69
CINDY ELLEN RUSSELL / Sept. 2013
In this Sept. 11, 2013, photo, a Pacific Environmental Corp. worker skims the water near the Matson shipyard in the Kapalama Basin in Honolulu after a molasses spill in Honolulu Harbor. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has reached a $725,000 settlement with Matson Terminals Inc. for the 1,400-ton molasses spill.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced a settlement today with Matson Terminals Inc. for the company’s 1,400-ton molasses spill in Honolulu Harbor in 2013.
The federal agency said in a statement that Matson Terminals will pay a civil penalty of $725,000. The molasses leaked from a section of pipe that had been flagged by the state a year before the spill.
“Dockside facilities must ensure their operations do not pollute nearshore waters,” said Alexis Strauss, EPA’s Acting Regional Administrator for the Pacific Southwest, in the statement. “The Honolulu Harbor spill affected marine life, coral reefs and kept residents and visitors from enjoying the city’s incomparable coastal environment.”
The spill killed more than 26,000 fish and other marine life. Enough molasses to fill about seven rail cars oozed out from a section of pipe Matson thought had been sealed, suffocating marine life and discoloring the water as the sticky substance sunk to the bottom of the harbor.
“We are pleased to have reached this agreement with the U.S. EPA,” said Matson CEO Matt Cox in an email to The Associated Press. “Since the spill occurred Matson has worked with all state and federal agencies, and we’ve done our best to make things right. We no longer carry molasses and have decommissioned our pipeline and storage facility.”
The spill, in an industrial area about 5 miles west of Waikiki’s hotels and beaches, shut down much of Honolulu Harbor for nearly two weeks.
The civil settlement follows a criminal case against Matson in which the company paid $1 million in fines and restitution, which was split between the Waikiki Aquarium for coral reef research and Sustainable Coastlines Hawaii for beach cleanups.
The company also reached a settlement with the state to stop transporting molasses through the harbor and paid for cleanup and coral restoration.
Matson is the biggest shipping company connecting Hawaii to the mainland.
and who was saying millions????
If the police commission or UH was on this case we would be paying Matson.
SCORE: EPA=$725,000.00 SOH=$0.00 Where is Ige in all this? Hawaii’s people and environment suffers again because the lack of leadership to protect the aina….Sad day in Hawaii again. =(
EPA 725K
SOH 000K
= HIGHER SHIPPING RATES 4 U and Me
So the pipe was flagged a year before the spill. Who was in charge of checking to see if the problem was rectified? Is he/she still working for the state? Probably got promoted instead.
“We are pleased to have reached this agreement with the U.S. EPA,” said Matson CEO Matt Cox…… How much Millions of $$$$$$$$$$$’s did the Navy have to pay for damaging a small chunk of coral. Small compared to this molasses spill. Plus the Navy repaired the damage. $750,000.00 for Matson is like getting a parking ticket. 1.75 million total is like 2 parking tickets.
Slap on the wrist. Mo betta slap Ige on the head and wake him up eh?
And his okole
Say hi to higher shipping fees!!!
Got off cheap because if it was more the local residents would end up footing the bill by higher shipping costs.