Hamakua Coast Sugar Mill Ocean Discharges, Before and After EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) Compliance

摘要

In 1971, ecological studies of coral communities along the Hamakua Coast of the island of Hawaii resulted in the instigation of a number of Environmental Protection Agency restrictions regarding ocean disposal by sugar mills. These included, among other things, the elimination of bagasse discharge into the ocean and significant reductions in total suspended solid (TSS). Compliance with EPA standards was achieved in 1979. In 1983, another survey of sugar mill sites including natural streams was conducted to determine the efficacy of EPA standards. The results reported here indicate the differences between 1971 and 1983 are insignificant, suggesting that existing standards are ineffective in reducing zones of impact (0.5 to 1.5 miles). Impacts caused by natural streams are as great as those associated with sugar mills. Were the existing standards for TSS completely relaxed, the increase in coastline impacted would probably be small (approximately 7 percent). Conversely, the cost of completely eliminating mill discharges are prohibitive and not justified by environmental benefits.