Report Title:

Hazardous Waste Disposal

Description:

Appropriates funds to purchase mobile plasma waste converter to dispose of hazardous wastes.

THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

1476

TWENTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2003

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 


 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

Relating to disposal of hazardous wastes.

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that there is a need to ensure the safe disposal of hazardous wastes including pathological, chemotherapy, and other biohazard wastes. Currently such wastes are segregated by type and disposed of either by steam sterilization or transported out of Honolulu for incineration. The problem is that while sterilization can neutralize some types of wastes the sterilized bio-waste must then be disposed of in a landfill. Moreover, other hazardous wastes that cannot be processed by sterilization and must be transported out of Honolulu, either to the Big Island or mainland for incineration. Clearly, there are inherent risks involved with the transportation of hazardous wastes and the costs associated with this method are high. In the final analysis, exporting our wastes does not actually solve the hazardous waste problem it simply transfers it to another location. The legislature also considered recent events that have raised concerns about unknown and previously unanticipated hazardous biological and chemical agents. Current facilities, disposal methods and procedures would probably not be effective in dealing with these highly toxic biological and chemical agents.

On the scale being proposed in this bill, new technology would be employed to safely remediate virtually all kinds hazardous wastes created within the municipality and would also have the capability to handle biological and chemical agents such as anthrax and agent orange. On a larger scale, this technology could substantially reduce the physical volume of the wastes to only a fraction of what it was originally and would produce hydrogen gas as a by-product. The resulting reduction in waste volume would reduce the need for landfill space. Hydrogen gas and ethanol produced as by-products could be used to power generators to create electricity to provide some of the power used by the facility.

This bill would appropriate funds for a mobile plasma waste converter that would employ plasma arc technology to dispose of as much as 5 tons of waste per day including biological, chemical as well as conventional wastes. The by-products of the process would be virtually inert, and the volume would be reduced to only a fraction of its original size.

SECTION 2. Chapter 342J, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

§324J . Contract Awarded. The director may enter into and execute contracts in the name of the State with any private entity to operate a plasma waste converter at sites selected by the director and approved by the department on the island of Oahu for the benefit of the State; provided that:

(1) Contracts shall ensure compliance with rules of operations and procedures established by the department;

(2) An individual, corporation, partnership, association, or other private organization or entity may not construct or operate a private plasma waste converter unless inspected by the department;

(3) A contract awarded by the department to operate a plasma waste converter shall not be transferable without the prior written consent of the director.

SECTION 3. Chapter 342J, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

§342J- . Plasma Waste Converter. The director shall establish rules and operating standards for plasma waste converters used in the state of Hawaii including but not limited to, requirements regarding:

(1) certifying the types of waste that can be disposed of;

(2) specifying the daily capacity;

(3) packaging, labeling, marking and record keeping requirements for the by-products of this process; and

(4) any other requirements deemed necessary by the director.

SECTION 4. Pursuant to part IV, chapter 39A, Hawaii Revised Statutes, the department of budget and finance, with the approval of the governor, is authorized to issue special purpose revenue bonds in a total amount not to exceed $15,000,000, in one or more series, for the purpose of assisting, planning, design, and construct a transfer station and plasma waste converter system on the island of Oahu.

The legislature hereby finds and determines that a transfer station and plasma waste converter system constitutes a "project" as defined in part IV, chapter 39A, Hawaii Revised Statutes, and is in the public interest and general welfare of the State.

SECTION 5. The special purpose revenue bonds and the refunding special purpose revenue bonds issued under this Act shall be issued pursuant to part IV, chapter 39A, Hawaii Revised Statutes, relating to the power to issue special purpose revenue bonds to assist processing enterprises.

SECTION 6. The department of budget and finance is authorized from time to time, including times subsequent to June 30, 2005, to issue special purpose revenue bonds in whatever principal amounts the department shall determine to be necessary to refund the special purpose revenue bonds authorized in section 3 and any refunding of special purpose revenue bonds authorized in this section, regardless of whether the outstanding special purpose revenue bonds or refunding special purpose revenue bonds have matured or are the subject of redemption or whether the refunding special purpose revenue bonds shall be bonds for the multi-project programs described in section 2. In making this determination, the department shall comply with federal law relating to the exemption from federal income taxation of the interest on bonds of the nature authorized by this section.

SECTION 7. The authorization to issue special purpose revenue bonds under this Act shall lapse on June 30, 2008.

SECTION 8. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

 

INTRODUCED BY:

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