project is being halted to address community concerns. Clark sparked a backlash, however, when he said he believes the material is safe and that "I’d have it in my backyard, frankly, if I could."

Cynthia Rezentes, chairwoman of the Nana­kuli-Maili Neighborhood Board, said she was disgusted by Clark’s comments. The marina association is "still responsible for this material, wherever it ends up," she said.