PUC water rate hikes finalized; it’s been a long fight — Tavares

Molokai Properties says it will break even, operate indefinitely

The Public Utilities Commission has finalized the water rate hikes it had previously imposed on many Molokai residents at the request of Molokai Properties Ltd., which company officials have said will allow them to break even and operate indefinitely.

More than a year in the making, the new approved rate affects hundreds of homes, mostly on the west side of Molokai. The increase is 126.5 percent of what people were paying as recently as June for Molokai Public Utilities water.

"It's been a long fight for the people of Molokai," said Mayor Charmaine Tavares. "The county was able to keep the rates from being as high as what Molokai Public Utilities wanted, but for the Molokai customers that will be affected by the state PUC's decision, it's still a difficult situation. We will to continue to fight on their behalf."

Molokai residents have railed and rallied against the hikes, which are expected to generate an additional $548,682 annually for the private utility. But many residents said it will chew into what money they have and could mean hundreds of extra dollars a month added to the average water bill.

Read More: PUC water hikes finalized

The George Washington University (GW) wanted to convert Square 80, an underutilized space, into an urban, multi-functional, sustainable plaza. STUDIO39 Landscape Architecture, PC was chosen to design and transform the site into social gathering spaces. Square 80 now serves as an urban plaza with a central open space and an outdoor classroom for the university’s Landscape Design & Sustainable Landscapes programs. STUDIO39, a landscape architecture firm based in Alexandria, VA, was perfectly suited for this project because of the firm’s focus on sustainable and green roof design.

Completed in 2010, Square 80 presented a unique opportunity to combine multiple sustainable elements into one project. The design harvests 100% of on-site rainwater for irrigation, maintenance and other amenities. Other sustainable elements of the project include biofiltration planters, pervious paving, underground cisterns, rain barrel, native plants, rain gardens and a bioswale. Interpretive signage designed by STUDIO39, made of recycled content, will be installed this month to explain how these elements work together.

Square 80 fits GW’s Sustainable Vision: “The George Washington University envisions a future with resource systems that are healthy and thriving for all. In efforts to enhance our campus, our nation’s capital and the world at large, the GW community is building a greener campus, providing research and intellectual discourse on policies and pathways to sustainable systems, and equipping students with the skills and knowledge to contribute to a sustainable future.”

Read More:  Water Efficiency Measures on School Campuses: A Case Study

EPA Releases Risk and Consequence Tools for Water

• Nov 10, 2010

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is releasing two software tools for risk assessment and consequence analysis: The Vulnerability Self Assessment Tool (VSAT), an upgraded all hazards risk assessment tool; and the Water Health and Economic Analysis Tool (WHEAT), a newly developed consequence analysis tool.

The release of VSAT and WHEAT will provide drinking water, wastewater, and combined utilities of all sizes with the capability to assess, plan for, and better respond to man-made threats and natural disasters.

VSAT is an interactive desktop software tool that employs a proven methodology to enable users to perform customized risk assessments. The upgraded tool not only evaluates man-made threats but has a new feature that allows users to assess four different natural disaster scenarios: hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, and earthquakes. VSAT has the flexibility for the user to assess other types of natural disasters as well.

Read More:  EPA Releases Risk and Consequence Tools for Water

n a speech on March 22 at the Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies annual conference in Washington, D.C., U.S. EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson announced the agency is developing a broad new set of strategies to strengthen public health protection from contaminants in drinking water.

The aim is to find solutions that meet the health and economic needs of communities across the country more effectively than the current approach. EPA is also announcing a decision to revise the existing drinking water standards for four contaminants that can cause cancer.

Read more.

Read Jacksons speech here.

EPA continues to vigorously enforce the nation’s environmental laws. In fiscal year (FY) 2009, the Environmental Protection Agency’s enforcement and compliance program concluded civil and criminal enforcement actions requiring polluters to invest an estimated $5.4 billion to reduce pollution, clean up contaminated land and water, achieve compliance and fund environmentally beneficial projects. Civil and criminal defendants committed to reduce pollution by approximately 570 million pounds annually once all required controls are fully implemented.

Go to EPA website to veiw reults, interactive maps, and more information.

EPA Tightens Construction Stormwater Program To Mandate Nationwide Discharge Limits, Monitoring Requirements and Prescriptive Controls
 

On December 1, 2009, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published final regulations that will add substantial new nationwide requirements and liability exposures with respect to stormwater runoff from construction sites.  The so-called Construction and Development Effluent Limitations Guidelines (C&D ELG) rule sets first-time nationwide monitoring requirements and enforceable numeric limits on the amount of sediment that can run off any construction site that disturbs 10 or more acres of land at any one time.  The rule also specifies the exact types of erosion and sediment controls that contractors must use, at a bare minimum, to control stormwater runoff on all construction sites that disturb one or more acres of land.  The rule will take effect on February 1, 2010, and be phased in over four years.  Complete information is available on EPA's Web site. 

 

Read more: EPA Stormwater Program To Mandate Nationwide Discharge Limits, Monitoring Requirements

Monday, October 26, 2009

AGC Leader:  Rick Lorenz, Duininck Brothers Inc
(Member Case Study: Chris Steele, HI Stormwater Risk Management)

 

Read more: AGC Environmental Network Steering Committee Meeting October 26 – 27, 2009

To ensure the construction industry’s voice is heard, AGC is creating a Stormwater Task Force of 12-15 AGC Environmental Network members to respond to current rulemaking efforts and enforcement initiatives aimed at restricting construction site runoff.

Read more: AGC is creating a Stormwater Task Force