By Mark Edward Nero
The US Environmental Protection Agency has reached a settlement agreement with Matson Terminals Inc. regarding federal Clean Water Act violations relating to a September 2013 molasses spill into Honolulu Harbor, the EPA announced.
Matson has agreed to pay a civil penalty of $725,000, according to the EPA.
From Sept. 8 to Sept. 10, 2013, Matson spilled roughly 233,000 gallons of sugarcane molasses into Honolulu Harbor during ship-loading activities, the EPA said. The spill occurred from a section of pipe that the Hawaii Department of Transportation found was leaking in 2012, and reported to Matson.
The molasses discharge killed an estimated 25,000 fish in the harbor and damaged coral reefs in the area.
Matson no longer ships molasses from Honolulu Harbor after it reached an agreement with the state of Hawaii in 2015 to cease transporting molasses through Honolulu Harbor, remove the molasses distribution system, pay for re-growing corals that were damaged or destroyed, and reimburse related cleanup costs.
“Dockside facilities must ensure their operations do not pollute nearshore waters,” Alexis Strauss, the EPA’s acting regional administrator for the Pacific Southwest said in a statement. “The Honolulu Harbor spill affected marine life, coral reefs and kept residents and visitors from enjoying the city’s incomparable coastal environment.”
The EPA’s civil action followed a January 2015 criminal action taken by the US Attorney’s Office against Matson, in which Matson paid a $400,000 fine plus restitution of $600,000 after pleading guilty to criminal charges of unlawfully discharging molasses into Honolulu Harbor. Under the terms of the plea agreement, the restitution was divided equally between the Waikiki Aquarium to support coral reef programs and invasive algae cleanups and Sustainable Coastlines Hawaii to inspire local communities to care for coastlines through beach cleanups.
Showing posts with label molasses spill. Show all posts
Showing posts with label molasses spill. Show all posts
Friday, January 27, 2017
Thursday, July 30, 2015
Matson Reaches Harbor Spill Settlement
By Mark Edward Nero
Honolulu-based shipping company Matson Inc. said July 29 that it has reached a settlement with the state of Hawaii to resolve any and all civil, criminal and administrative claims relating to the discharge of about 233,000 gallons of molasses into Honolulu Harbor nearly two years ago.
On Sept. 9, 2013, Matson received reports of molasses in Honolulu Harbor and after investigations in the water and under piers, Matson’s contractors discovered a hole in a pipe elbow beneath a pier. The hole was plugged and the pipe elbow was isolated from the rest of the pipeline using a metal plate. The pipe elbow was later removed and the pipe capped.
Under the agreement, Matson is to pay $5.9 million to the state as compensation for damaged coral and lost fish, as well as the state’s response and other costs. Also part of the settlement, Matson has terminated its molasses operations in Honolulu and has committed to remove the molasses risers and tanks at Sand Island terminal at an estimated cost of between $5.5 million and $9.5 million bringing the total cost to Matson of between $11.4 million and $15.4 million.
In 2013, Matson also committed to releasing a report detailing its investigation of the incident, the resulting impact to aquatic life and the settlement of legal claims. The eight-page report can now be found on Matson’s website in the news release section.
“Environmental stewardship is a core value in our company, so this event was a blow to all of us at Matson,” the company’s president and CEO, Matt Cox, said. “We can't take back what happened, but we've done our best to make it right.”
Honolulu-based shipping company Matson Inc. said July 29 that it has reached a settlement with the state of Hawaii to resolve any and all civil, criminal and administrative claims relating to the discharge of about 233,000 gallons of molasses into Honolulu Harbor nearly two years ago.
On Sept. 9, 2013, Matson received reports of molasses in Honolulu Harbor and after investigations in the water and under piers, Matson’s contractors discovered a hole in a pipe elbow beneath a pier. The hole was plugged and the pipe elbow was isolated from the rest of the pipeline using a metal plate. The pipe elbow was later removed and the pipe capped.
Under the agreement, Matson is to pay $5.9 million to the state as compensation for damaged coral and lost fish, as well as the state’s response and other costs. Also part of the settlement, Matson has terminated its molasses operations in Honolulu and has committed to remove the molasses risers and tanks at Sand Island terminal at an estimated cost of between $5.5 million and $9.5 million bringing the total cost to Matson of between $11.4 million and $15.4 million.
In 2013, Matson also committed to releasing a report detailing its investigation of the incident, the resulting impact to aquatic life and the settlement of legal claims. The eight-page report can now be found on Matson’s website in the news release section.
“Environmental stewardship is a core value in our company, so this event was a blow to all of us at Matson,” the company’s president and CEO, Matt Cox, said. “We can't take back what happened, but we've done our best to make it right.”
